1. Sample Article 1
2. Sample Article 2
3. Sample Article 3
Children still dream of growing up to be a hero like Saint Giong. Imagine envisioning a dream where you meet Saint Giong and ask for his secrets. How would he advise you?
1. Sample 1:
Children across our country aspire to be knights like the legendary Saint Giong. I too am fond of the tale of this Heavenly King and occasionally recount it to my younger brother. Despite hearing this story hundreds of times, he never tires of it and always asks, 'Why does Saint Giong become a knight with just a stretch, while I stretch so many times every day and still remain small like this?' I just laugh and reply, 'I'll ask Saint Giong when I meet him.' Little did I know, I encountered him in a dream and received invaluable advice. I will always remember this dream.
In the dream, I found myself in a small village, and the house next to me was unusually silent. When I tried to knock on the door, something strange happened: my hand passed through the door. I walked in, and then I saw a mother sitting next to a crib with a baby. At first, I didn't know who it was, but later I realized it was a young Saint Giong. The mother sighed, 'Oh God, why do I suffer like this? We have only one son who is three years old and still can't speak!'
At that moment, the boy stood up, asking his mother to summon the envoy. He requested an iron whip, an iron horse, and iron armor to embark on a mission to fight the enemy. The neighbors supported him by contributing food, rice, and clothing, bidding him farewell at the village gate.
Observing the extraordinary feats of Saint Giong in the battlefield against invaders, I admire him for exerting every ounce of his strength to save the nation. It seems the patriotic blood flows within him, even as a three-year-old boy.
After Saint Giong defeated the enemy forces, he removed his armor, preparing to ascend to the sky when I approached. Upon seeing my perplexed expression, Saint Giong spoke:
- Is there something you wish to ask me?
- Yes, sir! - I replied. - How do you possess such extraordinary strength?
- Ah, there are many reasons. Firstly, I am not only a child of the great people of Van Lang but also a child of divine beings. I grew up in the land of Vietnam, grateful for my parents and kind neighbors who always share and help each other.
Secondly, always stand for righteousness, and you will always triumph. Stand for evil, and you will be tainted with wickedness and cruelty.
Thirdly, maintain a disciplined lifestyle, exercise, and sustain both physical and mental well-being. Keep your soul pure.
And finally: See who provides you with food and clothing? It is the people. But if it's only one person, you'll never be like this. Unity is the key to success, my child. Unity is the extraordinary power.
Remember my words. Combining these four principles, one will have unparalleled strength that no enemy can withstand. Keep it in mind!
Before I could express my gratitude, the alarm clock rang, 'Reeng... Reeng...'. Reflecting on the advice of the Heavenly King, Saint Giong, I found it truly beneficial. Starting today, I will apply his wisdom to my life.
2. Sample 2:
In my childhood, I cherished the weekends when my mother took me to my grandparents' house. I enjoyed sleeping next to my grandmother and listening to her tales of days gone by. Even now, as I've grown up, I still enjoy lying beside her, listening intently as she narrates those stories to my younger brother. Leaning my head on her arm, hearing her gentle voice, I often drift into a dreamy state and fall asleep, wondering if those moments are a dream.
Her voice whispered like a distant echo. Legend has it that in the ancient village of Saint Giong, there lived a widowed woman alone, childless. One day, as she wandered in the fields, she noticed an unusually large footprint. Curiously, she placed her foot in it and unexpectedly found herself pregnant, giving birth to a handsome and robust son.
However, for three years, the boy she raised remained mute and expressionless. In that year, the ruthless invaders, the An aggressors, mercilessly invaded our land, leaving despair and cries among the people. Concerned, the king sent envoys in search of a talented individual to resist the invaders. Upon hearing the envoy's proclamation, the boy suddenly spoke to his mother, expressing his desire to join the fight against the enemy.
Consuming seven bowls of rice and seven servings of vegetables, standing up, he stretched, instantly towering several meters tall. The boy transformed into a brave knight, armed to eradicate the enemy. Wherever the iron horse and he went, the enemy fell like withered grass, iron rods shattered, and he even used bamboo sticks to defeat the foe. With the enemy vanquished, peace returned to the nation. Riding the iron horse, he ascended to the sky, becoming a saint of the land, revered as one of the four immortals of the Vietnamese people...
In the ethereal mist, I strained my eyes to see, a silhouette of a noble knight on a magnificent steed seemed to approach. The knight smiled kindly at me, then gracefully dismounted. In awe, I stammered:
- Are you... are you Saint Giong?
The noble knight led his iron horse to me, smiling and said:
- Indeed, I am Saint Giong. You can call me 'Grandpa' if you'd like!
I was captivated, unable to believe my eyes. The saintly figure asked:
- Is there something you want to ask me?
- Sir, your iron horse is so magnificent. How did you acquire such strength to fight the enemy?
The saint chuckled and said:
- I know what's in your heart, young one. Are you dreaming of growing up quickly, just like me back in the day?
I chuckled shyly:
- I do dream of growing up quickly, sir. I want to do so many things, but my mother always says I have to wait until I'm older. I need her permission for everything, even when visiting friends. I just hope to grow up so I can follow my own desires. And there's another thing, in school, there's a troublesome group of friends who bully others. I only wish for unbeatable strength to stand up to them, sir!
The knight chuckled heartily after hearing my words, then he spoke:
- You've heard tales of my strength, of my rapid growth, and you wish to grow swiftly and strong as well. But do you know, my strength is the strength of the nation, a culmination of the essence and hard work of the Vietnamese people. When I needed rice to grow, the entire village contributed; when I needed weapons to fight the enemy, skilled artisans crafted them. It's the strength of the people. People are the strength, each individual, like me, like you. If you want to grow quickly, you must diligently train both your body and mind. Your current age is the age of learning and growing, the foundation for your future strength. Also, about wanting to defeat those troublesome friends, it's not the right path, my child. Treat them as fellow students, not enemies. Encourage and guide them on the right path to become intelligent and healthy individuals, capable of achieving their dreams. That's what I hope for all of you! Now, ponder on what I've said. I must go now! Saying this, the noble knight leaped onto his horse, and they galloped away, disappearing into the space. I was startled awake, as if I had just experienced a dream.
However, it seems I've also understood that to have good health and accomplish many things in the future, I must study well, train my body, and enhance my intelligence from now on. This way, I can become a useful person for the country, just like Saint Giong.
3. Sample 3:
The night had fallen, everything began to sink into slumber, only the sound of crickets chirping in the garden could be heard. Unable to sleep, I sat leaning against the doorstep, reminiscing about the vibrant atmosphere of the afternoon procession in the Gióng festival.
Lost in my daydreams, suddenly, a bright light appeared, dazzling my eyes. Behind that radiance was a door shrouded in mist and smoke. Before I could fully grasp the surprise, the resonating sound of horses neighing and the clashing of weapons echoed through the chilling air. Intrigued, I stepped into the misty smoke and was astonished to find a scene of utter chaos. Piles of enemy corpses, the surviving scrambling in disarray to escape. In the distance, a noble knight, tall and robust, majestic and fierce, wielded an iron rod, slaying the enemies. Closer, the knight rode not a real horse but an iron steed spewing flames toward the foes. In the midst of the fierce battle, the iron rod broke, and the knight used bamboo sticks by the roadside to strike down the fleeing enemies. Overwhelmed by the intensely heroic scene, I was speechless.
The dream of meeting Saint Giong had lingered in me for a long time, as I considered him my idol. Now, witnessing him valiantly slaying the enemy, I couldn't help but be deeply moved. Boldly, I approached him and respectfully inquired:
- Are you Saint Giong, the hero of Phu Dong village, the one who drove away the An invaders in the legends?
Looking at me for a moment, Saint Giong replied, his voice noble and clear:
- Indeed. You look very unfamiliar; you must not be from around here?
- Indeed, you spoke the truth. I am the being of the distant future, a millennium ahead. Yet, I am also the 'Dragon's descendant, the Fairy's kin,' just like the people of Vietnam, the progeny of Your Excellency...
- That is correct. So, what brings you to my presence?
- Allow me to express my deep admiration for your extraordinary talents. I aspire to emulate the stature of 'Saint Giong.' Could you share the secret with me, please?
Listening to your innocent desire, Saint Giong chuckled. His laughter resonated through the nearby bamboo groves. Then, he spoke:
- My dear, I am delighted by your affection towards me. However, I must admit, there's no secret for me to impart. Perhaps, it is the love and support of the villagers of Giong's hamlet, and the people of Lac Viet in general, that have propelled me. You see, without the rice, clothing, love, and care from the neighbors, I could never have easily risen to the status of a hero as I am now. And without the iron horse, iron armor, and iron whip, it would have been challenging to chase away the An invaders. This glorious triumph is not solely my effort; it is the result of unity and mutual aid among the people of Dai Viet. Look at this sturdy iron whip; despite its robustness, it eventually breaks. However, the familiar bamboo stick remains resilient. Why? Because it is not alone; it is bound together with many bamboo sticks. Unity and love are the forces that conquer all foes.
Listening to the village hero Giong's reflections, I felt a profound understanding and increased admiration for him. Just as I was about to ask further questions, Giong spurred his horse, and they galloped away. All that lingered in my ears was a farewell greeting. Then, both the man and the horse slowly ascended into the sky, leaving behind a bright trail disappearing into the clouds...
Saint Giong is a famous legend depicting the heroic figure resisting foreign invaders, Saint Giong. For a detailed exploration of the content and significance of the work, you can further read: The meaning of the Saint Giong figure in the Saint Giong legend, Overview of the value of the content, distinctive artistry of the Saint Giong story, Analysis of the significance of fantastical, surreal details in the Saint Giong tale, Acting as Saint Giong, recounting the story after successfully driving away the enemy An.
