From the excerpt Our Great Vietnam, what thoughts arise regarding patriotism?

Prompt: From the excerpt Our Great Vietnam, what thoughts arise regarding patriotism?

Reflecting on the essence of patriotism through excerpts from 'Our Great Viet Land,' what are my thoughts on national pride.

1. Extract from 'Our Great Viet Land,' my reflections on patriotism, model 1:

Patriotism has been a crucial theme throughout the centuries in Vietnamese literature. Since the early days of our national literature, this topic has been explored to showcase the pride of every Vietnamese. Notable works include 'Nam quốc sơn hà' by Lí Thường Kiệt (?), 'The Sage Returns to His Village' by Trần Quang Khải, 'The Victory at Bạch Đằng River' by Trương Hán Siêu,... And we cannot forget 'The Great Proclamation of Victory' by Nguyễn Trãi. The following excerpt from this famous proclamation not only deeply expresses the author's patriotism but also evokes many meaningful thoughts about love for the country:

'The essence of benevolence lies in serving the people peacefully
....
Witnesses shall etch this truth'.

Extracted from 'Our Great Viet Land,' taken from 'The Great Proclamation of Victory' by Nguyễn Trãi. The proclamation was written at the end of 1427 and the beginning of 1428 after Lê Lợi and the Lam Sơn righteous army repelled the Ming invaders. The victory of the uprising cleansed the stain of national loss caused by the Hồ dynasty while putting an end to colonial oppression and the atrocities inflicted upon our people by the Ming aggressors. Born in that context, 'The Great Proclamation of Victory' depicted the arduous process of over twenty years of the Lam Sơn righteous army's struggle, the suffering endured by the nation, and the glorious triumph of the fierce uprising against the enemy. Concluding the proclamation, Nguyễn Trãi proclaimed to the world the enduring independence of the country and upheld the lofty ideals of benevolence among humanity.

If 'Nam quốc sơn hà' by Lí Thường Kiệt is considered the first declaration of independence of the nation, then 'The Great Proclamation of Victory' by Nguyễn Trãi is the second glorious declaration of independence of our country. The excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land' is the clearest representation of the content of that declaration.

From the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land,' what thoughts do I have about patriotism.

The beginning of the excerpt is the declaration of humanity of the proclamation:

'The essence of benevolence lies in serving the people peacefully
The army's foremost duty is to eliminate brutality'.

That means benevolence in life fundamentally lies in maintaining peace for the people; the military's primary task is to eradicate brutality, to defend the people. Those two sentences affirmed the progressive idea of putting the people at the core, 'for the people as the foundation.' In the old feudal society's perception, benevolence was often confined to doing good deeds to help others. Like in 'The Tale of Lục Vân Tiên' by Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, benevolence was about rescuing those in distress: Lục Vân Tiên rescued Kiều Nguyệt Nga, the fisherman rescued Lục Vân Tiên... 'Pouring one's heart into benevolence awaits repayment.' However, for Nguyễn Trãi, in his capacity as a military strategist for the sovereign - King Lê Lợi, he had a broader and deeper perspective. Ultimately, the essence of benevolence is loving the people, caring for the people, ensuring that the people have a happy and prosperous life. Moreover, according to ancient beliefs, the military was the force safeguarding the interests of the king and the feudal class. However, in this excerpt, Nguyễn Trãi affirmed that the most sacred and noble task of the military is to 'eliminate brutality' for the people, to bring peace to the world. Such ideology might only be found in a great patriot, a great humanitarian.

And also stemming from a heartfelt compassion for the people, Nguyễn Trãi had a deep love for the country, a profound national pride. In the past, in 'Nam quốc sơn hà,' the 'divine' author affirmed the nation's independence in terms of territory, land, and the political apparatus. Now, Nguyễn Trãi has added to complete the elements contributing to affirming the nation's rightful independence and pride:

'Just as our Great Viet Land since antiquity
Has long proclaimed its civilized foundation
Mountains, rivers, borders have divided
Customs of North and South differ too
From Triệu, Đinh, Lý, Trần generations established independence
With Hán, Dường, Tống, Nguyên each side proclaiming emperors in their own right
Though strength and weakness varied at each time
Yet every era had its heroes'

'Our Great Viet Land since antiquity' has always possessed a cultural heritage. Cultural heritage comprises the spiritual values that people have created, including beliefs, ideologies, ethics... It takes a nation with a rich history, intelligence, and enduring development to build its own distinct cultural heritage. In other words, cultural heritage is a sign of civilization. Not only does each population have its own cultural heritage, but our country also has its own distinct borders: 'Mountains, rivers, borders have divided.' This line evokes the spirit of the verse from 1076, 'Southern rivers and mountains, southern kings reside / Clearly defined destinies in the celestial records.' The division of mountains, rivers, and borders has been deeply ingrained in history and in the consciousness of the people of the two countries. And that sacred contemplation has fostered an awareness of building, preserving, and distinguishing customs and traditions of the people of the two countries: 'Customs of North and South differ too.' Customs and traditions are habits in daily life that deeply influence people's way of life and thinking. It can be said that, along with the long-standing cultural heritage, customs and traditions have also contributed to shaping the cultural identity of Vietnam.

The country's independence and autonomy are not only created by the distinct characteristics of the people and the territory but also marked by independence in the governmental apparatus - ruling dynasties and outstanding individuals:

'From Triệu, Đinh, Lý, Trần generations established independence
With Hán, Đường, Tống, Nguyên each side proclaiming emperors in their own right
Though strength and weakness varied at each time
Yet every era had its heroes.'

The two lines mention the opposing dynasties of the two countries very precisely, affirming the equal status of the princes of both states. The word 'emperor' in the second line 'each side proclaiming emperors in their own right' is used very strategically. Historically, Chinese emperors considered themselves 'sons of heaven,' they called themselves 'emperors' and referred to the kings of other countries as 'kings.' In this proclamation, Nguyễn Trãi proudly asserts that our kings are also 'emperors' on par with the Chinese emperors: 'each side proclaiming emperors in their own right,' hence there is no relationship of large and small states as the feudal dynasties of the North once perceived. Moreover, when naming the dynasties of the two countries, Nguyễn Trãi has placed our country first. Just a small detail but it carries profound implications: it affirms the national pride of the author specifically and every Vietnamese person in general.

Alongside benevolent kings and exemplary feudal dynasties, our country also has remarkable talents. Despite being proud of our nation, Nguyễn Trãi does not exaggerate its strengths and does not conceal periods of decline, he writes 'Though strength and weakness varied at each time.' From there, his assertion is compelling: 'Yet every era had its heroes.'

Through a concise passage, Nguyễn Trãi persuades readers and listeners about the factors contributing to affirming the nation's independence. It is because of that sacred independence that every Vietnamese person is willing to sacrifice for the country, and no matter how strong the enemy is, they will be subdued by the strength derived from our long-standing cultural heritage, from the sacred sovereignty of our territory...

Therefore:
Lưu Cung's greed led to failure
Triệu Tiết's ambition met his demise
Hàm Tử's trap captured Toa Đô alive
Bạch Đằng River drowned Ô Mã
Events of old
Evidence remains recorded'

The specific evidence presented in the excerpt about the failures of the formidable enemy reads like an indictment. A series of enemy names are listed: Lưu Cung, Triệu Tiết, Toa Đô, Ô Mã followed by illustrious locations associated with the enemy's disastrous failures and our resounding victories: Hàm Tử gate, Bạch Đằng River. What's particularly striking is the abrupt change in the rhythm of the passage, becoming shorter and more poignant; the sentences juxtapose each other tightly 'Lưu Cung' - 'Triệu Tiết,' 'greed' - 'ambition,' 'led to failure' - 'met his demise,' 'Hàm Tử' - 'Bạch Đằng River,' 'captured alive' - 'drowned,'... These elements make the passage sound like a warning against the enemy's invasion schemes while elevating pride in the ancestral tradition of defending the nation.

It can be said that the text excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land' has demonstrated a patriotic spirit by elevating the banner of patriotism and expressing pride in the country's independence and the ancestral tradition of defending the nation. Patriotism is something simple, those feelings lie within our thoughts, emotions about the place where we were born and raised. And those sentiments will become the driving force for us to strive, learn, and train for the future of our homeland.

2. From the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land,' what thoughts do you have about patriotism, model number 2:

Patriotism is one of the great inspirations throughout the history of literature. Over time, that tradition has become the red thread connecting literary works in every era. The excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land' is a spiritually rich piece of patriotism, it has stirred up many intense emotions still residing deep within every individual.

The excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land' from 'The Great Proclamation of Victory' was written after the Lam Son uprising's victory against the Ming invasion. The work is an epic summarizing the arduous and glorious resistance against the Ming invasion by our nation. In addition, the author also demonstrates patriotism and national pride focused on the humanitarian ideals throughout the proclamation.

Patriotism primarily manifests in the humanitarian ideology, fighting invaders for the people:

'Humanitarianism lies in the peace of the people
Military punishment ahead, to eliminate tyranny'

Humanitarianism originates from Confucianism, regulating interpersonal behavior based on love and morality. Nguyen Trai not only inherits this ideology but also elevates it to a new height: humanitarianism is for the people, eliminating evil for the people. This is the foundation of the righteousness of the uprising, exposing the deceitful nature of the invaders when they pretext 'suppressing the Tran to eliminate the Ho' to seize our country.

Contemplating patriotism in the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land'

Patriotic sentiment is intertwined with national pride, a clear consciousness of the country's independence:

'As our Great Viet land of old
Has long been known for its civilization
Mountains, rivers, borders have divided
Customs differ between North and South
From Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran generations laid the foundation of independence
As did Han, Duong, Tong, Yuan each claiming sovereignty
Though strengths varied at different times
Yet heroes of every era arose'

In ancient times, in the divine poem 'Mountains and Rivers of the Southland', considered our nation's first declaration of independence, Ly Thuong Kiet affirmed the nation's independence in terms of territory, sovereignty, albeit mainly relying on the spiritual factor of the 'divine book' - the heavenly mandate. By the 15th century, Nguyen Trai continued to supplement the elements to establish an independent nation. Nguyen Trai proudly affirmed our country's longstanding civilization. Civilization constitutes the spiritual values created through various eras. This demonstrates our country's rich history and profound cultural heritage. Not stopping there, an autonomous state is a state with its own sovereignty, its own territory: 'Mountains, rivers, borders have divided'. At this point, Nguyen Trai met with Ly Thuong Kiet: 'Our nation resides in the southern mountains and rivers/Its destiny ordained in the divine book'. For sovereignty, separate territory, thus the customs of the South cannot be the same as the North. Customs are long-standing habits, practices deeply ingrained in the life, thinking of each individual, creating the essence of a nation. Not only that, the author also equates our dynasties with the feudal dynasties of China as an implicit affirmation of our nation's equal status, not inferior to China. Nguyen Trai also highly esteems the human factor, specifically 'heroes of every era'.

'Therefore:
Lưu Cung's greed led to failure
Triệu Tiết's arrogance met his end
At Ham Tu gate, Toa Do was captured
At Bach Dang river, O Ma was slain
The past deeds
Evidence remains'

Specific evidence of the humiliating failures of the enemy forces serves as a warning that any foreign entity harboring intentions of invading our country will meet a dire fate.

The work ignites a fervent love for our homeland, our country, in the heart of every individual. Patriotism is the strength that enables our nation to overcome countless difficulties, challenges, and achieve victory in resistance wars.

'The Great Proclamation of Binh Ngo' is an immortal literary masterpiece from the unparalleled genius Nguyen Trai, hailed as the second declaration of independence of the nation. The proclamation embodies profound patriotism alongside intense hatred towards foreign aggression, reaching the pinnacle of nationalistic spirit as seen in the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land'.

'The Great Proclamation of Binh Ngo' is an immortal literary masterpiece from the unparalleled genius Nguyen Trai, hailed as the second declaration of independence of the nation. The proclamation embodies profound patriotism alongside intense hatred towards foreign aggression, reaching the pinnacle of nationalistic spirit as seen in the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land'.

It's been said:
The essence of righteousness lies in peace for the people
Before punishing the enemy, eradicate brutality.

Nguyen Trai pointed out the first factor of patriotism, which is righteousness. Loving the country means loving the motherland, caring for fellow countrymen, and cherishing the precious traditions left by our ancestors. Here, tradition is righteousness, the humane spirit in the way people interact with each other. According to Nguyen Trai, the core of all righteousness in the world is ensuring 'peace for the people,' ensuring that the people are well-fed and stable. In times when the country is invaded, achieving peace for the people requires punishment, starting with eliminating the barbaric and cruel enemy forces that threaten the people. In essence, the people are the foundation. Nguyen Trai once said, 'Pushing the boat is also the people, overturning the boat is also the people.' The people are the decisive force in the fate of the nation, and having the people means having a tremendous source of strength. If the nation is lost, it can be regained, meaning nothing is truly lost. However, losing the people means the nation is just lifeless land, without a soul or ruler. Therefore, loving the country means loving the people, not just loving the king as before. Nguyen Trai's statement at the beginning of the Binh Ngo Proclamation is to affirm a steadfast belief in righteousness, which is the foundation for patriotism.

Reflection on the excerpt 'Our Great Viet Land' from the Nước Đại Việt ta collection

Following that, concrete evidence of a sovereign and independent nation is systematically presented:

As our Great Viet Land from of old
Hath been renowned for its ancient culture,
Mountains, rivers, and borders have long divided,
Customs differ 'twixt North and South.
Through Dynasties Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran did erect
A foundation for independence through ages,
While Han, Tang, Song, Yuan each claimed
An empire, strong or weak as the times may gauge,
Yet heroes through ages have always emerged.

No longer is it a vague assertion in the 'heavens' as Ly Thuong Kiet once spoke, but rather concrete evidence is presented to affirm our nation's long-standing independence and autonomy. Our land, known as 'Dai Viet,' boasts an ancient culture and civilization, customs, traditions, and a history spanning eras comparable to significant periods in Chinese history, alongside possessing talent. A territory with all these elements is entirely deserving of being a sovereign and independent nation, one that takes pride in its national sovereignty. Patriotism portrayed here is evident in clear evidence of national pride. Due to that pride, he pointed out the inevitable consequences for the invaders:

Thus:
Luu Cung's greed shall end in failure,
Trieu Tiet's grandeur must vanish,
Ham Tu's gate shall capture Toa Do,
Bach Dang River shall drown O Ma,
The past deeds reconsidered,
The evidence remains recorded.

Evidence of the repeated failures of the enemy generals shows they erred by intentionally trampling our people under their brutal heels. They paid the price for such actions due to the patriotic spirit, the unity of the entire nation, and the righteous talent of the heroes of the South.