Top 4 In-depth Analytical Themes in the Work 'Who Named the River' - Mytour.vn

The Historical River
* The Huong River serves as a historical witness to Hue and the country: 'reflecting the capital of Phu Xuan of the hero Nguyen Hue,' it bears witness to the suffering of the 19th-century uprisings, ...

* The Huong River, like a citizen with a deep sense of responsibility to the nation: 'knows how to sacrifice itself for victory,' ...

* A heroine: It has been closely tied to Hue through numerous heroic battles during the medieval period, continuing its valorous contributions during the August Revolution and beyond, ...

In its relationship with the nation's history, the Huong River embodies the beauty of an epic saga, marking glorious centuries starting from its time as a border river of the Hung Kings, when it was known as Linh Giang (the Sacred River) in the Dư địa chí of Nguyen Trai's writings. It was a 'mighty river that heroically defended the southern borders of Đại Việt throughout the medieval period,'

'It proudly reflected the capital of Phu Xuan of the hero Nguyen Hue' in the 18th century; 'It lived through the tragic history of the 19th century with the blood of uprisings,' it witnessed the new era with the August Revolution of 1945 and the heroic battles of the subsequent wars…

* At the river’s source: 'a song of the ancient forest,' 'the wild girl,' 'the daughter of the deep woods,' 'the mother of the fertile lands of the region.'

* From the source to Hue: the Huong River is like a maiden experiencing love for the first time, shy yet bold and assertive.

* In the heart of Hue: she is like a young woman in love, passionately devoted to her beloved, a talented 'woman playing the lute in the quiet night.'

* From leaving Hue to the sea: she is like a woman, reluctant and loyal, bidding farewell to her lover.

* Observation: The author mainly perceives the beauty of the Huong River through the lens of love, portraying it as a faithful woman devoted to love.

Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong is a patriotic intellectual with deep knowledge across various fields. He specializes in essay writing, and his works skillfully blend intellectual depth with lyrical sentiment, sharp arguments with multifaceted reflections drawn from his broad knowledge of philosophy, culture, history, geography, and a concise, inward-looking, passionate, and artistic writing style. 'Who Named the River?' is an outstanding essay written in Hue in 1981, later published in a collection of the same name.

The work describes the natural landscape of the Huong River, its connection to the history and culture of Hue and the nation. Through this, the author reveals a deep, heartfelt pride for the river, for Hue, and for the country.

From its origin, the Huong River is deeply connected to the Truong Son mountain range. In this unique relationship, the river is like an epic song of the deep forest with grand, fierce rhythms: sometimes booming under the ancient trees, other times fiercely crossing rapids, swirling like a storm in deep gorges, and at other moments, gentle and captivating amidst the radiant red blossoms of azaleas in the forest.

With a humanized perspective, the Huong River is like a free-spirited, wild girl with courage, a pure and free soul. According to the author, if one only looks at the capital’s façade and ignores the river’s source, they will miss the deeper, hidden beauty within the river’s soul that it has chosen not to reveal.

Thus, at the source, the Huong River has a powerful presence, radiating the beauty of intense, untamed vitality and a distinct personality. As it flows toward the capital city of Hue, the river takes on many diverse forms, tied to the cultural characteristics of the city. Before becoming the gentle, faithful lover of the ancient capital, the river underwent a journey full of hardships and challenges. In the author’s sensitive and romantic view, the river’s entire flow is like an intentional search for the true love of a woman in a love story with a fairy-tale essence.

The passage describing the Huong River flowing into the plains and the outskirts of the city highlights the elegance and talent in the author's writing style. The reader is irresistibly drawn to the vibrant depiction of the river’s movement through various regions of Hue.

In the fields of Chau Hoa, full of wildflowers, the river is 'a beautiful girl dreaming deeply,' but as it leaves the mountains, it awakens like a fairy, bursting with youth and the longing of spring in its 'continuous flow,' 'sudden twists,' creating a perfect curve that embraces the foot of Thien Mu Hill, then 'crosses,' 'goes between the echoes,' 'drifting between two towering hills like walls…'

Both strong and gentle, the Huong River is sometimes 'soft as silk' when passing Vong Canh, Tam Thai, and Luu Bao; at times, it glows with 'a multitude of colors — green in the morning, golden at noon, purple in the evening' as it passes the western hills of the city, and takes on a solemn beauty as it flows past the tombs and shrines, proud and serene within the secluded pine forests, until it suddenly becomes bright and fresh when it reaches the 'ringing bells of Thien Mu Pagoda on the opposite shore, amid the distant sounds of roosters from the mountain villages…'

The combination of narration and description in the writing beautifully emphasizes the captivating scenery of the Huong River and its harmonious connection with the rich natural environment of Hue. As it flows through Hue, the river has seemingly found itself, flourishing joyously among the verdant banks of Kim Long, with the river 'drawing a smooth, peaceful line southwest to northeast,' then 'gently bending in a bow to reach Con Hen,' making it appear more tender, like a silent 'yes' of love.

In the heart of its beloved city, the Huong River is akin to the Seine in Paris, the Danube in Budapest, but through the author’s exquisite expression, it is seen in many different lights: viewed through the eyes of a painter, the Huong River and its tributaries create delicate patterns that form the ancient beauty of the old capital; through the perspective of music, the Huong River is 'beautiful like a slow dance,' graceful, deep, and poetic, and through the passionate eyes of a loving heart, it is the gentle, loyal lover.

This is conveyed through an intriguing discovery by the author: 'Leaving the capital, the Huong River veers northward, wrapping around Con Hen island, lost in mist, slowly drifting away from the city, lingering in the lush green of bamboo groves and betel nut gardens in the Vị Dạ suburbs.'

And then, as if remembering something left unsaid, the river suddenly changes course, turning east-west to meet the city one last time at the old town of Bao Vinh.' The author compares this unexpected turn to a 'lingering feeling,' and it almost seems to carry 'a hidden, coy flirtation' of love…

The Huong River, with its life and poetry, stands as a patient and resilient witness through the ups and downs of existence. However, what gives the river its unique, simple beauty is its ability to answer a call, selflessly offering itself as a triumph, only to return to its tranquil existence, embodying the gentle daughter of the land. Perhaps this is why the Huong River never repeats itself in the inspiration of artists.

The remarkable appeal of this passage lies in the passionate love for the river, expressed through the intellect of a writer rich in knowledge, drawing from a deep understanding of culture, history, geography, and literature, all woven into a refined, introspective, and graceful writing style.

An excerpt from the essay 'Who Named the River?' reveals the beauty of Hue and the soul of its people through the keen observations of Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong on the Huong River. He rightfully earns the title of a poet of nature, a living dictionary of Hue, and a writer with deep patriotism and national spirit. This essay nurtures the love and pride for the river and for the homeland.

The Huong River as a cultural icon
* The Huong River is referred to as 'the mother of the silt for the cultural region': All of Hue's classical music, the melodies accompanying the life of Kieu, and the Four Major Scenes are born from the waters of the Huong River.

* The river is likened to a skilled woman playing music in the quiet of the night: its melody never repeats in the hearts of poets.

* In conclusion: The Huong River is a free-spirited, loyal daughter in love, brave and resilient through history, creative and talented in music and culture, humble in everyday life. She embodies the beauty of a Hue girl.

The poetic, dreamy, and lyrical nature of the Huong River continues to inspire generations of poets. The river first sparks musical inspiration, like a 'gifted woman playing an instrument in the late hours of the night.' This metaphor arises from the fact that the Huong River is a river of music, with the soft, passionate melodies of Hue originating from its waters. It is here that both classical music and folk songs were born, echoing best 'in the quiet of a boat, amidst the semi-muted sounds of paddles in the night.'

Especially, the Huong River is also perceived through the creative imagination of the writer. Through the river's course, Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong captures the essence of the people of Hue. He sees the Huong River as a beautiful, talented young woman: gentle and profound, passionate and reserved, playful yet deeply loyal.

In this young woman, the beauty of femininity stands out—whether she is the wild and free Digan girl with her brave spirit, the girl who sleeps dreamily amidst the wild flowers of Châu Hoá, the gentle daughter of the land, or the nurturing mother of a cultural region, with a soft beauty and intellect. She is also the skilled woman playing music in the quiet night...

The Huong River also carries a romantic allure, reflecting the ideal lover's relationship with the city, a connection resembling the pursuit and passion found in Truyen Kieu's tale—'seeking and chasing, elegance and desire, poetry and music.'

In this essay, the Huong River is viewed holistically: through the lenses of geography, history, and culture. In all these connections, the river is both beautiful and poetic in its natural shades, profound in its cultural values, surprising in its capacity to inspire creativity in artists, and strong and unyielding when confronting foreign invaders...

Yet, despite all these aspects, the Huong River retains an air of mystery, remaining an enduring source of wonder in the human soul.