The People's Committee of Ha Tinh province and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities jointly organized a seminar on the renowned figure Nguyen Cong Tru.

Attending the workshop, on the side of Ha Tinh province were Mr. Le Dinh Son (Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee), Mr. Dang Quoc Vinh (Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee), Mr. Ha Van Thach (Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department), Mr. Hoang Trung Dung (Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department), and Mr. Vo Hong Hai (Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council); on the side of Vietnam National University, Hanoi were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc (Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang (Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities).

The seminar "Nguyen Cong Tru and the History and Culture of Vietnam in the First Half of the 19th Century" was organized to clarify the multifaceted context of Vietnam in the late 18th and early 19th centuries; thereby presenting and illuminating Nguyen Cong Tru's contributions to the Nguyen dynasty and his era. Placed within the historical context and his connections with the civil and military officials of the Nguyen dynasty in the first half of the 19th century, Nguyen Cong Tru emerges as a talented individual, a strong-willed and capable administrator.

Nguyen Cong Tru was born in November 1778 in Quynh Coi district, Thai Binh province. He was known for his intelligence and strong character from a young age, but his family was poor, and he faced many hardships in the imperial examinations. He only passed the imperial examination at the age of 42, earning the title of Giai Nguyen (first place in the imperial examination). He held various official positions, from Hành tẩu (official) and Biên tu (compiler) to Hữu tham tri (right-hand advisor) and Dinh dien su (land registrar). After suppressing rebellions in Tra Ly and Bao Lac, he was promoted to Governor-General, Minister, Left Chief Censor, and Grand Counselor. However, he also suffered several sudden demotions, from Thị lang (official) to Tri huyện (district magistrate) in the capital, Tham tri (advisor) to Lang trung (official), and Tham tán (counselor) to a soldier. His last official position was Phu doan (governor) of Thua Thien Hue before his retirement in 1848. After expressing his desire to fight the French at the age of 80 but being refused, he died in 1858 from a serious illness.

Nguyen Cong Tru is regarded as a man of great talent, excelling in both military and literary arts. From suppressing rebellions and reclaiming land to establishing settlements, he served as chief examiner of the imperial examinations and head of the A Dao singing troupe. His diverse contributions spanned various fields: in security and politics, he built coastal defenses and established sovereignty over the sea and islands; in economics, he improved the irrigation system, gathered people, and reclaimed barren lands; and in culture and society, he was a brilliant poet and writer, leaving behind profound philosophical reflections that blended Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism on the fate of each individual and the human condition.

On behalf of Ha Tinh province, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Dang Quoc Vinh, affirmed that Ha Tinh is the homeland of many famous figures, patriots, writers, and poets in the history of the country. He emphasized that, from the past to the present, the life of Nguyen Cong Tru has always been a major subject for scientists and cultural researchers to study and explore. This major conference on Nguyen Cong Tru, with its new discoveries about his life and career, will further highlight the merits and contributions of this distinguished figure to the country.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, Dang Quoc Vinh, delivered a speech at the workshop.

On behalf of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), Professor Nguyen Huu Duc stated that this conference not only analyzes and clarifies Nguyen Cong Tru's connection with the Nguyen Dynasty, but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of the cultural values ​​of his hometown, Ha Tinh. Furthermore, the Vice Director of VNU hoped that the professional content at the conference would be approached and analyzed from various angles and fields, combining specialized and interdisciplinary research perspectives. Scientists would propose practical and useful solutions for formulating sustainable development policies, contributing to the preservation and promotion of national cultural values.

Vice Rector of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Huu Duc, delivered a speech at the conference.

At the plenary session, delegates listened to three presentations:

The paper "The Thought of Freedom at the Reign of the Times" by Dr. Dang Duy Bau (former Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee) outlined the philosophies of life and free conduct of Nguyen Cong Tru, from his will to transcend the confines of "court law" to defend and take the blame for the people before the king; to his freedom in poetry, literature, and art. Through this, the paper points out the inheritance and development of Nguyen Cong Tru's ideas by later Vietnamese thinkers.

Dr. Dang Duy Bau presented his paper.

The paper "Nguyen Cong Tru and the Sea – Thinking and Action" by Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Party Secretary, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) analyzed Nguyen Cong Tru's economic thinking focused on coastal areas and maritime spaces; the main policies and measures to expand economic spaces towards the sea; and his work in protecting maritime security. Through this, the author affirmed the contributions of this maritime thinking to maintaining stability and economic development of the Nguyen dynasty.

Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim presented his paper.

Presentation "The Case of Nguyen Cong Tru and the Theory of Literary Reading" by Prof. Dr. Tran Nho Thin (Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) The paper points out the contradictions between Nguyen Cong Tru's literary works and his life; between the author's persona in real life and his persona in the artistic world. From this, the paper argues that, in order to understand the works of a medieval Confucian scholar like Nguyen Cong Tru, it is necessary to apply intertextual theory and reception theory to medieval literature in a flexible and creative way; and to place the texts in relation to his biography.

Professor Tran Nho Thin presented his paper.

Following the plenary session, the workshop was divided into two subcommittees.

Subcommittee 1 - “Nguyen Cong Tru with Literature, Culture, Family, Homeland and Lineage” with presentations such as: “A Sketch of the Image of a Strategic-Level Thinking Cadre” by Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Vuong, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi); “Humanism in Nguyen Cong Tru's Poetry” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Cong Nhat (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi); “Nguyen Cong Tru: Looking Back from His Homeland” by Dr. Le Hien Chuong (Hanoi Pedagogical University); “Nguyen Cong Tru and His Era – Some Reflections” by Researcher Do Gia Hung, Graduate Student Ha My (Nguyen Trai University).

Subcommittee 1

Subcommittee 2 - “Nguyen Cong Tru with history, politics, ideology and the era” with presentations such as: “Nguyen Cong Tru in Vietnamese history in the first half of the 19th century” by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, M.Sc. Tran Xuan Hung (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi); “The history of land reclamation by Nguyen Cong Tru - a talented land reclamation leader in the first half of the 19th century” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao To Uyen (Hanoi Pedagogical University); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Hanh (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Huyen (Hanoi Pedagogical University).

Subcommittee 2