My Impression of the Character Ngô Tử Văn

Prompt: My Impression of the Character Ngô Tử Văn

My Reflection on the Character Ngô Tử Văn
 

I. Outline of My Reflection on the Character Ngô Tử Văn

1. Introduction

- Nguyễn Dữ is recognized as the pioneer who introduced the term 'legend' into medieval Vietnamese literature.
- The collection of Legendary Chronicles is considered a masterpiece of mythical writing, and among the 20 tales, one stands out: The Trial of Tản Viên. It features the protagonist Ngô Tử Văn.

2. The Body of Work

- Brief Overview of the Author Nguyễn Dữ:
+ Living in the 16th century, born in Đỗ Tùng village, Trường Tân district, now part of Thanh Miện district, Hải Dương province.
+ Hailing from a scholarly family, he earned a bachelor's degree, briefly served as an official, and then chose a life of seclusion. His notable work includes the Truyền kỳ mạn lục.

- A Glimpse into the Truyền kỳ mạn lục:
+ Emerged in the early 16th century, the narrative revolves around exposing and criticizing the social maladies of the feudal society...(Continued)

>> Explore in-depth my Reflection on the character Ngô Tử Văn here.
 

In the tale of the judicial ceremony at Tản Viên, the character Ngô Tử Văn subtly emerges in the opening section through the author's introduction and the observations of contemporaries. Described as 'a passionate soul intolerant of wickedness' according to the author's introduction, and praised as 'a man of integrity' by the people in the North, Ngô Tử Văn makes an impressive entrance from the start. Subsequently, he appears more directly through language, gestures, and actions, serving as a testament to the earlier introductions and objective observations.

Firstly, through the event of Ngô Tử Văn burning the enemy general's shrine. At the end of the Hồ dynasty, a general named Bách Hộ of the Thôi family from the Minh dynasty perished near the shrine of the Earth God. He seized the shrine, acting imposingly and causing disturbance among the people. Therefore, Tử Văn set fire to the shrine. This demonstrates Tử Văn's courage. While others shook their heads, expressing fear for him, he boldly proceeded, asserting it as an inevitable noble deed. Many appraisals regard Tử Văn as the most daring and adventurous person of his time, as his actions were well-prepared (cleaning and praying). This indicates his strong belief in his actions and trust in divine assistance. The act of burning the shrine can be seen as a divine intervention, a form of punishment and confrontation against the evil oppressor.

After burning the shrine, Tử Văn encounters a malicious spirit. He experiences a fever, chills, and sees the ghost of the enemy general disguised as a monk. Using Confucian principles, the spirit accuses him and threatens him to rebuild the shrine. However, Tử Văn remains undisturbed, casually dismissing the enemy, showcasing not recklessness but the self-assured attitude of someone firmly holding the principles of justice. The question posed to the Earth God, 'Can he be a ruthless hand to harm me?' is not a sign of fear but a strategic move to understand his adversary, to find ways to cope. The saying 'Know yourself, know your enemy, and you shall win a hundred battles' aptly fits here.

Indeed, Tử Văn falls victim to the malicious spirit. He is swiftly taken to the underworld, encountering terrifying scenes on the way: '...howling winds, gray waves, bone-chilling cold. On both sides of the bridge, there were tens of thousands of Dạ Xoa demons with green eyes and red hair, sinister in appearance.' Nevertheless, Tử Văn remains undaunted, bravely demanding a fair trial. When the King of the Underworld delivers the verdict, Tử Văn staunchly defends himself, quoting the Earth God's words with unwavering determination, refusing to yield. Tử Văn's calmness and resilience are attributed not only to the support of the Vietnamese Earth God but also to his intrinsic bravery and desire for justice, transforming into a steadfast determination to confront and expose the evildoer.