1. Lesson Plan 'Our Country Đại Việt' No. 4
I. Author and Work
1. Author (Refer to the introduction of Nguyễn Trãi in Grade 7 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 1).
2. The Work
* Origin: 'Our Country Đại Việt' is an excerpt from the Bình Ngô Đại Cáo. This significant proclamation, akin to a declaration of independence, was issued on the 17th day of the 12th lunar month in the Year of the Goat (early 1428), following the great victory of Vietnamese forces. They had defeated and dismantled 150,000 Minh invasion troops, forcing the general Vương Thông to negotiate and retreat. The work is written in parallel prose, employing the four-line verse format, and follows a structure common to proclamations. The excerpt is translated by Bùi Văn Nguyên, based on the translation of Bùi Kỉ, and the title was given by the textbook compiler.
* Genre: Cáo is a classical argumentative prose form used by kings or leaders to announce policies or report on important achievements.
II. Lesson Plan Guide
Question 1:
This excerpt serves as the introduction to the Bình Ngô Đại Cáo, laying the foundation for the themes developed later. The author affirms several truths in this section:
The nation has a long-standing civilization
The country has its own territory
The nation has distinct customs
The nation has a unique history and governance system, comparable to Chinese dynasties.
Question 2:
* Through these two lines:
The humanistic ideal lies in ensuring the people's peace
Victory in war begins with eliminating tyranny.
The core of Nguyễn Trãi's humanistic thought is 'ensuring peace for the people' and 'eliminating tyranny'. 'Ensuring peace' means providing the people with happiness, prosperity, and security. 'Eliminating tyranny' refers to removing oppressive forces. To ensure peace, the forces of tyranny must be eradicated.
* The people mentioned here are the citizens of Đại Việt under invasion, while the tyrannical force refers to the Minh invaders.
Question 3:
* To assert national sovereignty, the author draws on factors such as: the ancient civilization, distinct territorial borders, unique customs, a separate history, and independent governance, placing the nation on par with Chinese dynasties.
* Some argue that the national consciousness in 'Our Country Đại Việt' is a continuation and expansion of the awareness presented in the poem 'Song Núi Nước Nam', where the focus was mainly on territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, in this excerpt, three additional factors are highlighted: civilization, history, and customs. Nguyễn Trãi recognized that cultural heritage and historical tradition are also vital components in defining an independent, sovereign nation.
Question 4:
Notable artistic features of the excerpt:
The use of words that emphasize the inherent, long-standing nature of Đại Việt's attributes
Artistic devices like comparison and enumeration enhance the argument's effectiveness
Parallel structures and consistent phrasing strengthen the clarity and certainty of the message the author aims to convey.
Question 5:
The persuasive power of Nguyễn Trãi's political discourse lies in his combination of reason and real-world experience. In this excerpt, Nguyễn Trãi confidently affirms the long-established civilization of the Vietnamese people. In practice, we, the descendants of Đại Việt, also take great pride in our rich cultural heritage.
Moreover, our people possess sovereignty, unique traditions, and cultural practices that define our Northern and Southern regions. We have a solid, independent history built on a legacy of glory. The author draws on 'historical evidence' to demonstrate the strength of justice and express national pride.
Question 6:
The structure of the argument in 'Our Country Đại Việt':
Humanistic ideals: a. Ensuring peace for the people, driving out invaders b. Eliminating tyranny, defeating the Minh invaders => The independence of Việt's existence is grounded in its territory, customs, history, and independent governance.

2. Lesson Plan 'Our Country Đại Việt' No. 5

3. Lesson Plan: "The Waters of Đại Việt" No. 6
I. General Overview of the Essay 'The Waters of Đại Việt'
1. The Author
Nguyễn Trãi stands as a multifaceted hero in history, playing a key role in supporting Lê Lợi during the Lam Sơn Rebellion.
He was a statesman, diplomat, poet, writer, and renowned cultural figure.
His literary contributions include works such as 'The Collection of Ức Trai's Poems', 'The Military Orders for the Court', and 'The Great Declaration of Bình Ngô'.
2. The Work
'The Great Declaration of Bình Ngô' was published after the victory of the Lam Sơn Rebellion, which successfully expelled the Ming invaders. This event celebrated the triumph of the nation and signaled the beginning of a new era of independence and unity for the people.
II. Analyzing the Essay 'The Waters of Đại Việt'
Question 1, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
The author establishes several fundamental truths as the basis of his argument:
1. Đại Việt has a rich and ancient civilization.
2. Our nation has distinct borders, customs, and a long history.
3. Our dynasties stand proudly alongside those of China.
4. The land has produced numerous national heroes.
Question 2, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
The central idea of Nguyễn Trãi’s philosophy is the deep care for the people, ensuring their peace and justice by eliminating wrongdoers.
The people he refers to are those suffering under the oppressive and exploitative rule of the Ming invaders.
The tyrants mentioned are the Ming forces, invaders who inflicted suffering and injustice on the Vietnamese population.
Question 3, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
The author supports the nation's sovereignty with key elements:
1. A long-established and flourishing civilization.
2. Unique territory, customs, history, and governance.
3. Dynasties comparable to those of China.
4. The presence of heroic figures.
'The Waters of Đại Việt' reinforces and expands the national consciousness by not only drawing on past beliefs but also adding cultural, historical, and human elements that further solidify the nation's independence.
Question 4, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
The artistic qualities of the excerpt include:
The parallelism in the sentence structure, with two balanced halves, creates a rhythmic flow.
The arguments are tightly reasoned and incisive.
=> This passage asserts the nation’s independence and sovereignty, highlighting the enemy’s defeat and celebrating the victory of the Vietnamese people.
Question 5, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
The persuasiveness of Nguyễn Trãi's political discourse lies in its perfect integration of logic and reality:
To confirm that Đại Việt is an independent nation, Nguyễn Trãi draws from the practical realities of our nation’s ancient civilization, customs, and history. Furthermore, to emphasize our strength in comparison to northern powers, he places our dynasties side by side with theirs to show our equivalence.
Question 6, page 69, Grade 8 Textbook:
Diagram
'The Waters of Đại Việt' highlights the importance of humanity as the foundation of an independent nation:
- Ancient civilization
- Distinct borders
- Unique customs
- Sovereignty
- Rich historical legacy
III. Practice with 'The Waters of Đại Việt'
The continuity and evolution of national consciousness in 'The Waters of Đại Việt':
Continuity: The essay preserves the idea that the nation has its own distinct territory and sovereignty, separate from northern powers.
Development: Nguyễn Trãi not only emphasizes territory and sovereignty but also presents additional compelling arguments to confirm the nation’s independence, such as its civilization, history, customs, dynasties, and heroic figures.

4. Lesson on 'The Water of Đại Việt' - Version 1
* Structure
- Section 1 (first 2 lines): The ideology of humanity and justice.
- Section 2 (next 8 lines): The truth of national independence.
- Section 3 (remaining part): Presenting the outcome.
Question 1 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
The premise of the essay is to affirm certain truths:
+ The independent existence of the nation's territory and sovereignty.
+ The existence of customs and traditions.
+ The long-standing culture.
+ The independent history with many dynasties.
→ Affirming the nation's independent existence with pride and national honor.
Question 2 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
- Nguyễn Trãi's ideology of humanity is expressed through two lines:
'Humanity is based on ensuring peace for the people'
'Armies punish and remove the evil'
- According to Nguyễn Trãi, humanity means: peace for the people, removing evil.
+ Humanity is tolerance, peace, and the care for people.
+ Humanity is the ideal for building the nation's dream.
+ 'Peace for the people' means loving and caring for the people.
+ 'Removing evil' means fighting foreign invaders to ensure national independence (e.g., defeating the Minh invaders).
→ Nguyễn Trãi's 'humanity' ideology implies peace for the people and protecting them. It encompasses both philosophy and his life's work.
Question 3 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
To affirm national sovereignty, the author highlights the following factors:
+ A long-standing culture: a timeless civilization.
+ Customs and traditions.
+ A unique historical development.
+ A distinct state system, equal to the Chinese dynasties.
- The poem 'The Waters of Nam' by Lý Thường Kiệt mentions the sovereignty and territorial independence of Nam.
- In 'Bình Ngô Đại Cáo,' Nguyễn Trãi continues to assert sovereignty, highlighting culture, history, and the dynasty.
+ The biền ngẫu style of poetry helps articulate these ideas in greater detail.
Question 4 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
The artistic techniques of this excerpt are expressed in the following ways:
- The language use affirms the long-standing existence and clarity on multiple levels.
- The prose is written in biền ngẫu style with balanced sentences, some short, some long, and corresponding clauses.
- The speech is forceful, with logical arguments and sharp reasoning.
- The structure is cohesive and logical.
Question 5 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
The persuasiveness of Nguyễn Trãi’s political writing is clearly seen in his reasoning:
+ The ideology of 'humanity' runs through his works.
+ He asserts that the truth belongs to us, and the enemy, being cruel, will inevitably be defeated.
+ The destruction of the enemy is inevitable since our nation is independent.
+ Proof of independence: territory, culture, customs, and dynasties.
The author's reasoning and evidence:
+ He cites the disastrous defeat of those who opposed humanity: Lưu Cung, Triệu Tiết, Ô Mã, Toa Đô.
+ He draws on historical records that cannot be denied.
+ His arguments are assertive, emphasizing the strength of righteousness.
+ Reflecting national pride.
Question 6 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook):
Summary of the reasoning in the excerpt 'The Water of Đại Việt':
The ideology of humanity:
a. Ensuring peace for the people, driving out invaders.
b. Removing evil, defeating the Minh invaders.
=> The independent existence of Việt:
- Culture
- Territory
- Customs
- History
- Independent dynasties
Practice (page 70, 8th-grade literature textbook):
Introduction:
Introducing the issue to be discussed.
Main Body:
- Both texts express the shared longing for freedom and independence. The strong, clear assertions about the nation's sovereignty make these texts considered declarations of independence.
- 'Nam Quốc sơn hà' emerged in the 11th century during the resistance against the Song. The poem affirms sovereignty through two elements: territory and sovereignty.
'The Water of Đại Việt' adds elements such as culture, customs, history, and heroes.
→ This shows the continuity and development of the Đại Việt national consciousness from the 11th to the 15th century.
Conclusion: Affirming that the ideology of the nation has evolved and developed.
- Relating this to the ongoing evolution of national consciousness in contemporary times.

5. Lesson on 'The Water of Đại Việt' - Version 2
Answer to Question 1 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
When affirming the premise of the independent sovereignty of the Vietnamese nation, Nguyễn Trãi highlights several truths:
- Our nation possesses a long-standing culture.
- Our nation has its own territorial boundaries.
- Our nation has its own customs and traditions.
- Our nation has its own history and governance.
Answer to Question 2 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
The core of Nguyễn Trãi's humanity ideology is encapsulated in the phrases 'peace for the people' and 'eliminate evil.' 'Peace for the people' means ensuring the people live in tranquility and happiness. To ensure this peace, one must eradicate all forces of tyranny.
- For Nguyễn Trãi, humanity is inseparable from patriotism and the fight against foreign invasion. Humanity is not only reflected in relationships between individuals but also in the relationship between nations.
Answer to Question 3 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
Nguyễn Trãi identifies fundamental elements to affirm the nation's independence and sovereignty:
- A long-standing culture.
- Sovereign territorial boundaries.
- Customs and traditions.
- A unique history and governance.
This continuity and development of national consciousness is a progression from the poem 'Nam Quốc sơn hà,' due to its comprehensive and profound nature.
Answer to Question 4 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
Notable artistic features in this excerpt:
- The author uses layered vocabulary to express the inherent and long-standing nature of Đại Việt. Words like 'since the beginning,' 'inherently,' 'for a long time,' 'long divided,' and 'distinct' strengthen this claim.
- The combination of comparisons and listings effectively enhances the argumentative power of the text.
- The parallel sentences in biền ngẫu style, which run consecutively, reinforce the clarity and certainty of the truths the author aims to assert.
Answer to Question 5 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
- The sentences are symmetrical and rhythmic in biền ngẫu style.
- In 'Bình Ngô Đại Cáo,' after establishing the principle of humanity, Nguyễn Trãi presents irrefutable proofs about the strength of humanity and truth, ultimately showcasing the power of righteousness.
Answer to Question 6 (page 69, 8th-grade literature textbook, volume 2)
The reasoning process in the excerpt 'The Water of Đại Việt' can be summarized as follows:
Principle of humanity:
a. Peace for the people
b. Eliminate evil
=> The truth of sovereignty and independence => The strength of humanity and national independence.
Practice Exercise
Introduction:
Introducing the issue to be discussed.
Main Body:
- Both texts express a shared longing for freedom and independence. Their clear, assertive statements on national sovereignty are why these two works are considered declarations of independence.
- The poem 'Nam Quốc sơn hà,' created in the 11th century during the resistance against the Song dynasty, affirms sovereignty through two elements: territorial boundaries and sovereignty.
'The Water of Đại Việt' builds on these two elements by adding the significance of culture, customs, traditions, history, and heroic figures.
→ This shows the continuity and evolution of national consciousness in Đại Việt from the 11th to the 15th century.
Conclusion: Affirming the continued development of nationalist thought.
- Relating this to the ongoing evolution of national consciousness in modern times.
Structure
3 sections:
- Section 1 (first 2 lines): Humanity ideology.
- Section 2 (next 8 lines): The truth of national independence.
- Section 3 (remaining part): Presentation of results.
Main Idea
'The Water of Đại Việt' is a declaration of independence: Our nation has a long-standing culture, distinct territorial boundaries, unique customs, sovereignty, and historical traditions; any invader is unjust and will inevitably fail.

6. Lesson on 'The Water of Đại Việt' - Version 3

