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Topic: Lecture on the Poetic Beauty of Hương Sơn Landscape
Part 1: Outline of the Lecture on the Poetic Beauty of Hương Sơn Landscape
The opening verse of 'The Buddha's Sky Scene' is truly exceptional, introducing a theme that runs throughout the entire poem—the sacred atmosphere enveloping the Buddha's gate, casting a veil of serenity and transcendence over the entire landscape of the Hương Sơn mountains. The scenery here is a harmonious blend, gracefully coordinating between majestic mountain ranges, crystal-clear water surfaces, and the unique spectacle of mysterious caves. Confronted by the enchanting beauty resembling a celestial haven, the author couldn't contain the excitement, astonishment, and had to express the rhetorical question, 'Is this the First Cave?' Indeed, the perfect combination of picturesque nature, transcendence, and the grandeur of the mountains and caves of Nam Thiên First Cave is enough to fill one with joy and wonder.
The enchanting and transcendental beauty of Hương Sơn is vividly depicted through 10 lines of poetry in the work.
'Graceful rabbits in the forest offer homage to the trees,
Hovering by Yến Creek, the fish listen to the scriptures.
A distant sound of the millstone echoes,
Sea guests suddenly awaken in a dream.
This is the Giải Oan stream, the Cửa Võng pagoda,
The Phật Tích hermitage, the Tuyết Quynh cave.
Looking up, who could paint a picture:
The five-colored rocks glisten like woven silk.
In the deep recesses of a moonlit cave,
Faintly, a few winding paths traverse the clouds.'
The author employs captivating imagery such as 'graceful rabbits' and 'hovering by Yến Creek,' using the art of inversion to enhance the allure, conveying a sense of tranquility and leisurely pace of nature. Perhaps enveloped by the sacred atmosphere of the Buddha's gate, everything here seems to possess a Buddha nature, with anthropomorphized images like 'fish listening to scriptures' and 'trees being honored by rabbits.' All scenes become soft, peaceful, resembling a celestial haven, completely distinct from the mundane and complex world outside. The distant sound of the millstone, though heard faintly by travelers, also serves to make them 'awaken in a dream,' artfully juxtaposing movement with stillness to accentuate the extreme calmness and serenity of Hương Sơn. The distant temple bell has transported the pilgrims, on a spiritual journey, away from the worldly concerns, allowing them to immerse themselves in the elevated atmosphere, the tranquil spirit of the Buddha's gate. Shedding off worldly worries, one realizes that all the entanglements of life are ultimately like a dream of the sea of sorrow, full of illusions and transformations.
The beauty of the scenic ensemble of Hương Sơn lies not only in its historical landmarks, but Chu Mạnh Trinh has ingeniously used enumeration combined with the phrase 'this' to express the rich and diverse continuity of the scenic area. These include Giải Oan stream, Cửa Võng pagoda, Phật Tích hermitage, and Tuyết Quynh cave. The allure of this place goes beyond, encompassing picturesque and unique scenes such as 'five-colored rocks glistening like woven silk,' or the profound beauty of the caves with 'exploring a moonlit cave,' a harmonious blend of darkness, depth of the cave, and the freshness, gentleness of the moonlight. It's a beauty combining the ruggedness of the path with the delicate, floating beauty of the clouds, resembling a path leading to the celestial realm of some celestial being. All combined, creating a beauty that is truly ethereal, tranquil, both mystical and charming, remarkably hard to come by anywhere else, truly deserving the phrase 'who could paint a picture.'
'The expanse of the mountains awaits someone here,
Or perhaps nature skillfully arranges
Each grain of Nam Mô Buddha recitation,
The door of compassion reveals its boundless virtues.
The more one gazes at the scenery, the more love it inspires.'
Amidst the enchanting scenery of Hương Sơn, the soul undergoes numerous transformations, the rhetorical question 'The expanse of the mountains awaits someone here/Or perhaps nature skillfully arranges,' praises the beauty of Hương Sơn, a beauty that seems to be waiting for each person in this world to visit and enjoy the serene, quiet, and peaceful atmosphere at the Buddha's gate. In this atmosphere, Chu Mạnh Trinh seems to temporarily forget his identity, casting aside all worries, to immerse in the tranquil atmosphere here, the heart turning towards the Buddha, 'Each grain of Nam Mô Buddha recitation.' The scenery of Hương Sơn truly carries captivating beauty, irresistible, and in the poet's heart lingers the thought 'The more one gazes at the scenery, the more love it inspires.'
Hương Sơn's scenic poem is a beautiful work with a light, cheerful poetic tone, as if releasing the soul into the picturesque natural scenery that highlights the serene beauty. It is equally dreamy as the celestial realm of the scenic ensemble of Hương Sơn. Through this, we can see the beauty and subtle emotions in the author's soul, a soul that loves nature, deeply loves the homeland, combined with the inspiration of Buddhism from a talented scholar.
