Assignment: Introduce some aspects of Pham Dinh Ho and his work 'Versatile Penmanship'
Response:
1. Introducing Pham Dinh Ho: Pham Dinh Ho, also known as Tung Nien or Dong Da Tieu, nicknamed Chieu Ho, hailed from Dan Loan village, Duong An district, now part of Nhan Quyen commune, Binh Giang district, Hai Duong province. He was born into a scholarly family, passed the imperial examinations with distinction, and taught in various places. The turmoil of the contemporary society led him to abandon officialdom and seek a reclusive life. During the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, the Nguyen dynasty invited him to serve, appointing him as the National Academy's director of etiquette and wine, despite his repeated refusals. He left behind numerous valuable works encompassing various fields such as literature, history, and philosophy, all written in classical Chinese.
2. Insights into the work 'Versatile Penmanship' (Penmanship during rainy days): This is one of Pham Dinh Ho's valuable works written in the early 19th century, comprising 88 miscellaneous stories in the form of penmanship. It records various rituals, customs, and societal events of the contemporary era, featuring certain characters and historical sites mainly in Hai Duong province, his homeland. Through his meticulous recordings and research, the writer subtly expresses the zeitgeist... The work not only holds literary value but also provides precious documentation on various societal aspects.
'Versatile Penmanship' stands out as a prominent literary piece in the 9th-grade literature curriculum. Apart from the essay introducing Pham Dinh Ho and his work 'Versatile Penmanship,' students and teachers may refer to other exemplary essays such as Commentary on the Examination System mentioned by Pham Dinh Ho in 'Versatile Penmanship,' Reflections on the Autobiographical Essay in 'Versatile Penmanship,' or even the supplementary study materials for composing essays on 'Versatile Penmanship.'
