The Imagery of the Perfume River in the Work 'Who Named the River'

The Depiction of the Perfume River in the Work 'Who Named the River' by Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong

Sample Essay: The Depiction of the Perfume River in 'Who Named the River' by Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong

Essay

I. The Beautiful and Multifaceted River

1.1. Diverse and Alluring Beauty

+ Always acknowledged and affirmed in its relation to the geographical space. The richness of the geographical features in the region that the Perfume River traverses seems to contribute to the river's beauty. Therefore, to appreciate the diverse beauty of the Perfume River, one needs to examine it in connection with space, topography, and the natural scenery during specific time intervals.

+ Truong Son mountainous space

- Characteristics and geographical structure: incredibly rich with the vast forest canopy, rugged cliffs, deep ravines, and the extensive red hue of rhododendron flowers... All creating an environment to challenge, forge, and shape the character and soul of the Perfume River.

- Characteristics of the Perfume River in that geographical environment: the flow is tumultuous, fierce, swirling, and then gentle and enchanting. The unique soul of the river is revealed in its journey and through the characteristics of the flow, representing the essence of a person who has undergone a maturation process from a wild and vigorous girl to a tender, intelligent mother – possessing both fierce vitality and gentle, intelligent appearance, with a deep, pure soul and an overflowing desire for freedom.

+ Chau Hoa terrestrial space

- Geographical features: It is the transition from mountainous areas to plains, so the terrain is highly diverse: deep ravines, overlapping hills, alluvial plains, and burial mounds amidst the sky and pine forests.

- Characteristics of the river: Like a beautiful girl awakening from a dream, it reveals its unique personality and soul – flowing continuously, winding to seek and express its own beauty. The river's flow is calm, gentle, and silent, 'like philosophy, like ancient poetry'; the deep green color reflects the hills and the sky, and the river's appearance changes with the terrain – sometimes winding, sometimes soft as silk.

+ Hue Imperial Space:

- Geographical features: Hue, as a whole, is an ancient city situated along both banks of the river, with numerous sandbanks, islets, and branching canals from the Perfume River flowing throughout the urban area.

- River's Characteristics: Becoming softer, more sensual, and versatile. Its gentle, slow, and tranquil flow resembles the surface of a calm lake. It boasts a remarkably beautiful appearance, adorned with hundreds of lanterns. Multifaceted Soul: It is both joyful when encountering the green outskirts of Kim Long suburb and gentle when meandering through areas with numerous islets. It hesitates between the desire to leave and the yearning for the unique cultural aspects of Hue, profound in the melodies of late-night songs. It dreams nostalgically when parting from the city, lingering with affection, creating a circular path around the beloved city.

1.2. Feminine Beauty and Profound Sensitivity:

+ Femininity: This is the unique feature of the Perfume River in Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's perspective (compared to the Da River, which is seen as a person with completely opposite characteristics—both fierce and sentimental, sometimes like a fierce deity, sometimes like a beautiful and sensual woman). The Perfume River has a rich life and personality, but within that richness, a consistent feature is its strong feminine nature. Whether as a free-spirited and daring Digan girl with courageous spirit and a free, pure soul, a beautiful and dreamy girl in her sleep, the gentle daughter of the nation, or the poetic mother of a cultural region with a gentle and intelligent beauty. In any state of existence, the Perfume River in Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's perception remains profoundly feminine. Femininity is not only in its outwardly beautiful and gentle appearance or in the bright and strong pure soul. The most intense feminine quality of the Perfume River lies in its very rich emotional life, making it a river full of sentiment.

+ Profound Sensitivity: From the beginning of the essay, Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường had a unique perception of the Perfume River in relation to its city—a relationship akin to the ideal lovers in Truyện Kiều, 'seeking and pursuing, grand and passionate, poetry and music.' Later, the author affirmed that the Perfume River is truly 'like Kiều, very Kiều'—meaning it is not only beautiful and talented but also romantic and enamored. From this exploratory perspective, the author envisioned the journey of the Perfume River as a quest for an awaited lover—a journey of complexities, not short-lived, a conscious search leading to its future city. In this journey, the Perfume River is at times silent, sometimes gentle, and at times fiercely powerful. However, it truly becomes 'joyful' only when reaching the outskirts of the city, finding peace when seeing the city's white bridge in the distance. Meeting its awaited lover, the river becomes gracefully harmonious in the way it 'bends lightly towards Hến Islet,' its curves 'like an affirming echo of love.' Similar to Kiều meeting Kim at the Đạp Thanh festival, the Perfume River through Hue suddenly becomes thoughtful, wanting to stay to see lanterns gently floating on the water 'like the lingering doubts of love.' Like Kiều in the night's solitary contemplation with Kim Trọng, the Perfume River departs from the capital, abruptly changing its course, turning east-west to meet the city one last time. This unexpected circular path, in Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's romantic perception, becomes a lingering and subtle expression of love, a sincere act of the girl to meet her lover, uttering unspoken vows that still resonate on the river's surface as timeless refrains, like the verses 'Still young, still waters, still long, still returning, still remembering...' This should be understood not merely as the romantic imagination of an artist deeply captivated by Kiều's verses but also as the perspective of an intellectual who truly understands both the river and the people of his homeland. When the river is understood to carry the soul of the people, the river's vows to the city are the heartfelt commitment of the people of Châu Hoá, eternally faithful to their homeland.

II. Enchanting, Profound River:

2.1. Distinctive Cultural Essence:

+ Similar to Kiều, who possesses not only beauty but also remarkable talent, in Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's perspective, the Perfume River is like a 'talented woman playing the zither late at night.' This view is grounded in reality: the Perfume River is a river of music, a unique feature that sets it apart from other rivers in the country. While every river in Vietnam is associated with folk songs and melodies, none can parallel the coexistence of both court and folk music like the Perfume River. Court music is elegant, sophisticated, and unique, while folk music is charming and full of love. The intersection of classical music and folk songs, born on the surface of the Perfume River, resonates best on boats, fully expressing its emotional power to those who have sailed on its waters on peaceful nights.

+ Poetry of the River: At this point, the beautiful and multifaceted woman, the talented muse, truly becomes the poetic muse in the hearts of the poets. The richness of appearance and cultural essence has allowed the Perfume River to be discovered and moved in a unique way in poetry, never to be repeated: 'From the azure... in the poetry of Tố Hữu.' Although it may seem that Nguyễn Du and Tố Hữu had some convergence in inspiration (Nguyễn Du swayed on boats with the melancholy moon, thus the melodies accompanying Kiều's life, and Tố Hữu also sensed the presence of Kiều-like figures on the waves of the Perfume River), Tố Hữu primarily aimed to affirm the regenerative power in the souls of these women with a heartfelt and human touch.

+ Even the name of the Perfume River holds a unique charm of a woman, evoking a poetic soul and inspiring the poetic sensitivity within the literary spirit of Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường. Throughout the exploration of the river, the writer has expressed emotions and subjective thoughts, deeply imbued with an artist's essence: not only reminiscing but also profoundly moved, associating the scent of the land with the fragrance of flesh. The Perfume River, in the author's perception, transforms into an enchanting celestial maiden. The river's name becomes intertwined with a beautiful legend, elevating it to a legendary river cherished by people on both banks: 'For the love of the beautiful river of our homeland, people on both sides brewed water with a hundred kinds of flowers poured into the river's heart, making the water perpetually fragrant.'

Thus, from a cultural crystallization perspective, the river of Huế is inherently beautiful in appearance, and its grace becomes even more charming and captivating in the depth of the soul. When one approaches the river, it is impossible to impose their own perception; instead, they seek harmony with the spirit of the river to coexist and resonate in a sense of nostalgia.

2.2. Fierce Vitality.

+ Instinct: The Perfume River, starting from its source in the heart of the Trường Sơn, is described as 'a liberated and wild girl' with bold courage, a free spirit, and purity. Even though the instinctive power of this girl has been tempered by the old forest mother, it is sufficient for the Perfume River to complete its own journey—a journey full of challenges, waterfalls, deep valleys, islands, mountain ranges, temples, tombs, swamps, cities, villages, and more. The instinctive vitality not only propels the girl of the Perfume River through this journey but also enables her to live a fulfilled life: from a young girl to a mother, from passionate pursuit of love to generously nurturing and enriching a cultural heritage.

+ Capability: Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường utilized United Nations documents to discuss the ability to establish, shape, and refine the culture of Huế along the Perfume River. 'The river and its marshes, the winding channels through the old city, along with the manner of the houses amidst lush gardens, all give Huế a pure and tranquil appearance, exclusively reserved for artistic inspiration and knowledge.' The Perfume River has nurtured artistic inspiration, shaping the poetic and musical essence of Huế. Simultaneously, the river has enriched the vitality of both banks, allowing the four seasons to bloom vibrantly. It has nurtured and honed the spirit of the people in this region, deepening their profound Vietnamese character, preventing the allure of the maritime culture from the South Pacific. In the author's evaluation, the downstream region of the Perfume River is the cradle of the Phú Xuân cultural tradition.

III. The Resilient and Mighty River.

3.1. Perseverance and Strength

- In Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's exploration, the Perfume River is not only placed in relation to geographical space and cultural values but is also examined from a historical perspective. Many periods are mentioned here: during the Hung Kings era, the Perfume River was a vast and winding border river. In the 15th century, it was a transcontinental river fiercely defending the southern border of the homeland. In the 18th century, it reflected the glory of the Phú Xuân citadel of the hero Nguyễn Huệ. In the 19th century, it lived through the heroic history of uprisings, and in the revolutionary era of August, it witnessed earth-shattering victories. During the resistance against the U.S., despite severe damage, the Perfume River remained steadfast with ironclad vows. Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường's perspective and language usage transform the image of the Perfume River from a geographical river into a historical river, from a beautiful and talented girl into the resilient daughter of the nation. The Perfume River not only imprints history but also coexists with and contains its own history—a heroic and intense history, indomitable and poignant.

The meticulous abode of the writer lies in discovering poetic elements within history, distilling it into an epic tale, akin to the distinct beauty of the Perfume River. In history and the writer's perception, the Perfume River transforms into a 'river of echoing time, of history inscribed amid the colors of verdant leaves.' Flowing through time, the Perfume River encapsulates the life and history of the people and the nation. The face and depth of the nation's history cast shadows on the untamed river, bestowing upon the Perfume River a majestic and profound stature, a sacred meaning, and an immortal spirit.

3.2. Valor and Indomitability:

In the exploration of the history of the Perfume River, intertwined with the history of the people and the nation, Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường keenly emphasizes the heroic nature of the river in Huế and the people of Hóa Châu. The land of Hóa Châu, in the eyes of Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường, becomes a 'stalwart fortress' erected to showcase the 'resolute combativeness of the warriors guarding the border in their boats.' With a stance of life and death, a dignified stature, and the spears of these brave individuals, Hóa Châu becomes a southern gateway to the homeland, striking fear into invaders across eras. From the Han General Mã Viện dragging his sword in pacification, bathing Giao Chỉ in blood, to the Ming Generals Trương Phụ and Mộc Thạch bowing their heads in fear upon reaching Hóa Châu. Even when European fleets surged into Southeast Asia in the 17th century, this steadfast citadel taught them the first lesson about Vietnam's strength by annihilating an entire fleet of Dutch colonialists. During the resistance against the U.S., the heroic qualities and indomitable spirit of the people of Hóa Châu once again manifested in a seemingly simple yet profoundly moving declaration: 'If you have the strength, dig up the entire village, scoop it onto the fleet and pour it over to America. Only after accomplishing that, discuss the pacification of this Hóa Châu land.' Past and present, ancient and modern intertwine, embracing memories of faces from the same era. Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường not only speaks of the history of the land and people along the Perfume River but also delves deep and emotionally reflects on the historical values lingering like sediment along the riverbanks, rendering the Huế's Perfume River not only beautifully poetic in appearance but also profoundly sacred and grand in stature. In essence, placing the river within the flow of history is another measure for Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường to highlight the unique beauty, individual vitality, and soul of the homeland river.

IV. Evaluation:

In this essay, the Perfume River has been examined from a comprehensive and holistic perspective: history and culture, activities and customs, literature and life, human and nature. In these connections, the Perfume River appears both beautiful and poetic, enchanting in the nuances of nature, profound in cultural values, surprisingly rich in its ability to inspire creativity for artists, resilient and indomitable in its stance and spirit when facing external invaders. However, seemingly beyond all that, the Perfume River still harbors undiscovered mysteries, perpetually evoking a sense of yearning in the human soul.

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