Analyzing the work 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô'

Topic: Analysis of 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô'

Essay: Analyzing 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' by Nguyễn Trãi

I. Outline Analyzing 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Brief overview of the author Nguyễn Trãi.
- Introduction to 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô.'

2. Body:

a. Context of Creation (Textbook):

b. Main Ideas:
- Humanitarian thought: Nguyễn Trãi's progressive and timeless perspective on love for people, peace advocacy, and profound patriotism.
- The independent existence and sovereignty of our nation, Đại Việt, throughout the ages,...(Continued)

>> See details of the Outline for Analyzing 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' here.
 

II. Sample Essay Analyzing 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' (Standard)
 

1. Sample Analysis of 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô,' Standard Sample:

2. Sample Analysis of 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô,' Standard Sample 2:

Nguyễn Trãi is not only a brilliant military strategist for the nation but also an outstanding poet and political writer in the medieval Vietnamese literature with many remarkable works written in both Nôm and Classical Chinese. Especially, when mentioning Nguyễn Trãi's political writings, we cannot forget 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' - a piece instructed by Lê Lợi after the resistance against the Ming invasion. The work has left deep impressions on readers and is considered the nation's 'second declaration of independence.'

“The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô” by Nguyễn Trãi is crafted in the form of a proclamation, an ancient literary genre with roots in China, featuring a tightly organized and structured composition. At the beginning of the proclamation, the author, Nguyễn Trãi, presents the main moral theme as the foundation of his entire work.

Once heard: the essence of compassion lies in peace for the people
The military force punishes first to eliminate tyranny

The analysis of 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' has a detailed outline

With just two opening sentences in his proclamation, the author articulates the prevailing idea throughout the piece, namely, compassion - a philosophical concept rooted in Confucianism, used to demonstrate proper conduct and positive human relationships. For Nguyễn Trãi, the concept of compassion originates from the ideas of 'peace for the people' and 'eliminating tyranny.' This can be considered the foundational basis throughout the proclamation, stemming from the viewpoint that prioritizes the people, showing love for them, and engaging in battles for their sake, against invading forces. Simultaneously, in the introduction of the proclamation, Nguyễn Trãi also introduces independent and objective principles, establishing a strong theoretical foundation to assert the nation's independence and articulate the proclamation's ideology.

In our land of Dai Viet of old,
Long known for its cultured grace.
Mountains, rivers, boundaries unfold,
Customs differ, North to South we trace.
From Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran eras gone,
Independence forged through each reign.
With Han, Tang, Song, Yuan cast on,
Each with its sovereign, not in vain.
Strength varies in each passing day,
Yet, noble heroes rise, come what may.

With a brief passage, author Nguyen Trai seemingly vividly portrays the ancient and illustrious traditions of our people throughout millennia. Firstly, our nation boasts a rich cultural heritage, with customs varying from North to South over the ages. Moreover, our country possesses defined borders, acknowledged by all. Most notably, the author compares our feudal dynasties with those in the North, positioning our own on an equal footing. This not only establishes a basis for independence but also signifies Nguyen Trai's pride and national dignity. Going further, to elucidate the objective principles of our nation's independence, the author recounts the glorious history of our military and people's triumphs across the landscapes of our history.

Luu Cong, seeking power, met his demise,
Trieu Tiet, though favored, met an end unwise.
Ham Tu Gate captured, Toa Do alive,
Bach Dang River witnessed O Ma's demise.
Deeds of old, pondered with care,
Evidence recorded, history bears.

Additionally, building upon the established moral thesis, in the subsequent part of the proclamation, Nguyen Trai delves deep into exposing the heinous crimes of the invaders. Firstly, the author vividly outlines the Minh aggressors' conspiracy against our nation.

Troublesome Hồ family causes distress,
Within our land, people's hearts bear bitterness.
Minh's fanatical troops seize the chance to strike,
Treachery sells the nation, seeking false acclaim.

With merely four verses, the author vividly exposes the Minh invaders' plot. Exploiting the chaotic situation during the Hồ dynasty, utilizing the cunning phrase 'Support Tran to eliminate Ho,' they infiltrated and executed their invasion plan. Moreover, not only revealing the Minh invaders' plot, Nguyen Trai also accuses and vividly exposes their heinous actions and atrocities across all sectors using unique imagery and language. The first crime of the Minh invaders, recounted by Nguyen Trai, is the massacre and killing of innocent civilians.

Blackened folk upon the cruel flames,
Burying the red under the pit's vile claims.

Through the use of reverse language and richly symbolic imagery, the author distinctly outlines the chilling and brutal act of murder committed by the invaders. Even towards the 'blackened folk' and the 'red offspring'—innocent individuals—they showed no mercy. All these portrayals illustrate the invaders' ruthless killing spree. Furthermore, they slaughtered innocent civilians by pushing those blackened people into sacred forests and poisoned waters filled with dangers, places where once entered, the return was uncertain.

Forced into the sea, backs arched, seeking pearls,
Loathed like sharks, through the currents they swirl.
Dragged into mountains, sand feasts for gold,
Misery in sacred woods, where poisoned waters unfold.

Simultaneously, the invaders' crimes manifest in heavy, unjust tax policies and destructive environmental measures, annihilating life across our land.

Heavy taxes drain the mountains, unlocked with no bounds.
...
Harvesting creatures, trapping birds in nets widely cast,
Disturbing the people, ensnaring black deer, traps everywhere set.
Ruining insects, plants in every location.

Thus, with a series of vivid, symbolically rich images, the second part of the proclamation reads like a sharp indictment, where Nguyen Trai distinctly outlines the atrocities and gruesome actions of the invading Ming aggressors. The author summarizes all these atrocities in a general and symbolic verse. Moreover, through these verses, we can perceive the author's profound and utmost abhorrence.

As vile as the South Pine's bamboo cannot record all the sins,
As vile as it is, the East Sea cannot wash away the stench.
Could the heavens and earth forgive such cruelty?
Who claims that the divine people can endure?

Not confined to exposing the enemy's atrocities, Nguyen Trai's 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao' vividly and profoundly recounts the resistance and triumph of our people and army. Commencing the main passage is the image of the supreme commander, the heroic Le Loi:

Behold:

Lam Son Mountains rise in rebellion,
Wilderness nurtures the spirit.

With a soul-stirring and resolute language, Nguyen Trai's declaration is widely proclaimed to everyone. This declaration not only affirms the independence, peace, and unity of the nation but also expresses admiration and belief in a brighter, better future for the country and its people as they enter a new era.

In summary, Nguyen Trai's 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao' is not just a historical document but also a profound piece of political discourse seamlessly combining rhetorical and sentimental elements. Despite the passage of time in the nation's history, the value and significance of the manifesto remain intact to this day.
 

3. Analysis of the work 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao,' sample number 3:

Above, we introduced the analysis of the work 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao.' In addition, to fully understand the value of the Binh Ngo spirit, you can also refer to: Appreciation of Binh Ngo Dai Cao, Analysis of Sections 1 and 2 of Binh Ngo Dai Cao, Analysis of Nguyen Trai's humanitarian thoughts in Binh Ngo Dai Cao, Analysis of Nguyen Trai's humanitarian thoughts in Binh Ngo Dai Cao, Paragraph analyzing the spirit of independence, awareness of national sovereignty in Binh Ngo Dai Cao, and many other sample writings.

If the poem 'Nam Quoc Son Ha' holds the value as the first declaration of independence for the nation, then Nguyen Trai's 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao' is considered the 'ancient celestial epic,' the second declaration of sovereignty for our country. This work possesses the fundamental characteristics of the oratory genre in general, while also embodying the unique creative features of the author.

After our forces defeated the Ming invaders, Nguyen Trai, under the order of Le Loi, composed the work 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao.' This manifesto was published in the month of Chạp in 1428 with the purpose of summarizing the resistance against the Ming invaders, safeguarding the nation, and declaring the independence of our people. A manifesto is a genre belonging to functional literature and persuasive discourse dating back to ancient times in China, often used by kings, lords, and leaders to present a policy, a cause, or a declaration about a certain event for everyone to know. The basic characteristic of this genre is that it is written in prose or verse, but mostly manifestos are written in spontaneous prose, using parallel structures and free-form short sentences. 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao' is a manifesto with a tight structure, sharp reasoning, a resolute tone, and powerful language. The structure of the manifesto is divided into four parts: In the first part, the author presents the main moral argument, which is the humanitarian thought of the author; the main content of the second part is the heinous crimes that cannot be forgiven by the Ming invaders; in part three, the author recounts the military campaign and the victory of our forces, and part four is the declaration of victory, the affirmation of sovereignty, and the position of the nation.

The invading forces in our country were the Ming army, but the title of the manifesto is 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao,' revealing the author's intention and artistic use. 'Ngo' is a term that initially referred to Chu Nguyen Chuong, who first proclaimed himself as Ngo Quoc Cong, raising an army in Jiangzhou. At the same time, it also referred to the Ngo family during the Three Kingdoms period, a dynasty from the North invading our country. Our people called them the Ngo invaders with an attitude of disdain and hatred. The title 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao' signifies the proclamation of pacifying the Ngo invaders and the triumphant spirit of our entire nation against the ruthless enemy.

The manifesto begins with a humanitarian thought deeply influenced by Confucianism:

'The core of humanity lies in the tranquility of the people,
Leaders must deter aggression and eliminate tyranny beforehand.'

'Humanity' is the ideology and action for the sake of humanity, the struggle for justice to protect human life. Only when the lives of the people are secure and happy can the nation develop sustainably. Therefore, the leaders of the country must ensure the 'tranquility of the people' and 'eliminate tyranny,' keeping invaders and their domestic henchmen at bay to protect the lives of the people. The humanitarian ideology mentioned by Nguyen Trai is the idea of fighting for the people, eradicating the prevailing evil, and fiercely battling to defend the land and its customs because:

'As in our Dai Viet of old,
Claiming a cultural heritage since long ago.
Mountains and rivers have defined our boundaries,
Customs in the North and South differ.
From Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran through the ages, fostering independence.
With Han, Tang, Song, Yuan each claiming an empire on their side.
Though strengths and weaknesses varied,
Yet heroes arose in every era.'

The best analyses of the work 'Binh Ngo Dai Cao'

Our Dai Viet has had a rich cultural tradition since ancient times, with distinct boundaries, unique customs, and a historical depth equal to the feudal dynasties of the North. The dynasties of Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran are compared on par with the Chinese dynasties of Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, highlighting that our nation possesses its own strength, not being a small, ordinary nation. The words 'since old,' 'claiming,' 'have divided' all express the existence and development of our country in history as an undeniable fact. This makes us proud of our own people - a nation built by kind, diligent, sincere individuals with a deep love for the country. Although historical dynasties were sometimes strong, sometimes weak, there were always heroes and saviors in every era. Thanks to them, the invading forces had to bear numerous heavy defeats:

'Luu Cung, greedy and unsuccessful,
Trieu Tiet, the large-minded, met a tragic end,
Cua Ham captured Toa Do alive,
Bach Dang River vividly killed O Ma.
Examining these ancient events,
Evidence is still recorded.'

Northern generals were all 'killed vividly,' 'captured alive' by the heroic figures of our nation, and they suffered a miserable fate. Those battles have been recorded in historical books as enduring evidence for countless generations. The invading forces, 'greedy' and 'greedy for power,' wanting to quickly annex our country, inevitably faced 'tragic ends.' The strength of our army and people annihilated the treacherous, cruel invaders. Nguyen Trai's humanitarian ideology is expressed through a heroic tone, harmonious verses, reflecting the national pride and belief in the strength of a small but resilient nation.

The author has presented the atrocities of the Ming invaders as a strong indictment with authentic and resolute evidence. The Ming invaders took advantage of the situation in the Hồ dynasty to 'fish in troubled waters,' implementing their cunning scheme:

'The Hồ regime brought endless troubles,
Leaving grievances and hatred among the people.
The Ming aggressors seized the opportunity to cause havoc,
The wicked traitors sold the country in pursuit of glory.'

The Hồ dynasty's internal chaos and neglectful rulers left the people in distress, leading to the people's 'grievances and hatred.' Exploiting this situation, the Ming forces invaded our country, while domestic traitors plotted to sell the nation for personal gain without standing up against the invaders.

The Ming forces forced our people to live in a state of misery and hardship, with constant threats to their survival:

'Blackening the people over ruthless flames,
Burying the innocent under vile pits.
Deceiving the heavens, deceiving the people with a myriad of schemes,
Forging enmity, spreading hatred for two decades.
Destroying morality, shattering the land and sky,
Heavy taxes draining the clean mountain streams.
Forced into the sea, their backs exposed to shark-infested waters.
Forced into the mountains, sifting sand for gold, amidst deep forests and toxic waters.
Harvesting creatures, capturing birds for repayment, setting traps everywhere,
Confusing the people, trapping black deer, laying snares everywhere.
Devastating insects, plants, and grass,
Replacing the young with the elderly in misery.
The hungry child, the toothless old, blood and fat fill their stomachs without contentment.
Building houses today, molding earth tomorrow, hands and feet tirelessly toiling.
Weighed down by the burdens of endless servitude,
Ruining all the farming and weaving trades.'

They were ruthless, devoid of humanity, employing countless tactics to subjugate our nation. The hardworking people, innocent and pitiable, suffered their cunning schemes of exploitation and slaughter. The actions of the invading forces were barbaric, 'blackening the people' over ruthless flames for perverse enjoyment or 'burying' them in vile pits to satisfy their cruelty. They used the lives of our people as a mockery. Is there any act more savage than this? Not only did they exploit our people with various oppressive taxes, but the Ming invaders also looted all the rare commodities of our nation to satisfy their insatiable greed. Our people were forced into the sea to search for pearls, into the mountains for gold, facing countless perils such as sharks, treacherous currents, and the harshness of sacred forests and toxic waters. They set nets and traps to capture birds for clothing and bedding, black deer for medicinal purposes. Even the plant life was not spared. They 'destroyed creatures, captured birds, set traps everywhere,' exploiting our people endlessly for building houses, molding earth tirelessly, making 'all farming and weaving trades ruinous,' yet 'their stomachs were filled with blood and fat without contentment.' All these cruel exploitations did not satisfy their greed. They caused the dispersion and ruin of families, leading to scenes of 'misery,' sorrow when wives left husbands and children lost fathers. The crimes of the Ming invaders cannot be forgiven, 'South Mountain Bamboo cannot record all the crimes,' 'East Sea water cannot wash away the filth' they brought. The boundless nature of South Mountain Bamboo and the East Sea cannot compare to the endless cruelty of the Ming invaders over two decades, 'forging enmity, spreading hatred.' The author employs listing, exaggeration, and a gradual questioning style with images that are both general and specific to denounce the Ming invaders' atrocities with deep-seated hatred.

Faced with the enemy's invasion, the hero Le Loi 'roused the uprising,' leading the Lam Son uprising:

'Contemplating a great vengeance, challenging the heavens above,
Hating the invaders, pledging not to live together.'

Unable to coexist under the same sky as the enemy, Le Loi raised the banner of rebellion for the country, for the well-being of the people. But when the 'banner of justice rose,' it was precisely when the 'enemy forces were strong.' Furthermore:

'Graceful brilliance like the morning star,
Talent shines like autumn leaves,
Tasks are lightened with the right aides,
Where virtues are scarce, discussions are rare.'

At the beginning of the uprising, the heroic Le Loi faced numerous challenges as the enemy was strong, lacking in capable individuals, and the strategic discussions were scarce. The number of talents and soldiers was limited, and provisions were running out. Despite the overwhelming difficulties, the general 'persevered in overcoming hardships,' knowing that with the unity and solidarity of the people, the uprising would surely triumph. Without flags, our people used bamboo as flags; lacking enough wine to encourage the troops, Le Loi poured wine into the river, ensuring the generals drank together in unity, sharing a 'sweet wine cup.'

Le Loi not only united the entire nation but also knew how to employ strategic tactics against the enemy, 'using weakness to resist strength,' 'making the most of little against much.' However, more importantly, Le Loi always upheld the noble idea of humanity:

'Deploying benevolence to conquer cruelty,
Embracing human spirit to counteract tyranny.'

Thanks to unwavering determination, overcoming every challenge, and fierce fighting spirit, the righteous army achieved resounding victories:

'Deploying grand ideals to conquer cruelty,
Embracing human spirit to counteract tyranny.
The Battle of Bồ Đằng echoed with thunder and lightning,
In Trà Lân, bamboo splits as ash flies.
The warrior's spirit intensified,
The army's vigor grew stronger.
Trần Trí and Sơn Thọ lost their breath,
Lý An and Phương Chính sought breathless escape.
Pursuing the victory, our forces reclaimed Tây Kinh,
Troops advanced, reclaiming the ancient lands of Đông Đô.
Ninh Kiều's blood flowed like a river, lingering for thousands of miles,
Tuỵ Động's odor filled the interior, a stench left for eternity.
Enemy generals Trần Hiệp and Lý Lượng succumbed,
The flames Mã Anh tried to extinguish flared stronger.
Vương Thông eased the crisis, yet the burning fires grew even fiercer,
Mã Anh saved the battle, our forces surged more fervently.'

Our forces engaged with formidable strength and fierce determination, causing the enemy to disintegrate easily, swiftly like split bamboo, ash flying. Seeing this, the four Ming generals Trần Trí, Sơn Thọ, Lý An, Phương Chính 'lost their breath,' 'sought breathless escape,' while others perished or surrendered. Battles at Chi Lăng, Mã An, Cần Trạm, and others forced Ming generals to either commit suicide, beg for mercy, or 'climb over each other to escape.' The fighting spirit of the righteous army, depicted by Nguyễn Trãi, can be summarized in two lines:

'After one battle, no surprise left,
After two battles, the enemy scattered like birds in a trap.'

That strength compelled 'Minister Hoàng Phúc to bind his hands in submission,' while Admiral Thôi Tụ 'presented a confession.' Our forces' triumph caused 'official seals to change,' 'sun and moon brilliance to fade,' the enemy's path to be 'filled with corpses,' and their blood to 'color the waters red.' The remarkable victory turned ordinary clothed hero Lê Lợi into a skilled strategist, admired for his military tactics. Notably, his iron-willed determination, overcoming all obstacles, and compassionate actions, like providing boats for Mã Kì and Phương Chính and horses for Vương Thông and Mã Anh to return home, left the enemy 'bewildered' and 'hearts pounding with fear.' They couldn't believe that the leader of our uprising opened a path for their escape, a path back to their country. It was Lê Lợi's 'miraculous strategy' for our people to 'rest' and maintain peace between the two nations.

Describing our army's battles, the author used strong verbs like 'bewildered' and 'hearts pounding with fear,' adjectives indicating intensity such as 'the path filled with corpses,' 'blood flowing red in the waters,' 'blackened with blood,' 'horror breaking gallbladders,' etc. The timing and locations of the battles were listed to emphasize the Ming enemy's catastrophic failures. He displayed a mocking attitude toward the foe by calling them 'Tuyên Đức cowardly dogs,' 'Thạnh, Thăng cowards.'

The final part of the proclamation affirms the nation's independence:

'From this point forward, resilient forever,
Empire transforming anew from this juncture.
Wise governance returning, then prospering,
Sun and moon repentant, then bright again.
A thousand years, cleanse the deep-seated shame,
Enduring eternal peace throughout the ages.
Thanks to the sacred spirits of heaven and earth silently aiding;
Alas!
A united will for victory, henceforth glorious for a thousand years.
All corners of the vast seas peaceful, a new edict radiates everywhere.
Far and near, in this proclamation,
All shall know.'

Suppressing the Ming invaders, our nation embarked on a transformative journey. From stagnation to clarity, from dusk to dawn, it followed the inevitable course of history and the rise-and-fall pattern of every nation. The Lam Sơn uprising's triumphant victory ushered in a new era, laying the foundation for the flourishing Dai Viet under the reign of King Lê Lợi. The resplendent triumph was possible thanks to the silent support of the sacred spirits and the strength of the Lam Sơn righteous army, expelling the Ming enemy and restoring our land's pristine glory. Sustainable development is ensured when policies cater to the people's well-being appropriately.

With a tight structure, harmonious language in verses, and a skillfully balanced tone, 'The Great Proclamation of Bình Ngô' not only condemns Ming atrocities but also praises the triumph of the Lam Sơn uprising and the heroic Lê Lợi. Nguyễn Trãi elevated the humanitarian ideals of 'peaceful citizens,' 'eliminating tyranny,' and the concept of prioritizing the people's welfare for the nation's prosperity.