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Essay Prompt: Introduce Nguyễn Trãi and the Grand Oratory of King Ngô - an ancient epic
Sample essay introducing Nguyễn Trãi and the Grand Oratory of King Ngô - an ancient epic literary masterpiece
Sample Essay Introducing Nguyễn Trãi and the Grand Oratory of King Ngô
Nguyễn Trãi stands as a monumental hero of the nation, a cultural giant of his era. Born in Hải Dương to a humble family, he inherited a rich patriotic and cultural tradition from both sides of his lineage. Trãi's life was marked by profound loss, orphaned at a young age with the passing of his mother.
Amidst the nation's peril, obedient to his father's counsel, he joined the Lam Sơn uprising, playing a significant role in the glorious triumph of the nation. Engaging in the reconstruction efforts, he faced adversity, leading to the massacre of his family. In 1964, Nguyễn Trãi was posthumously exonerated by King Lê Thánh Tông. Despite his departure, he left behind a substantial body of literary works, excelling in various genres, particularly in Han and Nom scripts, with notable pieces like Quân Trung Tư Mệnh Tập, Ức Trai Thi Tập, Chí Linh Sơn Phú, and Quốc Âm Thi Tập. Trãi was not only a profound romantic poet, expressing deep sentiments for nature, country, people, and life, but also a prominent political writer of the nation.
Bình Ngô Grand Oratory stands as a triumphant work, an immortal piece of Vietnamese heritage. Composed in 1928 following the Lam Sơn uprising's victory, Nguyễn Trãi, on the orders of King Lê Lợi, wrote the Bình Ngô Đại Cáo. This piece is considered the declaration of independence for the nation, asserting sovereignty and territorial integrity, a stern judgment on the aggression of invading forces. It serves as an epic ode to the Lam Sơn uprising, affirming the beauty of the righteous cause and the achievements of the nation.
Bình Ngô Grand Oratory articulates the power of the people, the people's ideology, and the patriotic spirit. Patriotism involves resisting external foes during turmoil and, in times of peace, upholding benevolence and ensuring the people's welfare.
'Have heard:
The essence of benevolence lies in maintaining the people's tranquility
Military punishment should precede civilian governance
Our Great Viet's tradition, proclaimed long ago
Mountains, rivers, and borders have long divided
Customs in the North and South differ
Since the eras of Trieu, Dinh, Ly, Tran, building the foundation of independence
With Han, Tang, Song, Yuan on each side, heroes emerged in every direction
Though strengths and weaknesses may vary
Yet in every era, there are outstanding heroes'
Crimes and conspiracies of the enemy are vividly exposed through sharp rhetoric:
'Recently:
The Hồ clan causes distress with their deeds
In the country, resentment and hatred brew among the people
The Ming aggressors take advantage, bringing calamity
Traitors sell the nation for personal gain
Blackened faces roasted on ruthless flames
Red children buried in treacherous pits
Lies to the heavens, deceiving the people with a myriad of schemes
Provoking hatred, spreading over two decades
Betraying benevolence, ruining the land and sky
Heavy taxes clean the mountains bare
Forced into the sea, backs bending to seek pearls, despising sharks in the current
Forced into the mountains, searching for gold in the sand, suffering in deep forests and poisonous waters
Harvesting creatures, capturing birds for tribute, snares everywhere
Disturbing the people, trapping black deer, cunningly placed everywhere
Devastating all living things, insects, plants
The oppressed replacing the oppressors, a wretched fate for both.'
