Nghe Tinh homeland in the heart of La Son master Nguyen Thiep

His hometown Nghe Tinh not only left many important marks in Nguyen Thiep's life and career but also existed in Phu Tu's heart with poems full of pride, love and contemplation.

Nghe Tinh in the life and career of Nguyen Thiep

Not only was it his birthplace, Nghe Tinh was also associated with major events in Nguyen Thiep's life. He entered the imperial examinations with the provincial examinations at Nghe An school. In his youth, he traveled the mountains and rivers and taught throughout his hometown. At the age of 34, he became a teacher in Anh Do, and at the age of 40, he became the district chief of Thanh Chuong (both in Nghe An town).

After retiring from office, he returned to his village to open a hermitage to teach. His hometown was where Nguyen Thiep first met Nguyen Hue in 1788 and the second time to discuss strategies to defeat the Qing army in 1789. He was appointed as De Dieu and Chief Examiner of Nghe An school, the first provincial examination of the Tay Son dynasty. This was also where Emperor Quang Trung established the Sung Chinh Library, entrusted Nguyen Thiep with the position of Director and to oversee the construction of Phuong Hoang Trung Do.

Nguyen Thiep's attachment to his homeland was also shown through his decisions at every turn of his career path. In 1780, Trinh Sam invited him to Thang Long to discuss plans to overthrow the Le Dynasty. Nguyen Thiep was unable to persuade him, so he returned to teach. Quang Trung proclaimed himself emperor and invited Nguyen Thiep to Phu Xuan to help the king, but he declined. When Nguyen Anh ascended the throne and showed his respect, he found a way to leave. Clearly, faced with opportunities for career advancement, Nguyen Thiep chose to return to his hometown to enjoy the countryside, focus on teaching, and maintain his integrity.

La Giang Phu Tu, Lam Hong Di Nhan and La Son Phu Tu are 3 of the many nicknames that people often use when talking about Nguyen Thiep. Among them, La Son Phu Tu is the most frequently used and familiar nickname, used by King Quang Trung to call him. Illustration from the internet

Nghe Tinh in the pride and love of La Son

Nguyen Thiep was a man who spent his whole life attached to his homeland, his footprints were imprinted all over the vast Hong Lam region, as he said in his autobiography in Hanh Am Ky: "The mountains and rivers of Nam Chau, his footprints are almost everywhere". This is what nurtured in him a deep love for his native land.

In the poem "Hanh Am", he wrote about his hometown Nghe Tinh with a strong sense of pride: "The Central Land has many talented people/ During the Ming Dynasty, it belonged to Dien and Hoan/ The dragon's veins divided into branches/ The land bordered the southern barbarians/ The water was vast in the Song Ngu sea/ The sky was high in the Van Nhan mountain/ This year, the literary energy flourished/ The light shone on Dau Ngu - poem "Hoan Chau").

He admired the "talented people" of his "spiritual" homeland Hoan Chau such as Mai Hac De, Nguyen Bieu, Le Loi: The pitiful hero Mai Thuc Loan/ Was harmed by the traitor Duong Tu Thuc (Poor Mai Thuc Loan/ Was harmed by the traitor Duong Tu Thuc - poem Kinh Hac De Tu); The desolate city of England is green with wild grass/ Nghia Vuong's bridge is red with the setting sun - poem Dang Nghia Liet Son)...

He loved the charming landscapes of his hometown as well as the famous landscapes of his hometown: Hong Son, the northern mountains spread out their arms/ The hills and mounds undulate in several long rows/ Huong Tich competes for the sky on the right/ Hoa Khe gathers water to the east - poem Du Lieu Dong); The poem Truong Cu Huyen Sach/ The flat land starts Kim Nhan/ The magic pen pierces the deep sky/ The fairy lake falls to the world/.../ Collects all the spiritual energy/ An Nam Tieu Thai San (The middle of the poem Truong Cu Huyen Sach/ The flat land suddenly rises/ The magic pen pierces the deep sky/ The fairy lake falls to the world/ Collects all the spiritual energy/ An Nam, the Thai San - poem Kim Nhan Dong)...

The tradition of the homeland has enriched the world of Nguyen Thiep's poetry. In turn, the master with his sincere verses has contributed to beautifying the homeland.

La Son Phu Tu Poetry Temple - Nguyen Thiep in Kim Song Truong Commune (Can Loc). Photo by Thien Vy

Nghe Tinh in Nguyen Thiep's worries and memories

La Son witnessed and understood the harsh nature as well as the miserable life of the people of Nghe Tinh. He always wrote about his hometown people with a heavy heart. La Son spoke of the crop failure and famine of the people in a sad way: Hoan Chau has been forced to do military service for a long time/ Wealth and human resources are gone/ What's more, for the past two or three years/ Crop failure, not knowing where to rely on/ The people are extremely poor, five or six out of ten/ Starved to death and scattered/ Not yet receiving the edict granting leniency/ Plus more pressing taxes - poem Thua Phuc.

He saw the cause not only in the conscription, high taxes, but also in the social instability and constant war: The Holy King has not been seen for a long time/ [Only] the smoke and fire of war are raging – The Deputy Provincial Governor's examination did not result in the Dong Luy citadel); and in the natural disasters and constant floods: Thien Nhan's wind and rain/ Binh Tru Ba Duc Phien/ Dao Ung Thien like Lau/.../ Nien Mang Huyen Khanh That/ Me Quy Sinh Tran Phu (Thien Nhan's wind and rain/ In the plains, the waves want to overturn/ The sky pours water as if it is punctured/.../ In a year of crop failure, the family is destitute/ Rice is expensive, pots and pans are moldy – poem Vu Trung Vang Co Huong). Therefore, in the petition to King Quang Trung, Nguyen Thiep spoke about the people of Nghe Tinh with heartfelt words: “Nghe An has bad land and poor people [...]. In the year of crop failure and epidemics, some died of hunger, others were displaced. Of the ten remaining, only five or six are left. Now it is the dry season, the fields are abandoned, and very few are planted.”

The bronze statue of La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep shows majesty.. (photo taken at La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep Temple, Luy village, Kim Song Truong commune - Can Loc, his hometown).

Despite the hardships and difficulties, his hometown Nghe Tinh is still beautiful in the heart of La Son Phu Tu. Every time he goes far away, he can't help but miss his hometown. In Bo Chinh, Quang Binh , Nguyen Thiep thinks about Tra and Bot mountains near the village: Tea and Bot are not even mentioned in his hometown. Going to the North to take the Royal Examination, he remembers his old garden: Tea and tangerine trees in my garden, I fertilize and till them. The simple, deep nostalgia for his hometown is something truly precious in the heart of the Phu Tu.

The land of Nghe Tinh, a land of great people, has created a La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep. Then, with his talent and virtue, he continued and promoted the tradition and honored his homeland with great contributions to the nation, including special poems about the land and people of Lam River and Hong Mountain. The deep attachment between Nguyen Thiep and Hong Lam land left behind a beautiful symbol of the connection between a famous person and his homeland.

Pham Tuan Vu

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/que-huong-nghe-tinh-trong-tam-long-la-son-phu-tu-nguyen-thiep/255552.htm