Analyzing the portrayal of guest characters in 'Phu Song Bach Dang'

Assignment: Analyze the portrayal of guest characters in 'Phu Song Bach Dang'

Analyzing the portrayal of guest characters in 'Phu Song Bach Dang'

I. Outline Analysis of guest characters in Phu Song Bach Dang

1. Introduction

- Bach Dang River, a familiar landmark, bears witness to numerous glorious milestones in the nation's history, inspiring poets and writers. Notably, within the medieval Vietnamese literary genre, Truong Han Sieu's 'Phu Song Bach Dang' stands out. The opening of the poem introduces the image and emotions of the 'guest' character, setting the tone for the entire poetic composition with the 'host-guest' interaction.

2. Body of the poem:
* Author:
- Truong Han Sieu (?-1354), originally from Yen Ninh district, now part of Ninh Binh city, was an exceptional cultural figure of the medieval era and simultaneously an outstanding political figure during the Tran dynasty.

* Work:
- 'Phu Song Bach Dang' is the most outstanding piece in Truong Han Sieu's creative career, recognized as a representative work of patriotic literature during the Ly - Tran period,...(Continued)

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II. Sample Essay Analyzing the portrayal of guest characters in Phu Song Bach Dang

Bach Dang River, a familiar landmark, bears witness to numerous glorious milestones in the nation's history, inspiring poets and writers. Notably, within the medieval Vietnamese literary genre, Truong Han Sieu's 'Phu Song Bach Dang' stands out. The opening of the poem introduces the image and emotions of the 'guest' character, setting the tone for the entire poetic composition with the 'host-guest' interaction.

Truong Han Sieu (?-1354), originally from Yen Ninh district, now part of Ninh Binh city, was an exceptional cultural figure of the medieval era and simultaneously an outstanding political figure during the Tran dynasty. He was a trusted confidant of Tran Hung Dao for four Tran kings, contributing significantly to the resistance against the Mongol invasions. In the literary field, 17 poems and two prose pieces are preserved, with the masterpiece being 'Phu Song Bach Dang.' Truong Han Sieu earned great respect from the Tran kings, being addressed as a teacher rather than by his name, and posthumously honored with the titles Thai Bao and Thai Pho, enshrined at the Temple of Literature.

'Phu Song Bach Dang' is the most outstanding piece in Truong Han Sieu's creative career, recognized as a representative work of patriotic literature during the Ly - Tran period. It is considered a pinnacle of artistic achievement in the medieval ode genre, honored as a timeless masterpiece in Vietnamese literary history. Although the exact year of its creation is unknown, some studies suggest it was composed around 50 years after the victory over the Mongol invasions, during a period of Tran dynasty decline.

In the poem, the 'guest' character is first introduced through journeys across two types of locations. Firstly, exploring famous places in ancient Chinese history: Yuan, Xiang, Wu Yue, Jiuzhou, Wujiang, Three Gorges, and Bach Viet. These are picturesque and vast locations in China, where the author travels through books and imagination. Secondly, the author physically explores locations in Vietnam: Dai Thanh Gate, Dong Trieu Wharf, Bach Dang River – all rich, beautiful, and historically significant. The vivid descriptions depict the grandeur of the Bach Dang River with its vast waves and the dreamy image of boats trailing gracefully, creating a contrasting scene of beauty and solitude. The character 'guest' emerges as an individual with adventurous spirit, a romantic soul appreciative of exploration, expanding horizons willingly and enthusiastically, 'wandering' freely without any worldly burdens. The 'guest' has diverse purposes for exploration, primarily to enjoy the splendid landscapes and gain knowledge about the country, akin to the famous Chinese historian Tu Ma Thien. It is evident that the 'guest' portrayed by the author is an extension of Truong Han Sieu's own persona, casting the shadow of the poet within the guest's silhouette.

The 'guest' character, standing before the landmarks of Vietnam, experiences a range of emotions. First, there's joy witnessing the majestic and poetic beauty of the rivers and landscapes—a prideful moment acknowledging the historic triumphs engraved in the nation's chronicles. Simultaneously, the author unveils raw sorrows and regrets facing the once intense battlefields, now desolate and haunted by solitude and desolation, where heroes have vanished, leaving fading traces.

'Sorrowful for the tragic scene standing silent for hours,
Pity the absent heroes, where are they now?
Regret the lingering traces, still preserved.'

The 'guest,' standing silently, openly expresses a mix of confusion, disappointment, and emptiness. The guest's mood shifts from outward excitement and enthusiasm for the changing scenery to an internal, somber reflection on the cold flow of time and history, overshadowing the old scenes of yesteryears. Today, the once fierce battlegrounds are reduced to reeds and sunken wharfs; only remnants of the river remain. The 'giao gay' is now 'full of dry bones,' and the ancient heroes, once celebrated, have become ancient relics. It reflects the hidden concerns of a patriotic figure witnessing the nation's situation in the late Tran dynasty.

The 'guest' character embodies Truong Han Sieu himself. In the face of the nation's impending decline, revisiting Bach Dang River triggers a surge of emotions, predominantly stemming from a love for the country and its people. There's a deep concern for the fate of the nation, a worry for the destiny of a people through four dynasties. Externally, it's the relaxed admiration of the magnificent scenery of our Dai Viet, but within lies a sea of nostalgia and sorrow for the days when the country thrived, with a mighty army scripting heroic tales. Now, with the scenery intact but the heroes absent, the author can't help but be poignant and silent. This emotional current sets the stage for the subsequent sections of the poem.