Analyzing Nguyen Cong Tru's Poem 'The Enthralling Anthem'

Prompt: Analyze Nguyen Cong Tru's Poem 'The Enthralling Anthem'

Analysis of 3 Sample Essays: Interpreting Nguyen Cong Tru's Poem 'The Enthralling Anthem'

1. Interpretation of Nguyen Cong Tru's Poem 'The Enthralling Anthem,' Sample 1:

Every individual possesses a distinct personality, and every writer has a unique style, but what makes certain personalities stand out is their remarkable traits that immediately come to mind when mentioned. Nguyen Cong Tru is one such individual with a particularly remarkable and powerful personality, described as 'enthralling.' It is this very personality that makes him memorable. His distinct character is vividly portrayed in the poem 'The Enthralling Anthem.'

The Enthralling Anthem serves as Nguyen Cong Tru's autobiographical narrative, reflecting on his life, talents, and personality. It signifies not only great talent but also a significant character that transcends the boundaries of medieval times and Confucianism. Born in Nghe An, alongside many other talented individuals of his time, Nguyen Cong Tru stands out. Perhaps it is his rather unique character - an enthralling demeanor and a genuine lifestyle - that makes him more memorable to others.

The author begins with five lines of poetry to narrate his life as a mandarin. It was a life of both glory and hardship:

'The universe internal, fate's drama
Mr. Hi Van Tai entered the cage.
As Provincial Graduate, as Assistant Magistrate, as Governor of the East,
All strategic plans became a soaring hand.
At times, in the West, the flag of the grand general,
Sometimes returning to the Prefecture of Thua Thien.'

With just five lines of poetry, the author introduces us to his life as a mandarin. Firstly, let's understand the concept of 'enthralling.' Enthralling is synonymous with dizzying, suggesting someone always at a high, unstable position, swaying and shaking like a falling star. Nguyen Cong Tru uses this adjective to describe himself, perhaps with a hidden meaning?

Firstly, the opening line clearly demonstrates Nguyen Cong Tru's philosophy of life. Alongside the declaration of manly spirit, 'manly spirit in the four directions - for the strength to wave in all four seas,' the first line in this poem is also a declaration of his life philosophy within the universe.

'The universe internal, fate's drama'

The author intends to convey his life philosophy. It suggests that within this universe, nothing is beyond our fate. It appears that Nguyen Cong Tru is elevating the mindset of a Confucian scholar-official. It reflects his personal importance and enthusiasm for life.

Then he summarizes his career as a mandarin:

'Mr. Hi Van Tai entered the cage.
As Provincial Graduate, as Assistant Magistrate, as Governor of the East,
All strategic plans became a soaring hand.
At times, in the West, the flag of the grand general,
Sometimes returning to the Prefecture of Thua Thien.'

For him, being a mandarin is like being 'caged.' This line signifies that the author sees officialdom as being confined. Due to his arrogant nature and sky-high ambitions, the Confucian principles often become constraints on his character. Nguyen Cong Tru refers to himself as 'the lord,' a notable self-reference. Despite knowing that being an official entails loss of freedom, he still pursues it to showcase his talents and aspirations. Through this, Nguyen Cong Tru presents himself as an inherent value in life that cannot be denied.

Selected Interpretations of 'The Enthralling Anthem' Lectures

Then follows a series of official titles such as 'Provincial Graduate,' 'Assistant Magistrate,' 'Governor of the East,' 'Grand General of the West,' and at times, 'Prefect of Thua Thien.' It can be said that his career as a mandarin was remarkably illustrious, with all positions being high-ranking. However, in reality, he was demoted to a lowly soldier. Nevertheless, he famously said: 'Being a governor, I don't take it as an honor; being a soldier, I don't consider it a disgrace.' Hence, regardless of the rank, what matters to him is the opportunity to serve the nation.

The officialdom of Nguyen Cong Tru concludes with his retirement. Indeed, a peculiar person until the end, as seen in his retirement to his hometown, which was anything but ordinary:

'At the city gate, bidding farewell to officialdom,
A golden cow adorned like a soaring horse.
There, a mountain adorned with white clouds,
A hand holding a sword, exuding valor from every pore.
The immortal heels following behind, accompanied by a pair of aunts,
Even the Buddha can't help but chuckle at his grandeur.'

Leaving the realm of officials and returning to the homeland is truly 'enthralling.' While others return amidst grand ceremonies and elegant palanquins, Nguyen Cong Tru's departure is different. He returns without regrets, farewells, or luxurious palanquins, only accompanied by a humble golden cow. Only Nguyen Cong Tru would dare such a spectacle!

Returning to his homeland, the poet indulges in the freedom and beauty of rural life and traditional music. He visits temples, mocking himself for his humility, but behind it, there are two beautiful maidens following. It may seem absurd, but the Buddha doesn't get angry; instead, he laughs at the audacious nature of this arrogant official.

It's a disgraceful sight, yet the Buddha doesn't get angry; he bursts into laughter at the character of this pompous official.

The remaining verses all speak of his life and pleasures in retirement:

'Having lost all concern for fame and reputation,
Praises and criticisms become like autumn winds.
Whether in song, in wine, in dice, or in laughter,
No Buddha, no Immortal, no worldly entanglements.
No Left, no Right, even Music enters the Han and Phu districts,
In loyalty, I offer the purest loyalty to the king. Who in the court is as grand as him!'

From here, his life becomes leisurely with refined pleasures. For him, praise and criticism are of no concern; he lives life on his own terms. What greater joy and happiness in life than being true to oneself? Few live as authentically as Nguyen Cong Tru. From here, he immerses himself in the joys of old age, with ca tru music free from worldly concerns. The repetition of 'when' indicates the recurrence of these pleasures. Ca tru, hot wine, he indulges in the intoxicating aroma and rhythm of dice and laughter. Truly a life filled with music. He lives as he pleases, not following gods or buddhas, but living by his own principles. This is the finest passage in the poem; if the preceding lines express the tranquility of retirement, the following lines are filled with the melody of music.

Nguyen Cong Tru positions himself alongside famous historical figures:

The following is the analysis of the poem 'Ode to Sublimity' in full detail. Next, prepare to answer textbook questions, Commentary on Ode to Sublimity, along with Understanding the Work Ode to Sublimity to excel in the subject of Literature.

2. Lecture on the poem Ode to Sublimity by Nguyen Cong Tru, sample 2:

Nguyen Cong Tru (1778-1858) is a renowned poet of the Vietnamese people, celebrated throughout history. He lived the life of a scholar, a warrior, a statesman, experiencing both glory and humiliation, triumphs and setbacks. Yet, he always stood firm in his beliefs, true to his principles, living for an extraordinary aspiration:

His name echoes through the heavens and the earth,
What fame does one need with mountains and rivers?

Nguyen Cong Tru's literary career shines brightly, revealing a remarkably unique creative personality showcased beautifully through his Nôm poem 'Han Nho Style' and over 60 incredibly talented spoken poems. Ode to Sublimity is one of the masterpieces in the national poetry genre. This spoken poem consists of two couplets, totaling 19 verses full of rhythm, majestic melodies, sometimes gentle, sometimes heroic, making it a captivating read. Spoken poetry is a folk art form, with a tight structure, blending poetic and musical elements harmoniously, creating an appealing composition.

Nguyen Cong Tru retired as a scholar in 1848, after nearly 30 years serving under the Nguyen dynasty. The poem Ode to Sublimity was written after he retired to his homeland. The poem resonates as a personal narrative of life, where he proudly reflects on his talent and achievements, expressing a character, a noble lifestyle, and a carefree demeanor.

'Sublimity' means instability, precariousness, easily tilted or fallen (Vietnamese Dictionary). In this poem, if 'sublimity' is understood as a different kind of person, a different way of life, regardless of others' opinions. And Nguyen Cong Tru has elevated 'sublimity' into a song, into a soulful melody with overflowing pride and rare eloquence.

The opening stanza proclaims a voice, a declaration of masculinity, of manhood. Very solemn and majestic: 'The universe's internal affairs are our own - everything in the universe is our own affairs. A negative expression to affirm the mindset of a true Confucian gentleman. And not just once? Sometimes he writes: 'The universe encompasses our own affairs', or 'No fame stands amidst the mundane.' The mindset is precisely because Nguyen Cong Tru's talent has entered the fray. Nguyen Cong Tru's nickname is Hi Van. Tài Bộ means great talent, multiple talents. The word 'lồng' in the poem can be interpreted in many ways. Into the cage is to enter the realm of kings and emperors, yet it is still narrow, constrained, contrary to the vast and boundless talents of Nguyen Cong Tru. Some explain it differently: the cage is the universe, the heavens and earth. Nguyen Cong Tru has often said: 'His name echoes through the heavens and earth', or 'No fame stands amidst the mundane.' The second interpretation is more reasonable because there is a cage in the universe, that's when the competitive spirit he speaks of emerges.

The analysis of the poem 'Ode to Sublimity' is comprehensive and detailed.

After asserting his name, the poet affirms his mindset, his talent, his masculine spirit of universal stature.

Hi Van is a man of true talent and true renown. In academics and examinations, he dares to compete with the world: The debt in hand must be repaid. In 1819, Nguyen Cong Tru passed the imperial examination at Nghe An Province. In military service, he held the position of Assistant Minister; in civil service, he was the Governor of Dong (Hai Duong and Quang Yen). With a renowned reputation, he became a hero standing tall, due to his mastery in both literature and martial arts, and it was then that he truly became a towering figure, a man above his time and above all others. The verses with their rhythmic structure (3-3-1-3-3-2), repeating the phrase three times, create a majestic tone, reflecting an extraordinary character, an immensely powerful spirit:

As the top scholar/ as the Assistant Minister/ as the Governor of Dong
Mastery achieved/ becoming the hand/ that soars.

The next four lines (middle section) expand the theme, the author proudly affirms himself as a person, a scholar with vast knowledge and experience. In times of chaos, he charged into battle, holding important positions under three reigns: the Binh Tay flag, the Grand General. In times of peace, he served the country and the king, becoming the Administrator of Thua Thien Province. In 1847, Nguyen Cong Tru reached the pinnacle of fame. He once said: When serving as a Grand General, I did not seek glory, when serving as a lowly soldier, I did not feel shame. After 30 years in office, Nguyen Cong Tru retired as a scholar in his homeland, at the age of 70 (1848):

The city gates open, another year passes by
Riding a golden buffalo, wearing the bridle high.

Returning to the mundane life, Mr. Thượng Trứ acted in a contrary manner, seemingly mocking life with all its grandeur. The former high-ranking official who once rode horses and carriages now only rides a golden buffalo and has the buffalo wear the horse's gear. Both he and the golden buffalo are elevated. It's like a challenge to the world's mouth. To this day, people still laugh and recite the poem to remember the legend of Hi Van, the former official:

Dismounting the horse, climbing onto the cart, the general now at leisure,
Stripping off the trappings of office, relinquishing high positions,
Wandering the fields in a cart pulled by a cow,
Ready-made curtains covering the world's mouth.

The next eight lines in two couplets depict the sublime demeanor of the river. Once a great deity, a renowned general - skilled with sword and bow - now living a peaceful, humble life, akin to a recluse. He wanders through temple scenery, visits famous landmarks, accompanied by a pair of beautiful maidens with delicate steps...

That mountain there, shrouded in white clouds,
A skilled archer yet becomes benevolent,
With maidens following with delicate steps,
Even the deities couldn't help but laugh at his sublimity...

He lived life to the fullest and played with full abandon. Even the deities couldn't help but laugh at his sublimity is a unique quatrain. The lines are filled with humor. Did the deities laugh or did the world? Or did Hi Van laugh at himself? Having transcended fame and fortune, what's gained, what's lost, is just the way of life, like the legend of Thất mã tái*. It doesn't matter. The praise or criticism of the world, let it go in one ear and out the other, like the east wind (spring) blowing by. Only with courage, only with confidence in one's talent and virtue, can one have such a dismissive attitude, daring to live beyond all conventions. Only by knowing that Nguyen Cong Tru was a Confucian scholar trained at the Khổng sân Trình gate, a high-ranking official of the Nguyen dynasty, can one see some of the unique characteristics, a personality unlike any other, remarkably unconventional and rarely seen talent. Ignoring gain or loss, disregarding all worldly praise and criticism, he lived innocently, extremely relaxed, and joyful. Though sublime, he remained pure and noble. These are two excellent lines in Ode to Sublimity:

When drinking wine/ when playing with monkeys/ when playing cards/ when plucking pine leaves
No Buddha/ no celestial beings/ no worldly entanglements.

The rhythmic pause of 2, the art of harmony (even, odd), the repetition of expressions (when ... not...) have enriched the verses with musicality, expressing a relaxed and life-loving demeanor, noble and untouched by worldly dust. When read aloud or sung, when listening to the sound of the lute, the rhythm of drums, one can truly feel the essence of poetry, the blend of music in such beautiful verses! Sublime and talented.

The stanza of the song consists of only three lines. The last line, called the trailing line, consists of only six words. It should be noted correctly as in the document 'Selected collection of folk songs and poetry - Publishing House of Literature 1987' to conform to the poetic form:

Chẳng Trái, music also enters Hàn, Phú district.
Meaning of the king, I fully embrace.
Whose life soars like his!

Nguyen Cong Tru proudly asserts himself as a loyal divine figure, fully embracing the king's meaning - he wrote in the poem 'Debts of gratitude'

With noble purpose, he ventured into the wilderness,
Shouldering the duty of loyalty and filial piety, the burden of a true knight.

The talent and achievements Nguyen Cong Tru left for the country and its people are no less than Trái Tuân, Nhạc Phi, Hàn Kì, Phú Bật - the talents of the Han and Song dynasties in China. Through comparisons far and near, inside and out, north and south, the author concluded the song with a resounding and majestic statement: Whose life soars like his! The extraordinary essence of the poet's self has been exhibited to the extreme.

In summary, for Nguyen Cong Tru, there must be real talent, real reputation, one must fully embrace the king's meaning to become a towering figure, and he did. Nguyen Cong Tru's lofty way of life embodies talent and nobility, without pretense, without worldly entanglements, yet not detached. Such loftiness is truly elegant. The title, the theme of Nguyen Cong Tru's song is unique. The expression of the poet's self is extremely unique. A century later, the poet Tản Đà also had many spoken poems, verse dramas rich in arrogance. One side soars with talent and reputation, the other side with arrogance, disillusionment, and romance.

Nguyen Cong Tru's spoken poetry reached the pinnacle of artistry. The Han characters in the verses exude majesty and elegance. The blend of poetry and music is harmonious, captivating, and enticing.

In the classical poetry of Vietnam, figures like Nguyen Cong Tru, Cao Ba Quat, Duong Khue, Nguyen Khuyen, and Tan Da left behind some masterpieces of spoken poetry. Nguyen Cong Tru created a powerful, majestic tone, blending with the heroic spirit in works like 'Heroic Spirit,' 'Debts and Mourning,' and 'Heroic Man.' This artistic style, ethos, and identity of spoken poetry by Nguyen Cong Tru truly make 'The Soaring Song' a fascinating piece from the depths of his heart.

3. Commentary on the poem 'The Soaring Song' by Nguyen Cong Tru, sample 3:

Having gained renown far and wide,
One must be esteemed by mountains and rivers.

According to Nguyen Cong Tru's perspective, to be a true man, one must have fame and contribute to the country. He pondered this throughout his life, leading to the creation of 'The Soaring Song.'

Title: Commentary on Nguyen Cong Tru's 'The Soaring Song'

The 'Soaring Song' here reflects the carefree lifestyle of someone always at a lofty moral height, unwavering and steadfast, unswayed by the vicissitudes of life, yet mindful of their own duties and living authentically. It vividly portrays the life, talents, and character of Nguyen Cong Tru, a person of great character transcending the constraints of the medieval era.

The author begins the poem with:

'In the cosmos, where all things are fated,
Master Hi Van, with his talents, enters the fray.
As top scholar, as assistant envoy, as governor of the East,
With strategic skills, he becomes adept at soaring.
In peacetime, as a grand general,
Perhaps returning to the Thua Thien Prefecture.'

First, the author vividly presents his philosophy of life as a scholar on earth and extends this belief to encompass the entire universe. Thus, we see Nguyen Cong Tru elevating the mindset of a true Confucian scholar. Simultaneously, he emphasizes the importance of self and his fervor in this lifetime.

Guidance for Commentary on Nguyen Cong Tru's 'The Soaring Song'

Then, he reflects on his life as an official. His inherently ambitious nature clashes with being confined like a 'bird in a cage' while in office. Despite realizing that holding office restricts his freedom, he, being intelligent, seizes the opportunity to showcase his talent and fulfill his aspirations. He enumerates his various official positions such as top scholar, assistant envoy, governor of the East, grand general in peacetime, and perhaps returning to the Thua Thien Prefecture. On one occasion, he was demoted to a mere soldier, but he famously declared: 'As a grand general, I do not consider it glorious; as a soldier, I do not consider it disgraceful.' Hence, regardless of his rank, he remains unfazed as long as he can contribute to the nation.

His unconventional nature, even in retirement, captivates readers, making them feel intrigued and drawn in: