A shrine to the eternal bard

      It is not very often that both a literary figure and her or his creations become household names through generations.
Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu), the heartbreaking epic poem that has moved generations in many parts of the world for two centuries or more, has achieved that distinction.
The poem is the magnum opus of Nguyen Du (1765-1820), the most admired and venerated poet in Vietnamese history.
The man who has legions of streets and schools in provinces and cities nationwide named after him, has a special place of commemoration and worship in his native place, Tien Dien Commune in Ha Tinh Province’s Nghi Xuan District.
The 3,254 verse epic was probably written between 1805 and 1820. It recounts the tragedy and redemption of a young, beautiful woman named Vuong Thuy Kieu, who had to sell herself as a prostitute to settle the debts of her father and brother.
The work has become an indispensable part of the curriculum in Vietnam and many of its characters have become common words in Vietnamese.
The Nguyen Du Commemoration Site has become a leading place of interest in Ha Tinh as the place where the poet and his family lived.
A 1.5-meter high copper statue of Nguyen Du looking out on to a vast field, one arm put behind his back and the other arm placed on his thigh, greets visitors as soon as they pass through the entrance gate. This statue was adapted from literary works and tales because no other photos or pictures are available.
The room for displaying exhibits is divided into three sections: homeland and lineage; origin and career of Nguyen Du; and the influence of Truyen Kieu in Vietnam and in the world. There are well-preserved copies of Truyen Kieu that have been published in different languages around the world, and also Vietnam’s biggest and longest copy of Truyen Kieu in the form of a calligraphic work.
The house for worshiping Nguyen Du was built in 1940. In its proximity are an altar for making offerings and a stone stele which Nguyen Quynh (1677-1748), the poet’s paternal grandfather, set up in 1762 to worship his parents. Nguyen Quynh was famous in his own right as a poet and a scholar.
Two trees which Nguyen Quynh planted still grow well at the site, offering plenty of shade.
Walking in the shade of trees whose timelines testify that they bore witness to the great poet’s life, one gets the feeling that Nguyen Du’s life and works are destined to stay with life forever.