General Nguyen Chanh in the hearts of artists

( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - Nguyen Chanh was a general who was both a scholar and a martial artist. Not only was he a talented commander, but he also loved and understood literature, cared about artists and contributed to the development of the art of Bai Choi and Tuong.

General Nguyen Chanh is one of the three most famous generals in Quang Ngai. All three generals were born in the countryside along the Tra Khuc River, they are General Nguyen Chanh, General Pham Kiet and General Tran Van Tra.

Nguyen Chanh was a general who was both a scholar and a martial artist. Not only was he a talented commander, but he also loved and understood literature, cared about artists and had the merit of developing the art of Bài Chòi and Tuồng. During the resistance war against the French, Nguyen Chanh gathered many famous artists into the art organization of Zone 5, becoming a force that contributed significantly to the resistance war.

On the day General Nguyen Chanh passed away (September 24, 1957), poet Te Hanh wrote a simple poem that summarized Nguyen Chanh's revolutionary life: "The Ba To fire blazed in the mountains/ He contributed to moving it down to the plains/ The revolution arose from Quang Ngai/ Spread like waves throughout Zone Five/ The French invaders rushed up to the sea/ He marched to liberate the Central Highlands/ The plot to invade turned into smoke/ The victory was a contract with Dien Bien / The talented general of our country/ Passed away at the age of forty-three/ Leaving a bright mark in the shape of An Mountain/ Shining brightly down the Tra River" (Respectfully dedicated to the soul of comrade Nguyen Chanh).

Comrade Nguyen Chanh (2nd from left, standing row) with the first commanders of the Ba To Guerrilla Team. Photo: TL

Writer Nguyen Chi Trung commented on General Nguyen Chanh in a few very short but very meaningful sentences about a well-rounded person who was very knowledgeable about literature and art: “Mr. Nguyen Chanh is still the same. A sincere smile, a lovable person, speaking simply, equally and respectfully. Mr. Nguyen Chanh understands, understands literature and art very well, considering it a goal, an inherent need of life, of people, of this nation”.

Art researcher and leader of the Inter-Zone 5 Tuong Troupe Hoang Chau Ky spoke more specifically about General Nguyen Chanh's deep understanding of the art of Tuong: "Many times working with the old artists in our Tuong troupe such as Mr. Nguyen Nho Tuy, Nguyen Lai, Ms. Ngo Thi Lieu... Mr. Chanh talked very happily, recalling many of his memories of the Tuong industry. He mentioned the deputy singer Trap in Quang Ngai who played the role of Truong Phi very majestically, danced very beautifully, and also performed "Chap To Van lying on the ganh" very well... He kept talking about the Chau drum, saying that without the Chau drum, a good part of Tuong would be lost. That is the voice of praise - criticism, comments of the audience, on the other hand, the Chau drum contributes to increasing the atmosphere of the performance, helping to encourage the actors".

Poet Nguyen Viet Lam always remembers the dear figure of General Nguyen Chanh: “He was short and stocky, his forehead was high like a scholar, his eyes were sparkling, his eyes always seemed to smile, both humorous and intelligent. Nguyen Chanh was a man with many artistic emotions. He loved writers and poets and he himself wrote many poems, especially when he was still working in secret. The poem he wrote in prison and sent to Ms. Pham Thi Trinh, his wife and comrade, was a very emotional poem.”

To protect and promote the traditional arts of the nation and the people of Zone 5, General Nguyen Chanh once spoke at a conference of Zone 5 leaders, when talking about traditional arts: “Now that the resistance war is facing many difficulties, we should still re-establish a theater troupe of the Zone, as the core of the movement. Along with theater, we need to restore and develop traditional local folk songs such as bai choi, ve, noi lia...”. Having said what he did, it is true that during the resistance war against the French, Zone 5 was a place where traditional literature and arts especially developed.

Not only loving and attached to traditional art, General Nguyen Chanh was also a leader with a broad vision. During the resistance war against the French, he saw and realized that we must protect national culture and arts. And first of all, we must protect and care for national artistic talents.

People's Artist Le Thi, a special talent in folk opera and bai choi, was moved to write these lines of poetry to bid farewell to her brother Nguyen Chanh: "How can I forget the day you came to visit the Group at Cau Giay/ You were simple and friendly, oh how dear/ You were the Commander of Inter-Zone Five, brave and steadfast/ But with artists and writers, you still gave us your love and affection/ Even though you are gone forever, the image/ of the Political Commissar of Inter-Zone Five will forever remain here" (Sent to the soul of Nguyen Chanh).

General Nguyen Chanh was a military leader, a Political Commissar of Inter-Zone 5, and a talented revolutionary. He was a well-rounded person, not only knowing how to fight, but also knowing how to appreciate literature and art, and loving artists.

General

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Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/chinh-tri/202408/tuong-nguyen-chanhtrong-long-van-nghe-si-4d141c5/