Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Nguyen Dinh Chieu (1822–1888) was a prominent Vietnamese poet, physician, and teacher of the 19th century. He was born on July 1, 1822, in Tan Thoi village, Gia Dinh province (now Cau Kho ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). After losing his sight, he adopted the pen name Hoi Trai and was affectionately called "Do Chieu" by the people.
Career
In 1843, he passed the bachelor's exam at the Gia Dinh examination site. In 1849, while traveling to Hue to await the metropolitan exam, he received news of his mother's death and returned to Gia Dinh to observe mourning. Due to excessive grief, he fell seriously ill and became blind in both eyes. After the mourning period, he opened a school, practiced medicine, and began writing poetry.
Throughout his 66-year life, Nguyen Dinh Chieu earned his living through teaching, medicine, and literary creation. He left behind many valuable works, notably the verse novels "Luc Van Tien," "Duong Tu – Ha Mau," "Ngu Tieu y thuat van dap," the eulogy "Van te nghia si Can Giuoc," "Van te nghia si tran vong luc tinh," and 10 poems mourning Governor Phan Ngoc Tong.
His most outstanding work, "Luc Van Tien," is a verse novel of 2,075 lines that upholds moral principles, praises goodness and beauty, and criticizes evil. It is considered one of the finest works of Vietnamese literature, deeply influencing the folk culture of southern provinces.
His eulogies, especially "Van te nghia si Can Giuoc," marked him as a pioneer of patriotic literature in the latter half of the 19th century. Through his works, he expressed deep respect for farmers, portraying them as heroes in the resistance against French colonial forces.
Medical practice
In addition to literature, Nguyen Dinh Chieu was a skilled physician known for his medical ethics. His work "Ngu Tieu y thuat van dap" is a rich collection of remedies he compiled through research and practice.
Later years and legacy
In 1859, when the French captured Gia Dinh citadel, he moved to his wife's hometown in Thanh Ba village, Can Giuoc district, Long An province, and later settled in Ba Tri, Ben Tre province. He lived a frugal life, using poetry as a weapon to inspire resistance against the French and firmly refusing to collaborate with them.
Nguyen Dinh Chieu died on July 3, 1888, and was buried in An Duc commune, Ba Tri district, Ben Tre province. His tomb is located within the special national monument site of his grave and memorial area, alongside the tombs of his wife Le Thi Dien and his daughter, the poet and journalist Suong Nguyet Anh, Vietnam's first female editor-in-chief.
In 2021, UNESCO honored Nguyen Dinh Chieu as a World Cultural Celebrity at its 41st General Conference in Paris, France, recognizing his contributions to literature, education, and medicine.