Top 5 Essays on Nguyễn Dữ and The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương (Grade 9 Literature)

Nguyễn Dữ, from Thanh Miện district in Hải Dương province, was one of the brilliant students of Trạng Trình - Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm. Living in a time of turmoil and corrupt feudal rule, Nguyễn Dữ retired after one year of holding a governmental position, returning home to care for his elderly mother and dedicate himself to writing.

He left behind several letters and his work, Truyền kì mạn lục, written in Classical Chinese. This collection of prose, consisting of 20 stories, often features supernatural elements and folklore. Most of the stories center on women who possess beauty and virtue but suffer tragic fates. There are also stories of Confucian scholars who live close to the people, and 19 out of the 20 stories come with commentary. Truyền kì mạn lục is a classic work rich in humanistic values and deep insight into the lives of ordinary people.

The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương, as part of Truyền kì mạn lục:

Vũ Thị Thiết, a modest and graceful girl from Nam Xương, caught the eye of Trương Sinh, who was so taken with her beauty and virtue that he asked his mother to arrange their marriage, offering a dowry of 100 taels of gold. Shortly after their marriage, Trương Sinh left to fight in the war against the Champa. Vũ Nương saw him off with a filled wine cup, saying: "I do not expect you to return as a nobleman, only for you to return safely."

Vũ Nương, now pregnant, gave birth to a son named Đản while her husband was away. Six months later, her elderly mother-in-law fell ill, and Vũ Nương devoted herself to caring for her. After her mother-in-law passed away, Vũ Nương arranged the funeral and performed the rituals as if she were her own mother.

After a year, Trương Sinh returned home after the war. His son had just learned to speak, and when Trương Sinh visited his mother’s grave, the boy began crying and said: "Oh, so you are my father! You can talk, unlike my real father who never said a word." Trương Sinh, jealous by nature, immediately suspected his wife of infidelity. He scolded her harshly and chased her away. Vũ Nương wept, trying to explain herself, but no one believed her, even with the support of neighbors. Overwhelmed by grief and despair, Vũ Nương threw herself into the Hoàng Giang river, vowing: "If I am pure, may I become Ngọc Mị Nương in the water, or may I become the bitter weed on the earth... But if I am unfaithful, may I become prey for fish and birds..." After her death, one night, as Trương Sinh sat in sadness under the dim light, his son said, "Father, Đản’s father is back!" It was then that Trương Sinh realized his wife had been unjustly wronged.

As the story continues, Phan Lang, once the headman at Hoàng Giang ferry, dreamt of a woman in a green dress begging for mercy. The next morning, a fisherman brought him a green-turtle shell, and recalling the dream, Phan Lang released the turtle. Later, after being shipwrecked, he washed ashore on a turtle island, where a goddess recognized him as her savior. She gave him healing herbs, and Phan Lang was saved. At a feast in her honor, Phan Lang met a beautiful woman who resembled Vũ Nương. After the feast, she spoke of their shared hometown, and Vũ Nương’s spirit wept. She sent a golden flower back to her family with a message to perform a ritual to resolve the injustice.

Linh Phi, the goddess, sent a messenger to guide Phan Lang back. When he arrived home, he recounted his encounter with Vũ Nương and presented the golden flower. Trương Sinh organized a grand ritual at Hoàng Giang ferry. Fifty boats adorned with flags and banners filled the river, and from the middle of the river, Vũ Nương appeared, sitting in a flower-covered palanquin, her voice echoing: "Thank you for your love, but I can never return to the human world." Her figure gradually faded and disappeared into the mist.

Nguyễn Dữ was a writer from Đỗ Tùng village, Trường Tân district, now part of Thanh Miện, Hải Dương. He was the eldest son of Nguyễn Tường Phiêu, a successful scholar who passed the imperial examination in the Bính Thìn year (1496) during the Hồng Đức reign. Nguyễn Dữ was appointed to the position of Thừa Chánh Sứ and later posthumously promoted to Thượng Thư. The exact years of his birth and death are unknown, but he lived in the same period as Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm and studied alongside Phùng Khắc Khoan, which places him in the 16th century. He is best known for his literary work, Truyền kỳ mạn lục, written during his reclusive years and published in 1768.

Truyền kỳ mạn lục is Nguyễn Dữ's only known work, consisting of 20 stories split into four volumes. The stories are written in the style of truyền kỳ (tales of the strange and supernatural) and primarily draw from popular folklore and myths, many of which are based on deities and temples that still exist today.

Nguyễn Dữ was deeply devoted to studying and preserving literature from a young age. After passing the Hương Tiến exam, he continued to take imperial exams and secured a position as a district magistrate in Thanh Tuyền. However, after just one year, he resigned to care for his aging mother and spent the following years secluded from society, diligently writing and composing his renowned work. Although the exact year of his birth and death remains unclear, it is known that Nguyễn Dữ was a contemporary of Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, and they likely had intellectual exchanges. Unlike Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, who held a neutral stance toward the ruling Mạc dynasty, Nguyễn Dữ refused to serve under them and instead chose a life of seclusion in nature. His magnum opus, Truyền kỳ mạn lục, was likely completed during the early years of the Mạc dynasty, possibly between the 1520s and 1530s.

According to scholars such as Bùi Duy Tân, Truyền kỳ mạn lục is a creative literary work rather than a mere collection of old tales. While the stories are often set in the Ly, Trần, Hồ, and early Lê dynasties, they are not simple retellings but rather imaginative recreations of legends and folklore. Nguyễn Dữ used existing myths as the foundation to craft new narratives that reflect the turbulent social realities of the 16th century. The stories illustrate the complexities of class struggles, societal changes, and the decline of feudalism, presenting a vivid commentary on the human condition during a time of political instability.

The exact birth and death dates of Nguyễn Dữ remain unknown, but he lived during the 16th century in the Trường Tân district, now part of Thanh Miện in Hải Dương province. During his lifetime, the Lê dynasty began to experience a period of instability, with feudal factions fighting for power, leading to prolonged civil wars. Some believe he was a disciple of the renowned Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm. His father was a distinguished scholar during the Lê Thánh Tông era, and Nguyễn Dữ himself was known for his vast knowledge and talent. However, like many intellectuals of his time, he only served in an official capacity for one year before retiring to a life of seclusion. His most famous work is the classical Chinese narrative collection Truyền kỳ mạn lục, which showcases his philosophical outlook and personal reflections on life.

"The Tale of the Girl from Nam Xương" is one of the stories included in Truyền kỳ mạn lục, chronicling the tragic life of Vũ Nương, a woman from Nam Xương (now part of Hà Nam province). Vũ Nương was a modest and virtuous young woman who was loved by Trương Sinh, a man who admired her qualities and married her. After a short time, Trương Sinh had to go to war. Vũ Nương, who was pregnant, gave birth to their son, Đản, while her husband was away. Later, Trương Sinh’s elderly mother passed away, and Vũ Nương cared for her mother-in-law with great devotion. When Trương Sinh returned from the war, a misunderstanding involving a remark from their child caused him to wrongly accuse his wife of infidelity. Despite Vũ Nương's defense and neighbors' attempts to intervene, Trương Sinh rejected her, and in despair, she drowned herself in the Hoàng Giang River. It wasn't until later that Trương Sinh realized his mistake, after their child innocently pointed to her ghost's shadow, revealing the tragic truth. The story concludes with Phan Lang, a character who had once saved Linh Phi, the queen of the South Sea, crossing paths with Vũ Nương's spirit, who sends a message to her husband from the afterlife.

The tale reflects profound sorrow for women of virtue and beauty who suffer tragic fates due to misunderstandings and patriarchal norms. Vũ Nương, as a diligent wife and devoted daughter-in-law, represents the sacrifices of women in a patriarchal society. Her death condemns the harshness of feudal wars, the devastating consequences of family separation, and the oppressive social expectations that lead to personal tragedy. The story critiques the rigid gender roles and authoritarian family structures that cause such heartbreaking outcomes, and ultimately presents a humanistic appeal.

Through skilled storytelling, tightly woven structure, and captivating, sometimes supernatural, details, the narrative expertly guides the reader to a surprising yet satisfying conclusion. "The Tale of the Girl from Nam Xương" not only celebrates the traditional virtues of Vietnamese women but also reveals their tragic fate under the feudal system. Though filled with fantastical elements, it carries profound humanistic value. The story remains a poignant reminder of the plight of women in ancient society.

Through Truyền kỳ mạn lục, readers will always feel sympathy for Vũ Nương and for the suffering of women in the old social order.