TTLV: A comparative study of the artistic world in the poetry of Ho Xuan Huong (Vietnam) and Xue Tao (China)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: XIAO HAOHUI                                   2.Sex:Female

3. Date of birth: November 20, 2000                                                         4. Place of birth: China

5. Decision No. 190/QD-XHNV dated January 5, 2024, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: Based on Decision No. 8525/QD-XHNV dated December 3, 2025, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, regarding the extension of the study period for postgraduate students, the extension will be from January 6, 2026, to July 5, 2026.

7. Thesis title:A comparative study of the artistic world in the poetry of Ho Xuan Huong (Vietnam) and Xue Tao (China).

8. Major: Vietnamese Studies 9. Code: 8310630

10. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thanh Tam, Department of Linguistics and Vietnamese Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the thesis results:This thesis conducts a comparative study of the artistic world in the poetry of the two female poets Ho Xuan Huong.(VVietnamMale)and Xue Tao(China) in two aspects:artistic characteristicsandartistic conceptions of humanity.The thesis employed textual analysis, poetic analysis, and comparative research analysis methods.

The research results show that, although bothpoetBoth lived in a feudal society deeply influenced by Confucianism, but their artistic worlds reflected two distinct aesthetic paths: Ho Xuan Huonggo the way withlanguagefrank, using bodily metaphors and satirical tone, while Xue Taogo the way withA sophisticated system of allusions, a concise style, and a harmonious blend of the Three Religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism).

In terms of rhetoric and aesthetic symbolism, Ho Xuan HuongUsing wordplay, objects to symbolize people, and historical allusions.to the bicorrelative characteristicbetweenNom scriptand Chinese charactersto create ambiguity,calculateambiguous and highly suggestive, andUsing imagery familiar to folk life to depict the beauty of the female body,toCriticizing feudal customs and traditions and expressing aspirations.humanhighness.WhileTiet Dao is based on classical poetic techniques.cultureChinese characters and their allusionsChinese classics,Constructing a world of elegant literary figures through symbols, thereby concealing a hidden sorrow.happyof the woman is not allowedexpress directly, together withthe lack of women's autonomy in that era..

Regarding artistic conceptsbelong toThe thesis points out that both poets took poetry as their refuge.manifestfemale"foot”in the soul and create the"Pretty"While devoted to life, Ho Xuan Huong boldly declared the power of the female body, affirming that desire is a legitimate source of life and the yearning for happiness is a fundamental human right.,become a proactive womanregardingartistic creativity. Tiet Dao, with her status as a courtesan and her unique living circumstances, expresses this"foot”through persistently preserving character and dignity within the framework of the scholarly order., simultaneouslyUsing concise poetry and engaging in poetic exchanges with the elite, she subtly asserted her position and talent, creating a feminist image that was both gentle and resolute.

In summary, the thesis asserts thatchiefHo Xuan Huong and Tiet Dao are both outstanding representatives of feminist voices in medieval East Asian literature. Their works are not only works of art with high aesthetic value, but also discourse texts reflecting the struggle for freedom of speech and the affirmation of human dignity for women in patriarchal societies. This comparative study has contributed to...giveThis fills a gap in the direct comparison of the two female poets, while also opening up a new approach to the study of East Asian women's literature..

12. Practical applications: Suitable as a reference material for students in Vietnamese Studies, Oriental Studies, Vietnamese Language and Literature.

13. Further research directions: Comparative poetics studies of East Asian women's literature.

14. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name:XIAO HAOHUI                                          2. Sex:Female

3. Date of birth:20/11/2000                                        4. Place of birth:China

5. Admission decision number:190/QD-XHNV dated January 5, 2024, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National university, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: According to Decision No. 8525/QD-XHNV dated 03 December 2025, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on the extension of the study period for the master's student, the study period has been extended from 06 January 2026 to 05 July 2026

7. Official thesis title:Comparative study of the artistic worlds in the poetry of Ho Xuan Huong (Vietnam) and Xue Tao (China)

8. Major: VietnameseStudies                            9. Code:8310630

10. Supervisors:Assoc. Prof.Dr.Le Thi Thanh Tam, Faculty of Linguistics and Vietnamese Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: This thesis is a comparative study of the artistic worlds in the poetry of two female poets, Ho Xuan Huong (Vietnam) and Xue Tao (China), focusing on two aspects: artistic characteristics and the artistic conception of humanity. The thesis utilizes methods of textual analysis, poetic analysis, and comparative study.

The research findings show that although both poets lived in a feudal social context profoundly shaped by Confucianism, their artistic worlds exhibit two distinct aesthetic pathways: Ho Xuan Huong's path is characterized by direct language, corporeal metaphors, and a satirical tone, while Xue Tao's path is defined by a refined system of classical allusions, a succinct and allusive style, and the harmonization of the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism).

In terms of rhetorical art and aesthetic symbols, Ho Xuan Huong employs wordplay, the use of everyday objects as symbols for the human body, and classical allusions, exploiting the dual semantic interplay between Nom and Chinese characters to generate polysemy and richly suggestive ambiguity. She also draws on imagery rooted in folk life to simultaneously depict the beauty of the female body, critique feudal rites, and articulate an intense affirmation of human desire. In contrast, Xue Tao works from the classical poetics of Han culture, using allusions drawn from the Chinese canonical tradition to construct an elegant world of literati imagery through symbols. Within this world, she intentionally inscribes the private sorrows of a woman denied direct expression, alongside the profound lack of female autonomy in that era.

Regarding the artistic conception of humanity, the thesis points out that both poets turned to poetry as a sanctuary for expressing the"true”within the soul and for constructing the"restaurant”in life. However, Ho Xuan Huong boldly proclaimed the power of the female body, affirmed desire as a legitimate source of vitality and the longing for happiness as a fundamental human right, thereby becoming a woman who took active control of her own artistic creation. Xue Tao, as a courtesan living under distinctive circumstances, manifested the"true”through the steadfast preservation of her character and dignity within the framework of the scholar-gentry order, while simultaneously using allusive verses and poetic exchanges with the elite to silently assert her position and talent, crafting a visage of feminine agency that is both gentle and resolute.

In conclusion, the thesis affirms that both Ho Xuan Huong and Xue Tao are outstanding representatives of the feminist voice in pre-modern East Asian literature. Their works are not only artistic creations of high aesthetic value, but also discursive texts that reflect the struggle for freedom of speech and the affirmation of women's human dignity within a patriarchal society. This comparative study has contributed to filling the gap in the direct comparison of these two female poets, while simultaneously opening up a new approach to the study of the history of East Asian women's literature.

12. Practical applicability, if any:To be used as reference material for students in the fields of Vietnamese Studies, Oriental Studies, Vietnamese Language and Vietnamese Literature.

13. Further research directions, if any: A comparative study of poetics in East Asian women's literature.

14. Thesis-related publications:none