Essay Prompt: Embodying An Dương Vương to Retell the Tale of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu
Not only the topic of narrating the story of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu, Trọng Thuỷ in your own words, but you also often encounter the essay prompt of Embodying An Dương Vương to Retell the Tale of Mị Châu, Trọng Thuỷ. Therefore, let's take a look at the best sample essays of embodying An Dương Vương to retell the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thuỷ below to get an idea of how to write and narrate a concise yet meaningful story.
Sample essay: Acting as the character An Dương Vương retelling the story of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu
To write an essay embodying An Dương Vương to narrate the story better, you can learn more about each character such as An Dương Vương in this article and Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy. This helps you understand the characters better.
I. Outline for Embodying An Dương Vương to Retell the Tale of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy
I. Introduction:
Introduction about myself as the character An Dương Vương leading into the story
I am An Dương Vương, the king of Âu Lạc. Remembering the past, the story of building and losing the country caused me immense pain. That is perhaps the most valuable lesson of my life, and perhaps a lesson that everyone should deeply engrave in their hearts.
II. Body:
Narrate the events according to the story's development through the narration of the character An Dương Vương:
That year, after ascending the throne, I thought of building a strong fortress to protect the country, but sadly, every time we built the fortress, it collapsed.
Upon hearing that the land was haunted by the spirits of defeated generals who hindered our construction, I organized a male choir, pleading for divine protection.
It seemed the heavens heard the prayers of the people. On the third day of the third month, an old man from the East stood outside the fortress and lamented, 'When will this fortress ever be completed?' Intrigued, I invited him inside.
Upon learning he was a celestial envoy, I joyfully welcomed him into the palace, and inquired about the reason for the never-ending construction. He replied, 'Only with the help of Thanh Giang's people will the new fortress be successfully built,' before bidding farewell and departing.
Later, while I was boating on the lake, a Golden Turtle suddenly emerged, speaking in human language and claiming to be an envoy from Thanh Giang. Overjoyed, I quickly sent a carriage to welcome and escort the Golden Turtle into the fortress.
With the help of the Golden Turtle, the fortress was completed after half a month, taking on a spiral shape, known as Co Loa Citadel.
The Golden Turtle stayed with us for three years before departing. I asked for advice on how to deal with future invasions.
Before leaving, the Golden Turtle removed a claw and gave it to me, saying, 'Use this as the tip of your spear. When the enemy attacks, shoot them with it, and you will have nothing to fear.'
Upon hearing the advice of the Golden Turtle, I immediately ordered Cao Lỗ, a highly skilled general, to make a bow using the turtle's claw as the tip, naming it the 'Divine Golden Turtle Bow.'
Not long after, Trieu Da's army invaded our land. I used the divine bow to shoot, causing the enemy to fear and retreat, returning to Trâu Sơn to build fortresses and seek peace.
Some time later, Trieu Da proposed a marriage alliance for his son, expressing a desire to use the marriage to maintain peace between our nations.
I agreed to marry my beautiful daughter, Mị Châu, to Trọng Thủy, allowing him to stay in the palace.
However, that decision was indeed a mistake because I was extremely subjective and did not consider that my son-in-law would trick Mị Châu into showing him the divine bow and then exchange it for a fake one, taking the real bow to the North.
With the divine bow in hand, Trieu Da's army approached. Relying on the bow, I showed no fear.
Unfortunately, when I realized that it was not the real divine bow, it was too late. The enemy had advanced to the walls, and I had to flee to the South with Mị Châu.
As we fled, we could still see the enemy pursuing us. When we reached the coast, I knew it was the end of the road.
I shouted, 'Heaven has betrayed me! Where is the envoy of Thanh Giang, come and save me!' Suddenly, Rùa Vàng emerged from the water, shouting loudly, 'The one riding behind you is the enemy!'
I turned back in surprise, and could not believe my eyes when I saw the road covered with goose feathers, which was the reason the enemy could track me.
In my daughter Mị Châu's hand was a goose feather coat. I realized the truth, became extremely angry and heartbroken, and drew my sword to strike Mị Châu.
Seeing this, Mị Châu begged me, 'I am a woman, if I have the intention to harm my father, dying will turn me into dust. If I am loyal and am deceived, dying will turn me into a pearl to cleanse the shame and hatred.'
Despite the heartache, I could not forgive the traitor, the enemy of our nation, in my position as the leader of the country.
I followed Rùa Vàng and headed towards the sea.
Later, I heard that when my daughter Mị Châu died on the beach, her blood flowed into the water, and the sand grains turned into pearls. Trọng Thuỷ arrived, found my daughter dead, carried her body back to bury at Loa Thành, and her body turned into jade.
It turns out that when my daughter died, Trọng Thuỷ was also in pain and longing, and he committed suicide at a well. The water from that well washed the jade into the East Sea, where the jade became extremely bright and beautiful.
III. Conclusion:
Highlight the lesson and significance from the legend
II. Sample essay: Becoming An Dương Vương to recount the Tale of Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy
1. Sample essay: Imagining myself as An Dương Vương to retell the Tale of Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy, Part 1
I am An Dương Vương, the king of Âu Lạc. Looking back, the task of building and then losing the country was a painful lesson that left an indelible mark on me.
I remember when I first ascended the throne, I decided to build a fortress. However, the land was plagued by the spirits of defeated generals, making construction difficult. Seeking divine help, an old man from the East appeared and prophesied success with assistance from Thanh Giang. Sure enough, a Golden Turtle emerged from the water the next day, guiding us to complete the fortress.
Thanks to the Golden Turtle's help, the fortress was completed after half a month. It was named Loa Thành and stood strong and proud, symbolizing our perseverance.
After three years, the Golden Turtle left, leaving us with valuable advice on how to defend our land. It instructed us to use its claw as a crossbow bolt, ensuring victory against invaders.
Sample essay, Outline Play An Dương Vương recounts the story
Delighted, upon hearing the deity's words, I appointed Cao Lỗ to make the crossbow, used the turtle's claw as the bolt, and named it 'Spiritual Radiance Golden Turtle Crossbow'. Soon after, the Trieu Da army invaded, but we defeated them with the crossbow, forcing them to retreat and seek peace. The land was at peace, and I no longer worried much.
However, not long after, Da proposed a marriage alliance. I married my beautiful daughter Mị Châu to Da's son Trọng Thuỷ, letting him stay in the palace. Now, recalling it, I deeply regretted it as it was the biggest mistake in my life. I had never thought that my son-in-law could deceive my beloved daughter Mị Châu to take the crossbow and bring it back to his country. When Trieu Da got the crossbow, he attacked. Sadly, at that time, I was still unaware and unconcerned, playing chess while holding the crossbow, feeling invincible. It was truly unfortunate that when I realized the truth, it was too late. The enemy had approached the fortress, and I had to flee with Mị Châu to the south.
As we fled, we saw the enemy chasing us. When we reached the coast, we knew it was the end. With no other options, I remembered Thanh Giang and called out, 'Heaven help me, Thanh Giang, where are you, come and save me!' The Golden Turtle emerged from the water, loudly shouting that 'The person riding behind you is the enemy.' Turning back, I was shocked to see the road covered with goose feathers, and in Mị Châu's hand was a goose feather cloak. Understanding the situation, I was extremely angry. Unable to bear it, I was both angry and heartbroken, so I drew my sword and struck Mị Châu. Seeing this, Mị Châu pleaded, 'I am a woman, if I betray my father, I will turn to dust. If I am deceived while being loyal, I will turn into a gem to cleanse the shame and hatred.' Despite the pain, I could not forgive as a traitor to the nation.
Then I followed the Golden Turtle into the sea. My daughter Mị Châu died on the beach, her blood flowing into the water, forming a pearl, just as she had prayed. When my son-in-law Trọng Thuỷ arrived and saw that my daughter had died, he embraced her and buried her at Loa Thành, where her body turned into a gemstone. Devastated by my daughter's death, Trọng Thuỷ also committed suicide by throwing himself into a well. The water from that well washed the gem into the East Sea, where it became a bright and beautiful pearl, a testament to Mị Châu's innocence and foolishness.
This is a story passed down through generations that haunts me endlessly, and I can never forgive myself. It was only a moment of carelessness that cost us our country. I realize this is a painful lesson for me, making me feel guilty towards the people and the nation.
2. Sample essay Become An Dương Vương to recount the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy number 2
Today, I sincerely admit my mistake of inadvertently causing a war for the people of Âu Lạc that should never have happened.
I am An Dương Vương, the king who built the strong fortress of Cổ Loa and was gifted the divine crossbow by the Golden Turtle, ensuring peace for all. Despite several invasions by Triệu Đà, he was defeated by the mystical power of the divine crossbow: a single arrow could bring down many soldiers. Angry, he waited for his chance; meanwhile, I, proud of my achievements, did not consider Triệu Đà's treacherous schemes.
One day, a messenger of peace from Triệu Đà came with offerings seeking peace. I agreed immediately, not wanting to prolong the war. He then sent his son, Trọng Thủy, to propose to my daughter, Mị Châu. Trọng Thủy was a charming young man, easily winning the hearts of me and my daughter. Triệu Đà then officially sent gifts to propose to Mị Châu for Trọng Thủy. Mị Châu had long been in love with Trọng Thủy, so I had no reason to refuse. They married and lived happily together. However, Trọng Thủy seemed somewhat unusual to me.
After some time, Trọng Thủy asked to visit his father and returned shortly after. I arranged a feast for him and poured wine, but he refused. Instead, he continuously offered me wine until I became intoxicated, barely seeing his figure pass by before I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found Trọng Thủy sitting beside me respectfully saying:
- Honored father, are you feeling better now?
- I'm fine. Why don't you go to Mị Châu? I whispered.
- My dear wife already has servants taking care of her! He replied lightly.
I continued:
- Alright, go visit your wife then.
He respectfully greeted:
- May I have your permission, father? I'm going.
The stories of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu, Trọng Thuỷ are often recounted through the role-playing of An Dương Vương.
The stories of impersonating An Dương Vương recounting the tales of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu, Trọng Thuỷ are popular.
All the doubts within me have completely vanished. Living peacefully, Trọng Thủy unexpectedly asked to return home, leaving Mị Châu extremely sad. Just a few days later, Triệu Đà brought his army over in force. I was surprised, but trusting in the divine crossbow, I calmly sat playing chess, waiting for the enemy to approach the city before shooting. Unexpectedly, the divine crossbow lost its effectiveness and the enemy was entering the city. Both frightened and puzzled, I couldn't understand why the divine crossbow was no longer working. In the end, faced with the urgent situation, I and Mị Châu mounted our horses and fled eastward. But no matter where we ran, we could hear the enemy's cheers chasing after us. Along the way, I looked towards the sea and called upon the Golden Turtle God for help. Suddenly, the god appeared and said firmly, 'The enemy is behind the king!'
I turned back to see only Mị Châu with her goose-feather coat now missing all its feathers. I suddenly understood everything. It turned out that the enemy had traced the goose feathers to find us. And it was Mị Châu, my innocent daughter, who inadvertently revealed the national secret to the spy Trọng Thủy, which led to this day. In utter despair, with no other way out, I drew my sword and killed Mị Châu before committing suicide. But the Golden Turtle God turned the sea for me to descend into the sea.
This is the true story of my life, of King An Dương Vương who did not guard against the enemy, thus leading to the collapse of the nation. I hope that future successors will see this as a bloody lesson to heed.
3. Impersonating An Dương Vương to recount the tale of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy, entry 3
The incident happened long ago, but whenever it is mentioned, I cannot help but regret the mistake I made, letting the country fall into the hands of the enemy. Even now, the remorse and regret still haunt me.
Previously, I was the beloved king of Âu Lạc, named Thục Phán. I built a fortress in the land of Việt Thường, but unfortunately, it collapsed wherever it was built up. I was sad, I was disappointed. I assembled talented men, prayed to a hundred deities, hoping for help. I always hoped that someone would help me with this difficult fortress. Surprisingly, on the seventh day of the third month, from the east, an old man came to the gate and lamented, 'When will this fortress be completed!'. I was delighted, guessing that he was the talent I was looking to recruit. I immediately sent someone to welcome him into the palace, made a welcoming ceremony, and expressed my heart. I was sincere in explaining: 'I have built this fortress many times, it has cost me a lot of effort but has not succeeded, so what should I do?'. After listening, the old man replied, 'The Thanh Giang envoy will come to help the king build a new successful fortress'. After saying goodbye, the old man left without giving me a chance to ask anything else.
All that night, I stayed awake, unable to sleep, pondering the words of the old man. The next morning, I went to the east gate early, waiting. Suddenly, I saw a Golden Turtle from the east, floating on the water. Strangely, it spoke in a human voice and introduced itself as the envoy of Thanh Giang, revealing the secrets of heaven and earth, yin and yang, demons and gods. I was overjoyed because the person I needed had appeared. Just as the old man had informed me earlier, the envoy of Thanh Giang had now appeared. I immediately prepared the ceremony, used a golden carriage to bring him into the city.
The fortress was built faster than I thought. Within half a month, the fortress was completed. The fortress looked very beautiful. I still remember that the fortress was wider than a thousand yards, twisting like a spiral shell, so it was called Loa Thành or also known as Quỷ Long Thành. I was delighted when the fortress was completed. I was somewhat relieved for the peace of the villagers. The Golden Turtle stayed with us for three years before saying goodbye and leaving. At the farewell, I expressed my gratitude: 'Thanks to the grace of the gods, the fortress has been built. Now if there are any external enemies, what can we use to defend against them?'. The Golden Turtle replied, 'The fate of the country's rise and fall, the solution to peace and danger, are all in the hands of fate. Humans can extend their fate by cultivating virtue. Why would the king regret?'. After saying that, the Golden Turtle removed a claw and gave it to me, saying, 'Use this as the crossbow, shoot at the enemy, and you will have nothing to worry about'. With that, the Golden Turtle returned to the East Sea.
I quickly instructed Cao Lỗ to make a bow, using the turtle's claw as the crossbow. I called the bow the 'Divine Golden Turtle Bow'. Not long after, as I feared, the enemy invaded. Triệu Đà brought his army to battle, aiming to capture the fortress. I took out the divine bow and shot; every shot hit its mark, and Triệu Đà suffered a humiliating defeat. He withdrew his troops to Trâu Sơn, built fortifications, and did not dare to engage in battle, instead sending a letter seeking peace.
The people's lives became peaceful and stable. I had a beautiful daughter, gentle and lovely, named Mị Châu, who was of marriageable age. At that time, Đà came to propose. I unwittingly agreed, without considering our past enmity. I thought this marriage was a harmonious union, that the children would be happy for a hundred years. But I was wrong. This was just Đà's scheme to steal my divine bow. However, at that time, I didn't pay attention. Mị Châu was a obedient daughter, a loving wife. One day, when Mị Châu showed Trọng Thủy the divine bow, Trọng Thủy exchanged it for a normal bow and took it to the North under the pretext of visiting his father. At that time, I still didn't know that my beloved daughter had inadvertently handed the divine bow to the enemy.
Not long after Trọng Thủy went North, Triệu Đà brought his army to attack. I was also unaware that Đà still harbored deep resentment from our previous defeat. But I had the divine bow in hand, so I was calm, casually playing chess. I disregarded how Đà attacked. Only when Đà's troops approached did I take out the divine bow to fight. But... where was the divine bow? It was just a very ordinary bow. I panicked when I realized the divine bow had been stolen. I fled to the South with my daughter. As we ran, Mị Châu silently scattered goose feathers along the way, which I was unaware of. When we reached the sea, with no way out, I cried out, 'Heaven help me, where is the envoy of Thanh Giang, please come and save me'. Only then did the Golden Turtle appear and say, 'The enemy is behind you'. I turned to Mị Châu, stunned to see my daughter was the enemy, the one who had led me to this dead end. Without hesitation, I drew my sword and killed Mị Châu, blood flowing. I grabbed the seven-span horn, and the Golden Turtle led me into the sea.
I am now living in the underwater palace, but I cannot help but mourn for my country. I was wrong, too confident, and did not guard against the enemy, so that when everything went wrong, there was no way out. I hope no one else will be careless like me, nor lose vigilance like me, so that bad things will not happen.
4. Sample Essay on Becoming An Dương Vương to Retell the Story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy #4
In the treasure trove of Vietnamese literature, my favorite story is 'An Dương Vương and Mị Châu - Trọng Thủy' because it is one of the typical stories of mythology. The story provides an overview of how An Dương Vương built his citadel, created the divine crossbow, and helps us understand the tragic love story between Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy, as well as the reason for the loss of the country of Âu Lạc.
An Dương Vương was the king of Âu Lạc. When the king built the citadel, wherever he built, it collapsed, so the king set up a men's club to seek divine help. On the seventh day of the third month, an old man suddenly came from the east. The king immediately invited him in and asked him questions. The old man said that the envoy of Thanh Giang would come to help the king build the citadel and then leave. The next day, a Golden Turtle came from the east and claimed to be the envoy of Thanh Giang to help the king. Thanks to the help of the Golden Turtle, the citadel was completed in just half a month. The citadel was shaped like a spiral shell, so it was called Loa Citadel. After three years, the Golden Turtle bid farewell and left. An Dương Vương thought about how to protect the country, so he asked for the advice of the Golden Turtle. The Golden Turtle gave the king its claws and advised him to use them as the crossbow's bolt.
Imagine yourself as An Dương Vương to retell the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy
Some time later, Triệu Đà invaded with his army, and the king took out the divine crossbow. Triệu Đà's army was defeated, and they sought peace. The miraculous element of the Golden Turtle helped An Dương Vương achieve a rightful and popularly supported goal.
Not long after, Triệu Đà proposed marriage. An Dương Vương married his daughter Mị Châu to Đà's son Trọng Thủy. Trọng Thủy deceived Mị Châu into seeing a different claw as a replacement for the Golden Turtle's claw. Trọng Thủy lied to Mị Châu and fled north. With the divine crossbow in hand, Triệu Đà invaded. Due to his arrogance, An Dương Vương failed. The tragic loss of Âu Lạc was due to the arrogance of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu. An Dương Vương lost his country due to arrogance, disdain, and lack of vigilance against the enemy. Mị Châu lost vigilance when she showed the divine crossbow to Trọng Thủy. She prioritized personal feelings over the nation and the people. The Golden Turtle's verdict, 'The one behind you is the enemy,' represents justice, standing above the interests of the people and the nation to judge Mị Châu's unwitting treason. By killing Mị Châu, An Dương Vương upheld the interests of the country and the nation to judge Mị Châu. The lesson from the loss of Âu Lạc is the need to handle both public and private relationships properly. Mị Châu did not prioritize her responsibilities over her emotions, leading to the loss of the country.
After killing Mị Châu, An Dương Vương followed the Golden Turtle into the sea. This event shows that An Dương Vương did not die in the hearts of the people but earned their respect and support.
After seizing Âu Lạc, Trọng Thủy followed the trail of goose feathers that Mị Châu had scattered. When Đà's army arrived, they found nothing but Mị Châu's body. Trọng Thủy was so sorrowful for Mị Châu that he once thought he saw her shadow in the well and threw himself down to death. It is believed that when one takes pearls from the East Sea to wash at this well, the pearls will shine brighter. This detail shows the tolerance of the people.
By using character images and fictional details in the legend of 'An Dương Vương and Mị Châu - Trọng Thủy,' our people have explained the reason for the loss of Âu Lạc. Through this, our people want to draw a historical lesson about the spirit of vigilance against enemies and the proper handling of both personal and collective relationships, between family and country, and between individuals and the community.
5. Sample essay Acting as An Dương Vương to retell the Story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy Number 5
After inheriting the nation-building mission of the 18 Hùng kings, An Dương Vương Thục Phán defeated the fifty thousand troops of the Qin invasion; changed the name of Văn Lang to Âu Lạc and moved the capital from the Nghĩa Lĩnh mountains, Phong Châu region to the Phong Khê region, also known as the Kẻ Chủ region, the ancient Loa, Đông Anh, Hanoi today.
An Dương Vương immediately started building the citadel, but unfortunately, every day it rose, and every night it fell, never to be completed. The king then ordered officials to establish a gathering to pray for the help of hundreds of spirits and gods. On the seventh day of the third month of that year, the king suddenly saw an old man with white hair and beard, leaning on a bamboo cane, leisurely walking from the East to the gate of the citadel, raising his head and lamenting, 'When will this construction be completed?' Delighted, An Dương Vương escorted the old man into the palace, respectfully asking, 'We have spent a lot of effort building this citadel but to no avail, what is the reason?' The old man leisurely replied, 'Only when the envoy of Thanh Giang comes to help the king build it will it be successful.' After speaking, the old man bid farewell and left.
The next morning, a large turtle emerged from the water, claiming to be the envoy of Thanh Giang, telling An Dương Vương that to build the citadel, all the monsters that often disturb the peace must be eradicated. Indeed, after Rùa Vàng helped the king eliminate the monsters, the citadel was completed in about half a month. The citadel was built in the shape of a spiral shell, wider than a thousand trượng, so it was called the Spiral Citadel or Loa Citadel. Rùa Vàng stayed for three years before leaving. Upon parting, An Dương Vương thanked it, saying, 'Thanks to the deity, the citadel has been built. Now, if enemies come, what will we use to defend?' Rùa Vàng removed a claw and gave it to An Dương Vương, instructing him to use it as the lẫy for the crossbow. When the enemy comes, just aim and shoot, then there will be nothing to worry about. With that, Rùa Vàng returned to the East Sea. The king sent a talented general, Cao Lỗ, to create a large crossbow using Rùa Vàng's claw as the lẫy, which became the divine crossbow Kim Quy.
Shortly after, Triệu Đà invaded Âu Lạc. An Dương Vương used the divine crossbow, killing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers with each shot. They panicked and fled back to the Trâu Mountains, where they held out for a few days before retreating. The people of Âu Lạc joyously celebrated the glorious victory of their talented king.
Seeing that attacking Âu Lạc directly was not working, Triệu Đà devised another cunning scheme. He had his son, Trọng Thủy, propose to marry Mị Châu, the beloved daughter of An Dương Vương. Without any suspicion, the king gladly agreed to the marriage and even allowed Trọng Thủy to stay in the Loa Citadel.
Following his father's instructions, Trọng Thủy secretly searched everywhere and finally discovered the secret of the divine crossbow. Mị Châu, being kind-hearted and genuinely loving her husband, revealed the hiding place of the divine crossbow to Trọng Thủy. Trọng Thủy made a replica lẫy identical to the real one and switched it, replacing Rùa Vàng's claw. Afterward, Trọng Thủy said to his wife, 'The bond between husband and wife cannot be forgotten, and the duty to parents cannot be abandoned. I will now return to visit my father, and if the two nations fall into discord, separated by North and South, I will return to find you. How shall we recognize each other?' Mị Châu innocently replied, 'I have a goose feather cloak that I often wear. In times of trouble, wherever I go, I will scatter goose feathers at the crossroads as a mark for us to find each other.'
Upon Trọng Thủy's return home, Triệu Đà immediately mobilized his troops to attack Âu Lạc. Hearing the news that tens of thousands of enemy troops had crossed the border, relying on his divine crossbow, King An Dương remained calm, playing chess and saying, 'Is Đà not afraid of the divine crossbow?' As the Đà army approached the city gate, the king ordered the use of the divine crossbow, but it no longer functioned.
Father and son had no choice but to mount their horses and flee southward, but wherever they went, the enemy troops followed their goose feather marks. Reaching the sea shore, King An Dương loudly called out, 'Sứ Thanh Giang, come quickly to rescue us!' Immediately, the Golden Turtle appeared, pointing to Mị Châu's image and telling King An Dương, 'The one sitting behind is the enemy!' Understanding the situation, King An Dương became enraged, ready to strike Mị Châu with his sword, but at that moment, Trọng Thủy arrived. He rushed in to intercept the unjust blow from King An Dương meant for his beloved wife. Suddenly, the water parted, and the Golden Turtle took King An Dương into the sea. Mị Châu's eyes filled with tears, running after her father, but the furious waves stopped her in her tracks. She collapsed beside her husband's body, weeping.
6. Model essay: Transforming into An Dương Vương to recount the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy number 6
The story takes place during the early days of nation building and defense. As An Dương Vương, I desired to build a strong nation where people live well and to fend off foreign invaders. I began building the Cổ Loa citadel, but strangely, it never seemed to be completed. With the help of the envoy Thanh Giang, the citadel was completed in a short time. The Golden Turtle even bestowed upon me its claw and made the divine crossbow capable of quickly eliminating enemies to prevent the threat from Triệu Đà's army. Thus, from then on, the country would live in peace, and the people would live comfortably.
The enemy's plot was deep and unpredictable. Knowing they couldn't defeat the Âu Lạc army, they devised a plan to delay the war and sent their son, Trọng Thủy, as a son-in-law, hoping for peace. Seeing that my daughter Mị Châu was very fond of Trọng Thủy, I finally agreed to the marriage.
Trọng Thủy had planned beforehand to swap the divine crossbow and used the excuse of returning home to visit his father. Shortly after, Triệu Đà invaded with his army, relying on the divine crossbow. I remained calm, but strangely, the divine crossbow no longer worked, realizing I had been deceived and the situation was dire, I took Mị Châu and fled southward.
Reaching a dead end, I shouted:
- Envoy Thanh Giang, come quickly to rescue us.
The Turtle appeared and replied:
- The enemy is right behind the king.
Seeing the goose feathers Mị Châu had scattered on the road helped guide the enemy, I understood that it was because of Mị Châu's blind trust that the divine crossbow was stolen. I shouted loudly and swung my sword, killing my beloved daughter. With my country lost and my home destroyed, I was so disappointed that I decided to commit suicide by sword. However, the Golden Turtle saved me by using its power to part the waters and help me descend into the sea.
In life, excessive trust and lack of vigilance against the enemy have led to the destruction of everything in an instant. This is a profound lesson that both I and future generations must deeply remember.
7. Model essay: Transforming into An Dương Vương to recount the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy number 7
I am An Dương Vương, the king of Âu Lạc. I am now under the sea with the help of the Golden Turtle. I still remember vividly how I lost my country to the enemy. Now, I will recount to everyone that heartbreaking story that I may never forget.
After I struggled to build the citadel, it seemed to collapse wherever it was built. One day, I met the Golden Turtle and received its help. Finally, I was able to build a solid citadel named Loa Thành or Cổ Loa.
The Golden Turtle stayed for three years before returning. Before leaving, it took its claw and gave it to me, saying, 'Use this claw to make the spearhead for the divine crossbow and fight against the enemy.' I thanked the Golden Turtle and bid it farewell. I then gave the task of making the spearhead to Cao Lỗ. Thus, I obtained a divine crossbow that, when fired, could release a hundred arrows and kill hundreds of enemy soldiers.
When Triệu Đà invaded Âu Lạc, I was able to defeat him thanks to the divine crossbow. Later, Triệu Đà came to propose that his son, Trọng Thủy, marry my daughter Mị Châu - my beloved daughter. Out of friendship between our nations, I agreed. Moreover, I thought I had the divine crossbow with me, so the enemy could do nothing.
Looking at Trọng Thủy, I saw that he was a handsome man. He didn't seem like a bad person, so I agreed to marry my daughter to him, only hoping that Mị Châu would be happy. However, because I loved my daughter too much, I couldn't bear to be separated from her and feared that when she returned home, her husband would not treat her well. Therefore, I proposed to Triệu Đà that Trọng Thủy stay as a son-in-law. Unexpectedly, Triệu Đà agreed immediately, and I did not know his scheme. It was only later that I realized I had inadvertently helped his plan.
During his stay as a son-in-law, Trọng Thủy always appeared to be a good person, so I had no reason to suspect him and loosened my guard. Little did I know that he would take advantage of my innocent daughter. He seduced Mị Châu and led her to the hiding place of the divine crossbow, swapping it out. After achieving his goal, he asked to return home to visit his father. Mị Châu, although saddened, agreed.
Not long after, indeed, Triệu Đà brought his army to attack. I remained calm, relying on the divine crossbow, still sitting and playing chess. When the enemy advanced to the city gate, I finally ordered someone to bring out the divine crossbow to shoot. At this moment, I realized the divine crossbow was missing and knew that it had been stolen, and the culprit was Trọng Thủy - my daughter's husband. Seeing the difficulty in fighting the enemy, I mounted my horse and put Mị Châu behind me, riding southward. We ran to the sea, but the enemy continued to pursue. I shouted loudly, 'Golden Turtle, come quickly to save us!' The Golden Turtle appeared and said, 'The enemy is right behind you.' This statement surprised me because behind me was only my beloved daughter. But when I saw her goose feather garment become tattered, I suddenly awakened and realized everything.
Despite not wanting to, when I thought about the country being lost and so many innocent people harmed, I took the sword and killed my own daughter. Then, with the help of the Golden Turtle, I descended into the sea and have stayed here until today. Later, I learned that Mị Châu had realized her mistake. Mị Châu said, 'If a loyal heart is deceived by others, I am willing to turn into a precious gem.' After her death, Mị Châu's body turned into jade, and her blood turned into pearls. This demonstrates Mị Châu's loyalty to the country. After that, Trọng Thủy also died of a broken heart.
From this valuable lesson, I want to advise everyone not to be complacent, despise enemies, easily trust others, and to prioritize the interests of the people over personal interests to avoid regret like me.
8. Model essay: Transforming into An Dương Vương to recount the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy number 8
After establishing the kingdom of Âu Lạc and settling in Phong Châu, knowing that Triệu Đà had not given up his scheme of invasion, I immediately ordered the construction of the Cổ Loa citadel to defend against distant enemies. Thanks to the dedication of my officials and the people, the citadel was erected within a few months. However, unexpectedly, just overnight, the walls of the citadel suddenly collapsed in a strange manner. Repeatedly built and collapsed for several years, the citadel was still not completed, and the people suffered endlessly. I was extremely angry, thinking that someone was secretly sabotaging and obstructing me from building the citadel. After inquiring with the people, I learned that every night they heard the sound of footsteps as if hundreds of soldiers were moving. It was Kê Tinh on the mountain, coming down every night to destroy the citadel for revenge. Thanks to the advice of the Golden Turtle, I was able to defeat Kê Tinh.
From then on, the fortress was built solidly and quickly completed. It was as sturdy as a rock, as firm as a mountain, thunder could not bring it down, rain could not wash it away, no matter how strong the enemy, they could not destroy it. The Golden Turtle even gave me one of its claws to use as the arrow rest for the crossbow to defend the fortress. According to the advice of the deity, an arrow with an arrow rest made of a divine claw would be a crossbow that shoots a hundred arrows and hits a hundred, and just one shot could kill thousands of enemies. I immediately selected one of the artisans named Cao Lỗ to craft the crossbow, and gave it to Lỗ to make the divine crossbow. Lỗ worked hard for many days before completing it. The crossbow was very large and very strong, completely different from ordinary crossbows, only a strong man could pull it, it was called the 'Divine Golden Turtle Crossbow.' I valued the divine crossbow immensely, always keeping it close to where I slept.
At that time, Triệu Đà ruled over Nam Hải, and several times sent troops to invade Âu Lạc, but because I had the divine crossbow, the Nam Hải troops rebelled several times but all suffered heavy defeats so they had to defend and wait for the right moment. Triệu Đà, seeing that the use of force was not beneficial, sought reconciliation with Âu Lạc, sending his son Trọng Thuỷ to seek marriage. I had long desired the two countries to be in harmony, to end the fighting for the people to suffer less, so I accepted the marriage proposal. The two countries even united Trọng Thuỷ, son of Triệu Đà, and Mị Châu, my daughter, in marriage to strengthen the bonds of friendship. Triệu Đà and I also pledged not to use force so that the people of the two countries could enjoy peace.
However, that was a mistake on my part, causing the country to be lost, the dynasty to be destroyed, and the people to be submerged in misery. Trọng Thủy, upon arriving in Âu Lạc, harbored hatred, wanting to obtain the secret of the divine crossbow, plotting to destroy the nation. It was a despicable plan of Triệu Đà. He tempted my daughter to sneak a look at the divine crossbow and secretly made another arrow rest to replace the Golden Turtle's claw, lying that he was going north to visit his father. My daughter, trusting by nature, revealed the national secret, and in the face of Trọng Thủy's abnormal actions, did not suspect anything.
Returning to Nam Hải, Trọng Thuỷ gave his father, Triệu Đà, the claw of the Golden Turtle. Triệu Đà was extremely delighted, exclaiming, 'Now Âu Lạc will fall into my hands.' Just a few days later, Triệu Đà ordered the troops to attack Âu Lạc. Hearing the news, I relied on the divine crossbow, feeling invulnerable. Cao Lỗ advised me to deploy troops to guard, but I laughed, saying that I already had the divine crossbow, Triệu Đà surely wouldn't dare to do this foolish act. When the enemy troops arrived at the foot of the fortress, I ordered the divine crossbow to be shot, but it no longer had any effect. Triệu Đà's troops quickly broke through the fortress gates and rushed in like a storm.
Unprepared, I quickly mounted my horse, with my daughter behind me, and rode towards the eastern sea. As we fled, Mỵ Châu plucked goose feathers from her garment and scattered them along the way. Thinking that my daughter, in a moment of fear, did this to seek protection for me and the kingdom, I did not realize it was a signal for Trọng Thủy to follow.
The mountain road was rugged and dangerous, the horse ran continuously for days and nights until we reached Dạ Sơn near the coast. Planning to dismount and rest, we saw that the enemy was approaching. With the mountain road winding and steep, the shadows of evening falling, and no way to escape, I turned towards the sea, praying to the Golden Turtle deity to protect me. As I finished my prayer, a sandstorm rose, shrouding everything in darkness, shaking the entire mountain forest. The Golden Turtle deity appeared, loudly telling me that 'the enemy is behind the king'. Turning back, there was no one behind me, just Mỵ Châu crying bitterly. I suddenly realized the truth, drew my sword in anger. Mỵ Châu, now understanding the situation, spoke words of regret and was ready to accept death. I was deeply saddened, but treason against the country, this crime cannot be forgiven. Mỵ Châu's blood flowed like a river. The enemy chased us to the bank, the Golden Turtle deity ordered me to take a seven-span horn, then split the water to lead me down into the sea.
As for Trọng Thuỷ, when Triệu Đà's army had taken the fortress, Thủy alone, on a horse, followed the goose feather trail to find Mỵ Châu. Near the coast, he found his wife's body lying on the grass, though dead, her beauty was undiminished. Trọng Thuỷ, overwhelmed with grief, cried out loudly. He carefully picked up her body and buried it in the fortress, then plunged his head into the well inside the fortress and died. Thủy, though treacherous, causing Mỵ Châu's death, was only following Triệu Đà's orders. Thủy's death was also to fulfill the righteousness of husband and wife, regretting his crimes against his wife.
9. Sample essay on Transforming into An Dương Vương to recount the Story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy number 9
In the treasure trove of Vietnamese folklore, if fairy tales have 'Tấm Cám,' fables have 'The fortune teller who saw an elephant,' then legends have 'Me and Mỵ Châu - Trọng Thủy.' Legend is 'the art of selecting events and characters to construct artistic images, reflecting the most concentrated history of a locality, nation, or people... If history tries to accurately reflect events and characters, legends are more concerned with evoking the emotions and beliefs of listeners after those events and characters.' This can be seen as the first tragic story in national literature, which has brought many tears and resentment to readers. However, it is also because of this that we have learned a lesson for ourselves: do not be too subjective, scorn the enemy, and invite failure. The legend of 'Me and Mỵ Châu, Trọng Thủy,' excerpted from the story 'Golden Turtle' in 'Lĩnh Nam chích quái,' has depicted my achievements as the king of Âu Lạc in building fortresses, making crossbows, successfully defending the country, and the tragic love story of Mỵ Châu, intertwined with the tragedy of losing my country.
In the early days of founding the country, I made great contributions to the nation. I had the Co Loa fortress built with the hope that the people would be warm, well-fed, and happy. Despite the ongoing construction of the fortress, I prayed to the heavens and Buddha, keeping my heart pure. This is enough to see how devoted I was to the nation. With the help of the Thanh Giang envoy and my love for the country and compassion for the people, the fortress was completed in just half a month. Perhaps I was overjoyed to see that. I also worried about the fate of the country when my concerns were invaded by Đà with the Golden Turtle. The deity gave me a claw. I turned it into a fortress, a fortress that could shoot out thousands of arrows in a single shot (the people called it the divine crossbow). Thanks to that, the country of Âu Lạc was able to live in peace and prosperity. I realized that I was truly a wise ruler, someone who could see far and wide, and take care of the future troubles of the world.
But it also formed my self-complacency. When Đà came to propose, I agreed to marry my daughter to Đà's son, Trọng Thủy. The marriage between the two countries was already filled with animosity, a harbinger of future dangers.
'A pair of Vietnamese and Chinese,'
Half love, half resentment
'A pair of Vietnamese and Chinese' marrying each other was a highly dangerous move. However, I paid no heed to that. Perhaps I only hoped that the two countries would reconcile through this marriage and the people would not suffer. But I did not know that the enemy, even kneeling at my feet, remained extremely dangerous. I thought of the people, thought of the immediate benefits, but did not think of the impending dangers. Therefore, I led the whole country into 'deep-sea drowning.'
Self-complacency is the companion of failure. With the divine crossbow in hand, I seemed to have the victory in my grasp. The climax was when I was informed that Triệu Đà was coming to attack, yet I 'calmly sat playing chess, laughing and saying, 'Isn't Đà afraid of the divine crossbow?' I walked into the old trap, and at the most critical moment, I only knew to flee, with no other way to resist. When we reached the East Sea, I did not even recognize who the enemy was. I just looked up to the sky and cried 'heaven,' not knowing what to do. When the Golden Turtle deity appeared and said, 'The one sitting behind you is the enemy!' I drew my sword and killed my own daughter. That decisive, unwavering action proved that I was a wise ruler. I placed the country above personal matters, not allowing private affairs to sway my will. The Golden Turtle deity or the attitude of the working people supplemented all my shortcomings. When I couldn't build the fortress, the deity appeared to help, when I worried about the fate of the country, the deity also guided me, and at this moment, in the most critical situation, the deity appeared to help me. Could that be admiration, forgiveness for a wise ruler from the people? The details of 'the king holding the seven-span divine horn, the Golden Turtle guiding the king down to the sea' proved that. The ocean had opened its arms to welcome me back. The waves that washed ashore every year, do they still remember the pitiful image of the father and daughter?
If the miracle of building the Co Loa fortress was a glorious legendary victory, then my failure this time was deeply realistic. And the tragedy of losing the country originated from the love story of Mỵ Châu and Trọng Thủy. Mỵ Châu was the daughter of An Dương Vương, the wife of Trọng Thủy, and the daughter-in-law of Triệu Đà. She was very innocent, loving Trọng Thủy with the pure love of a daughter. She gave Trọng Thủy her whole heart. The key point was when she showed Trọng Thủy the divine crossbow. The divine crossbow was a national secret, a matter of state, yet she 'carelessly' showed it to Trọng Thủy. She was infatuated, foolish to the point of confusing 'filial love' and 'royal affairs.' What could be more heartbreaking? If judged from the aspect of a wife, Mỵ Châu was an ideal model of 'tòng' at that time. But not only a wife, Mỵ Châu was also the princess of Âu Lạc. When she exchanged the divine crossbow, Trọng Thủy justified it as going to visit his father. Before leaving, he said to Mỵ Châu, 'The love between husband and wife cannot be forgotten, the duty of parents cannot be abandoned. I now return to visit my father, if by the time the two countries are at odds, separated by North and South, I seek you again, what will be the sign?' The meaningful words of Trọng Thủy, yet Mỵ Châu did not realize. She loved Trọng Thủy so much that she did not even bother to ask why the two countries had to be at odds, why North and South had to be separated when we were already 'one family.' She only focused on the happiness of the couple, looking forward to the day of reunion: 'As a female, if I encounter separation, it will be extremely painful. I usually wear a golden goose feather coat, wherever I go, I will pluck feathers and sprinkle them at the crossroads to mark the way, so we can find each other.' Mỵ Châu's words were the words of a loving wife. But she did not know that her actions gave Triệu Đà the victory over her father, and Trọng Thủy pursued and killed his own father.
'Goose feathers fall white on the road of escape
The feathers themselves do not know how to hide
When pursued by the enemy, Mỵ Châu wore a coat of goose feathers. The disguise of the goose feather coat is the costume of ancient Vietnamese women during festivals. However, Mỵ Châu wore it in such a desperate situation. It shows that she was no longer rational. All her actions were dominated by marital affection. Before being beheaded by her father, she said, 'Being a woman's fate, if there is a rebellious heart plotting against father, dying will turn into dust. If one is loyal but deceived by others, dying will turn into a gemstone to cleanse the shame and enmity.' She realized the true nature of the situation, that the one she had loved and trusted for so long was just a deceiver. Mỵ Châu's death is an incomplete metamorphosis, her body turning into a gemstone, her blood turning into pearls. This shows the sympathy of our people for Mỵ Châu, a person who 'unintentionally' led Vietnam into a thousand years of slavery.
Unlike fairy tales, the ending is not always happy for everyone. Legends force us to reflect deeply afterward. We must prioritize the common good over the individual, especially be cautious, not like us 'raising bees in the sleeve, raising foxes in the house.' And in love, one must always be clear-headed, not wandering off the path and paying a price too high like Mỵ Châu. The story is both philosophical and deeply imbued with the flavor of life as Tố Hữu in 'Tâm Sự' said:
'Still here is the statue of the headless stone
Because of the headless, the statue is even more alive
The headless evokes memories of hot blood
Two thousand years under the stone still flows
I also want to mention Mị Châu
Life still has enemies, please don't forget to be vigilant
But how can we mention two thousand years ago
So my dear, I have to remind myself
With the ideas and sample essays of embodying An Dương Vương to retell the story of Mị Châu, Trọng Thủy above, have you got an idea for your essay? Read more to accumulate vocabulary for writing well and succinctly recounting stories.
This autobiographical narrative is encountered frequently, such as Retelling the story of The Intelligent Child in your own words. You can refer to sample essays on Retelling the story of The Intelligent Child in your own words or practice writing more narrative essays to learn how to tell stories effectively and write more flexibly.
