TYLA: Research on Nom literature of authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien, Ha Tinh

Author name:Nguyen Thi Hoa Le

Thesis title:Research on Nom literature of authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien, Ha Tinh

Dissertation field:Han Nom

Specialized:Han NomCode:62.22.01.04

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and research objects of the thesis

-Research purpose: The research topic of Nom literature of the authors of the Nguyen Tien Dien family in Ha Tinh aims to clarify the creative force of the family, the situation of the works and the texts of the works. From there, it will clarify the role of Nom literature of the family in relation to the Chinese literary system? What is the relationship with the examination and literary traditions of the Nguyen Huy and Phan Huy families? Why do the Nom literary works of this family play an important role in the history of literature? Why does the literary heritage of the Nguyen Tien Dien family create an innovation in art and aesthetic function, with valuable Nom works, especiallyThe Tale of Kieuof Nguyen Du? On the other hand, how did the family tradition (especially the mandarin and eunuch families) and the mutual relationship (in marriage, education, etc.) influence the formation of the Nom literary characteristics of the Nguyen Tien Dien family? On the other hand, what role does Nom literature, as a literary genre written in Vietnamese, play in the overall structure of the literary works of bilingual authors in the Sino-Vietnamese bicultural environment?

-Research object: The research object of the thesis is the system of Nom texts and the system of works and compositions written in Nom (Vietnamese) by authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien. However, due to historical fluctuations and other reasons, many Nom texts have been lost, now only the Latin transcriptions remain, those transcriptions are also the research object of the thesis.

2. Research methods used

- Fieldwork and data collection methods

- Method of researching Han Nom texts

- Research methods of Han Nom literature

- Method of comparing text and language

- Statistical methods.

- Quantitative analysis, comparison and contrast method

- Research methods of literary history.

- Method of studying culture, specifically family culture.

- Also uses interdisciplinary approach

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

Based on an overview of the research situation of Nom literature by authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien to determine what has been done and what has not been done by the academic community, the research community, the thesis contributes to clarifying the following contents:

In terms of theory - Research on Nom literature of authors with the Nguyen Tien Dien family contributes to clarifying the concept of literary genre, as well as the Nguyen Tien Dien literary genre as a research object of literary history and social history.

- Research on Nom literature of authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien contributes to finding many Nom texts of works that have been lost for a long time.

- Research on Nom literature by authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien contributes to clarifying the authorship of a number of works that have long been the subject of doubt and debate.

- Research on Nom literature of authors of the Nguyen Tien Dien family contributes to objectively recognizing the value of content and form as well as the position of Nom poetry of the Nguyen Tien Dien family in comparison with the Han poetry of the family itself and Nom poetry of other families at that time.

In terms of practice: - The Nguyen Tien Dien family still has many authors whose thesis has not been accessed and many of their works have been lost. Therefore, the research of the thesis is the basis for finding more and rediscovering those authors and works in the future.

- The thesis's research initially suggests the collection and research of authors and works of the family according to the literary genre, including both writings in Han and Nom characters.

- With the work of teaching basic Han Nom and some subjects of medieval literature at the author's workplace, the research of the thesis contributes more materials for students to study and research the Nom literature (Vietnamese).

- Through research on Nom literature of authors of the Nguyen Tien Dien family, the thesis now has in hand a collection of Nom poems and prose by many authors in the family. This collection of poems and prose has been offered by the officials at the Nguyen Du Memorial Site to be printed into a book for display and storage at the Nguyen Du Memorial Site - which was built on the land of the Nguyen Tien Dien family to pay tribute to the family.

3.2. Conclusion

Through the introduction and four chapters of the thesis presented above, we have some conclusions and comments as follows:

1. The Nguyen Tien Dien family is a noble and distinguished family, with high academic achievements and a reputation for writing in medieval history, specifically in the late Le and early Nguyen dynasties in our country. This family gave birth to the great national poet Nguyen Du and many other poets and writers. With the fame, immortality, uniqueness and resounding influence of the workTale of KieuThe Nguyen Tien Dien family - the family that gave birth to the great national poet - has also been studied and researched very carefully by scholars and researchers about its origin and genealogy. The origin of the family has been traced back many generations. The family genealogy has been widely studied to many branches. The poems and writings of the authors in the family have also been discovered, introduced and researched a lot. However, the late Le Dynasty to the early Nguyen Dynasty was the most turbulent period in history, and this family had many participants and sometimes were the pillars of some contemporary governments. Therefore, many authors of the family had to suffer many consequences from that "turbulent" situation. The times of changing kings and rulers, the military coups at that time caused this noble family to scatter, each person going their own way. The books and works of the family were also scattered a lot.

2. Through the thesis survey in research works, books, newspapers, magazines at central and local levels, in Han Nom book warehouses... the following results were obtained:

- The Nguyen Tien Dien family has 10 authors who wrote Nom poetry and literature, of which 8 authors still have works, 2 authors' works have been lost.

- The number of works by 8 authors is 26 units of work. Of which, 2 works were discovered by us and 24 works were discovered and introduced by academics and researchers.

The discoveries introducing the works of authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien are mainly in/on local works, magazines, and newspapers. Therefore, there may be other works of authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien discovered and introduced somewhere that the thesis has not fully covered.

In general, the findings and introductions of academics and researchers on the works of authors with the last name Nguyen Tien Dien exceptTale of KieuMost of them are Latin transcriptions, without Nom script, and only a few have Nom text addresses.

Nom works by authors with the surname Nguyen Tien Dien have doubts about their authorship (out of 26 discovered and introduced works, 6 have doubts about their authorship).

3. Through the study of the texts of 26 works, we have drawn the following characteristics of the text situation:

Regarding the number of authors with the surname NTĐ, there are still 8 people writing Nom poetry and literature, including 1 female author. Regarding the number of works, there are 25 works.

The thesis has found evidence to prove and confirm that the authors of the six works are all works of authors with the surname NTĐ.

Of the 25 works, 7 have no text yet, 8 are unique, and 10 have different versions.Ki Storyyesuis the work with the most versions (50 versions), followed byArmy to Army(3 copies),Confucius Dreams of Duke Zhou(3 copies), the rest have 2 copies:King Kang's ancestor,Response to Trinh Sam's poem,Paintings and poems by Nguyen Huy Oanh,Worshiping the wandering souls, the temple honors the 70th birthday,Self-reflection.

Except for variant versions of the workKing Kang's ancestorcompletely identical, the remaining versions of other works all have differences. The differences occur in many aspects such as: the number of sentences, dialogues in the work, words in sentences, dialogues. This proves that ancient Confucian scholars when copying often arbitrarily edited, revised, corrected and there may be cases of recording works from memory.

In addition, there are some works that currently have multiple Latin transcriptions. When comparing those Latin transcriptions with each other or with the Nom script, there are also many differences. Thus, it proves that scholars, researchers, and editors when transcribing can modify according to their own will (and this is no exception).

4. In addition, the Nom literature of the Nguyen Tien Dien family also deals with other basic themes of Confucian ethics. Nom works all express the ethics between husband and wife, and other relationships within the family such as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and ethical issues within the family such as filial piety. In one aspect, this theme contributes to the "family management" nature of Nom literature.

The important characteristic of the Nom literature of Nguyen Tien Dien is that Nom works are imbued with the Confucian idea of ​​“literature to convey morality”. Normally, Nom literature is often considered as “Nom na mach que”, not official, not legitimate, … But some works such as music chapters,The Book of Changes,Confucius Dreams of Zhou Gong, … shows that the authors of the Nguyen Tien Dien literary genre are making a change in the genre function, and the literary ability, of the Nom prose genre.

Author:Nguyen Thi Hoa Le

Dissertation title:Studying Nom literature written by the members of the Nguyen family in Tien Dien, Ha Tinh

Scientific branch of the thesis:Han Nom

Major:Han NomCode:62.22.01.04

Name of graduate training institution:Universityof Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University

1. Thesis's research purposes and scope

-Research purposes: This thesis is aimed at studying Nom literature written by the authors of the Nguyen family in Tien Dien, Ha Tinh to define that family's factors of writing as well as their work and texts. The thesis then goes further to define the position of this family's literary texts in comparison with the system of Sino literature as well as its relationship with the tradition of competition-examinations of the Nguyen Huy family and Phan Huy family also in Ha Tinh. The thesis points out the reasons why this Nguyen family's Nom writings played an important role in the history of literature as well as why this family's literary heritage brought about a renovation in arts and aesthetic significance presented in such Nom valuable works asDoan Truong Tan Thanhby Nguyen Du? At the same time, the thesis examines how the familial tradition, especially that of big families of tradition of competition-examinations and mandarinhood, and marital and educational relationship as well, influences the development of typical characteristics of Nom writings by the Nguyen family in Tien Dien. The thesis also points out the role of Nom literature in the whole structure of literary writings written bilingual author in the context of bilingual Sino-Nom culture.

-Research scope: The thesis examines the system of Nom writings written by the members of the Nguyen family in Tien Dien. Caused by some historical reasons, many of these Nom writings in original form of script of Nom characters are no longer existing; instead, they are now existing in their Romanized versions. These Romanized versions are also of the thesis's research scope.

2. Research methods

- Field research methods and material collection.

- Textual approach in Sino-Nom studies

- Philological method in Sino-Nom studies

- Comparative method

- Statistical method

- Analytical method in quantity

- Method of historical literature

- Cultural studies approach, especially in the field of familial culture

- Interdisciplinary approach

3. Thesis's main findings and conclusions

3.1. Thesis's main findings

- In terms of theory:

+ Defining the concept of literary family and the Nguyen literary family in Tien Dien as a research object in the history of literature and history of society

+ Tracing out many Nom writings which have been lost.

+ Contributing to defining the authorship of some contestable authors.

+ Pointing out the values ​​of content and form as well as the position of Nom poetry and prose written by the Nguyen family in Tien Dien in comparing with Sino-writings written by itself and by its other contemporary families.

- In terms of practice:

+ The thesis has not been able to approach many authors of the Nguyen family in Tien Dien; At the same time, many of their writings were lost. Therefore, the thesis's findings can be the basic steps to go further in finding more other authors' own writings in the future.

+ The thesis's findings contribute to the job of collecting and researching texts written by authors of this family including both Sino and Nom writings.

+ The thesis contributes to the materials served to teaching and research Nom literature in colleges, especially in teaching such courses as “Sino-Nom basics“ and “Pre-modern Vietnamese literature“

- A collection of Nom prose and poetry written by the authors of the Nguyen family in Tien Dien was conducted through the course of doing this research. This collection is going to print out as a book archived at Nguyen Du memorial house, which was built in the land owned by this family, to pay homage to the family.

3.2.Conclusions

1. The Nguyen family in Tien Dien was a famous family of nobility, reputable mandarinhood, and literary fame in premodern Vietnam, especially in the period of the late Le dynasty and the early Nguyen dynasty. Nguyen Du, among others, is the most famous author born in this line. With such fame and contributions in the history, the genealogy of this family has been well studied. Its origin has also been traced back through many generations and branches. Literary works written by the authors from this family have been discovered, introduced, and well examined. There were many members of this line participating in the political life and sometimes even played central roles in the contemporary governments in the period of the late Le dynasty and the early Nguyen dynasty, a period characterized by many conflicts and troubles. Consequently, many of them have been judged by biased opinions when the political situation changed. After the changes of dynasties and regimes as well as warfare conflicts, this big noble family got scattered. Their writings and books, accordingly, have been lost much.

2. Through the examination of multiple sources, in this thesis, I point out that:

- The Nguyen family in Tien Dien consists of ten authors who wrote Nom poetry and prose. There are eight out of them whose texts are still existent. The other two's works are lost.

- The number of works written by those eight authors is 26 of which we found out 2. The other 24 were found and introduced by other scholars, mainly in regional journals, magazines, and newspapers. Therefore, there may be other texts written by the family going beyond the list the thesis mentions.

In general, the scholars' findings and introductions related to the texts written by the Nguyen family in Tien Dien, exceptStory, have been mainly about Romanized versions of the original Nom texts. There are a few of them noted about the address of their Nom original texts.

The texts written by the Nguyen family in Tien Dien are still contestable in some aspects. 6 out of the 26 authors are contestable in terms of authorship.

3. Based on examining the texts of 26 works, I points out the textual matter as the following:

The number of Nom-writing authors from the Nguyen family in Tien Dien is still 8 including one female author. The works written by them are 25.

6 out of those 25 have been contestable in terms of authorship. In this thesis, I have found out the evidence to document that those works were written by the authors from the Nguyen family in Tien Dien.

The texts of 7 works out of the 25 have been lost. 8 out of them were in the form of single text. 10 out of them were in form of variant texts;Storyamong them is the work with the most variant texts (50 variants). The next steps areArmymiddleOh(3 variants),ConfuciusThe Duke of Zhou's Dream(3). The following ones have 2 variants for each:King Kang's ancestor,Response to Trinh Sam's poem,Paintings and poems by Nguyen Huy Oanh,Worshiping the wandering souls, the temple honors the 70th birthday,Self-reflection.

Except for two variant texts ofMoveKing Khang's family, which are the complete same, the variant texts of the other cases consist of differences expressed in such aspects as the number of sentences and dialogues; the characters in sentences. This suggests that the Confucianist scholars usually themselves revised and added some details the texts when they duplicated them. Even in some cases, they duplicated some texts with their memory.

In addition, some of works among them are existent in the form of many Roman-transcribed versions. When comparing those Roman-transcribed versions either to each other or to the Nom original texts, I find many differences. This suggests that when working on those texts, the scholars should have changed them with some reasons.

4.In addition, this family's Nom writings are also about other Confucianist moral themes. They present the morality of wife-husband relation as well as other familial ones such as mother and daughter-in-law relation, and other moral stories as well. To some extent, those themes contributed to the development of the feature of “household management” in Nom literature.

One very important characteristic of Nom literature written by the Nguyen family in Tien Dien is that their works are full of Confucianist conception of “morality-conveyed literature”. In general, Nom literature was conventionally thought to be informal and unofficial. However, some of Nom literature, including some music-literary texts, such asKnitting design,Don't expect too much from me, … present that their authors from the Nguyen family in Tien Dien were making some changes in genre function as well as the literary ability of Nom rhyme prose (Phu Nom).