Study on ideological aspects… 43

Study on ideological aspects of The Tale of Kiều

by Nguyễn Du

Đinh Thị Điểm

Military College of Tank Armour Officer
Email: [email protected]
Received 16 June 2015; published 2 October 2015

Abstract: In the history, all values have to stand the tough challenge of time, and
everything without value will gradually be forgotten. Following this rule, distinctive
authors and works have been constantly studied, discussed actively over the periods.
The Tale of Kiều by Nguyễn Du is such a phenomenon. The reason why this
masterpiece is discussed, studied actively by numerous readers and scholars over
the periods is that it hides many values and accumulates many ideologies which
have not been discussed completely over the time. Over the past two hundred years,
the Tale of Kiều have been always awaken, questioned, delved. The more studies and
contemplation there are, the more hidden ideologies, values consistent with each era
they find, of which the researchers have revealed to engage in the current life. When
learning the process of studying ideologies in the Tale of Kiều, we have found that
the studies are increasingly profound, comprehensive, convincing and the works
itself are increasingly opening new depths.
Key words: The Tale of Kiều, Study on the Tale of Kiều, Ideology in the Tale of Kiều,
Nguyễn Du

1. Studies on the Tale of Kiều in the The majority of researchers explored the
19th century were mainly articles of aspect of conflict between talent and fate
Confucian scholars, expressing in the Tale of Kiều such as Phạm Quý
empathy, compassion, sharing with Thích, Thập Thanh Thị, Mộng Liên
Nguyễn Du’s inspiration on the “fate of Đường... For example, in Bài tựa
the ingenious”, especially those Truyện Kiều by Mộng Liên Đường, the
beautiful, talented but ill-fated women. author wrote: In human existence, if there
44 Social Sciences Information Review, Vol.9, No.3, September, 2015

are ingenious talents there will be ideology here is the “conflict between
misadventures. Their talent is not talent and fate” which is the core of the
empathized, their love is not satisfied, whole story. Not only he described the
and these are the root cause of “pains”. ideology on talent-fate in the Tale of
Emphasizing the heartaches for the Kiều, Đào Duy Anh also pointed out
ingenious of the work is a major study the limitations of ideology of conflict
direction of many Confucian scholars in between talent and fate: “Instead of
this period. In Tổng vịnh Truyện Kiều, studying on the root cause in the
Phạm Qúy Thích wrote: society, people followed the common
mysterious, idealist trend to explain that
Nửa gối đoạn trường tan giấc điệp there are such misadventures in the
Một giây bạc mệnh dứt cầm loan society because the Way of God
Cho hay những kẻ tài tình lắm naturally hates everything perfect” (Đào
Trời bắt làm gương để thế gian Duy Anh, 1958, p.399).

(Lê Xuân Lít, 2005, p.397). Furthermore, in this period, researchers

started to refer to Buddhist ideologies
Chu Mạnh Trinh also had deep and Confucianism in the Tale of Kiều,
sympathy with beautiful but ill-fated the most prominent work was the view
Kiều, deeply empathizing and of two researchers Bùi Kỷ and Trần
compassionating with those in the same Trọng Kim in the article Lý thuyết Phật
boat: “The creator is originally in favor học trong Truyện Kiều (1968). In this
of ingenious and beautiful woman, do article, they asserted that The Tale of
you know? Blush-cheek lady, don’t be Kiều used very good wording to spread
sulky about the old moon, that’s my a philosophical theory. The Tale of
advice”. Kiều expressed very clearly the
2. In the 20th century, it can be asserted causality theory of Buddhism, using the
that scholar Phạm Quỳnh was the first ordinary theory of Buddhism on
to apply literary criticism to study the causality as the guiding principle. In
Tale of Kiều, from which discovered Hiểu đúng đắn Truyện Kiều (1986), Lê
the ideas of the work was to feel the Đình Kỵ also analyzed the influence of
pain, the great anguish and show the Buddhism in this work through
compassion for the fate of women clarifying and proving that the ideology
under the old social regime. However, on fate in the Tale of Kiều was derived
when talking about Nguyễn Du’s from the ideology on causality and
ideologies in the Tale of Kiều in this reincarnation of Buddhism. The author
period, first we have to mention Khảo argued that, the only way to escape
luận về Kim Vân Kiều, in which the retribution is to cultivate the mind:
author Đào Duy Anh (1943) devoted a Nguyễn Du’s fatalism was also derived
whole chapter to discuss Nguyễn Du’s from the ideology on causality and
ideologies in the work. Nguyễn Du’s reincarnation of Buddhism. According
Study on ideological aspects… 45

to Buddhist teachings, cause (nhân) is Trải qua một cuộc bể dâu

the reason, effect (quả) is what one has Những điều trông thấy mà đau đớn lòng
to suffer in life as the result. Those who
Triết lý của đạo Phật trong Truyện Kiều
commit evil deeds will suffer bad
of Cao Huy Đỉnh is also a very
karma. It is only by breaking the karmic
insightful article on the influence of
circle that one can reach the nirvana.
Buddhist ideology in the Tale of Kiều
Thus, Buddhism helps people to escape
which is full of contradictions and
retribution by cultivating the mind.
pessimism. The author said: “Buddhist
In the article Giá trị triết học tôn giáo philosophy itself contains a
trong Truyện Kiều, the author Thích contradiction, denying human life due to
Thiên Ân analyzed in the depth the loving human beings while loving
significant influence of Buddhist human beings certainly means adherence
philosophy in the Tale of Kiều, to human life In the Tale of Kiều,
prominently the ideology of Buddhist philosophy occupies the
impermanence in the universe. Besides, majority because its pessimism easily
the author also clarified the law of describes metaphysical longing of
causality, interpreted the word people, especially women who were the
“suffering” and the power of the word most miserable victims of feudal society
“heart” in this work. This is truly an and of the era in which Nguyễn Du
article with profound overview of lived” (Cao Huy Đỉnh, 2005, p.945).
philosophy, highlighting the deep In addition to study Buddhist
impact of Buddhist thought in the Tale philosophical ideology in the Tale of
of Kiều: In the aspect of religious Kiều in this period, there are also some
philosophy, we find that the prominent views on Confucian philosophical
religious philosophy in the Tale of Kiều ideologies. In Truyện Kiều và chủ nghĩa
is Buddhist philosophy. The unique hiện thực của Nguyễn Du, the author Lê
feature of Buddhist philosophy is the Đình Kỵ asserted: The Tale of Kiều’s
explanation of the finite impermanence fatalism was derived from
of the universe. In the aspect of Confucianism’s ideology on fate -
universe, Buddhism believes that Confucius said “Death and life have
everything in this life is derived from determined appointments. Riches and
the predestined harmony, thus the honor depend on heaven”. “One who
human life is impermanent and doesn’t know fate is not a gentleman”
changing (Thích Thiện Ân, 1985). (Lê Đình Kỵ, 1970, pp.103-104).
Based on such view of Buddhism, According to the author, the influence
Nguyễn Du began the Tale of Kiều with of Confucianism in the Tale of Kiều
the following verses: was due to the historical context of the
Trăm năm trong cõi người ta era in which Nguyen Du lived and the
ideology on heaven’s will was the
Chữ tài chữ mệnh khéo là ghét nhau
inevitable product of feudal society in
46 Social Sciences Information Review, Vol.9, No.3, September, 2015

order to maintain the feudal order. The These works mention specific and
author believed that, In Nguyễn Du’s profound humanitarian thoughts in the
era, due to experiences of consecutive Tale of Kiều, associating them with
misadventures, he couldn’t explain the people’ desire for liberation in the
root cause, hence Nguyễn Du had to use feudal society: Nguyễn Du’s motivation
Confucianism’s ideology on heaven’s to compose was the feelings for his
will. However, the difficulty is not to time, for what he saw and what touched
reveal harms of ideology on heaven’s his heart and mind. It means Nguyễn
will but to determine properly the Du told a story of ebb and flow which
position and effects of ideology on he had witnessed, an inhuman society
heaven’s will in the Tale of Kiều. which buffeted people. Hence,
Regarding to Confucianism in the Tale according to the author, the key value
of Kiều, previously scholar Phạm of the work is denunciation of the dark
Quỳnh mentioned The Doctrine of the society and humanitarianism expressed
Mean; some other authors discussed in the people’s desire for liberation and
moral, ethical, politeness. In fact, the boundless love for human.
scope is far bigger, such as ideology on Regarding to the article Tác phẩm của
heaven’s will, awareness of family Nguyễn Du sống mãi trong lòng nhân
preservation, benevolence, respect of dân in the book Kỷ niệm hai trăm năm
compassion, conscience and life... sinh Nguyễn Du (1971), the author Từ
Sơn mentioned the dream to eliminate
While previous studies on ideology in grievances and injustice in the society.
the Tale of Kiều mainly discussed Especially regarding to Từ Hải’s dream,
issues on talent-fate, trivialized the author believed that Từ Hải
ingenious, talented but ill-fated people
represented for the unfortunately failed
or Buddhist ideology, Confucianism in
uprising of the oppressed masses. This
the work, the later period opened a new
reflected the failure of people’s uprising
era in the history of studying ideology in
against feudal oppression. The author
the Tale of Kiều. It was when
affirmed that this was the love of
researchers started to examine the social
people, desire to eliminate all injustices
causes for Kiều’s misfortune which was
and guidance to happiness.
the institutions of the cruel feudal
society. Hence, researchers started to Regarding to Truyện Kiều trong văn
discover humanitarian ideologies hóa Việt Nam, Xuân Diệu believed that
associated with anti-feudal spirit. Two all misfortunes of talented people were
outstanding works on humanitarian due to the feudal society. It was the
thoughts in the Tale of Kiều are Quyền decadent, reactionary society that killed
sống của con người trong Truyện Kiều the talents. The narrow feudal society
của Nguyễn Du by Hoài Thanh (1949) couldn’t accept the talents, and actually
and Truyện Kiều và chủ nghĩa hiện thực there wasn’t any fate. This is a
của Nguyễn Du by Lê Đình Kỵ (1971). trenchant and true argument for
Study on ideological aspects… 47

shortcomings in feudalism: “That living space. “It can be said that the
feudal regime survived longer, more Tale of Kiều is a broad picture of the
rottenly and severely, it couldn’t accept life in the poet’s era, in which Nguyễn
the talents, for example: the Đỗ Thập Du wanted to highlight the stark
Nương had to become prostitutes, the contrasts between people’s especially
Thúy Kiều had to prostitute themselves, women’s, right to live with the
the Giả Bảo Ngọc had to be wrathful; oppression of the decaying feudal
that society couldn’t also accept system. It can be said that, to some
beautiful women because glorious extent, a high-spirited humanitarianism
beauty was not to obey the feudal with its anti-feudal militancy were the
normality, “ill-fated beautiful woman” concrete base of this great work”
is not only prejudice but also (Nguyễn Lộc, 1976, p.828).
summarized experience from thousands 3. In the South of Vietnam, in the 60s
of years and life under the feudal of the 20th century, the Tale of Kiều
regime” (Xuân Diệu, 2013, pp.73-74). was studied in a different perspective.
In the article Bản cáo trạng cuối cùng The majority of authors explored the
trong Truyện Kiều, Xuân Diệu once ideology on destiny. Hà Như Chi
again mentioned the desire for love, believed: Basic philosophy of the Tale
of Kiều was the belief in fate. Fate is
youth and passionate life through Kim-
the extremely harsh, irresistible power.
Kiều’s love. A clever and extremely
Facing such extremely tremendous
humanistic finding of the author was
power, Nguyen Du only advised us to
promotion and appreciation of Kim-
nurture kindness, to do good deeds and
Kiều’ secret dreams and desires in the
cultivate virtues in order to change fate
reunion night, however Kiều was
and believe in the ultimate justice of
determined to change love into
heaven and earth (Refer to: Hà Như
friendship - it was a powerful
Chi, 1956). Thạch Trung Giả also had
accusation of the society which had
the same view, believing that the
deprived people’s happiness and
ideology on fate in the Tale of Kiều was
freedom to love (Xuân Diệu, 1971).
the strongest influence on the work
Regarding to researcher Nguyễn Lộc, (Thạch Trung Giả, 1973).
he summed humanitarian ideologies in Opposing the ideology of fate in the
The Tale of Kiều, deeply explored life Tale of Kiều, the author Trần Bích Lan
of the era in which Nguyen Du lived, studied the work under the
presented findings and detections on existentialism. According to the author,
stark contrasts between people’s, “the foundation of the Tale of Kiều is
especially women’s, right to live with fatalism, Nguyễn Du wrote the story to
the suffocating feudal society with no illustrate such fatalism whether under
way out, which forced people to stand the concept of Confucianism or
up to untie themselves, to free their Buddhism. However, it is only one side
48 Social Sciences Information Review, Vol.9, No.3, September, 2015

of the story. People are put into life reprinted in 2002) and Tìm hiểu phong
randomly but they are the results of cách Nguyễn Du trong Truyện Kiều by
actions they choose. J.P. Sartre denied Phan Ngọc (1985, reprinted in 2001).
the nature of human’s fate. Human are
free to create themselves, free to choose Researcher Trần Đình Sử studied the
their actions”. It was Kiều who chosen Tale of Kiều through the categories of
to leave, to return a benefaction and modern prosody such as artistic vision,
revenge, not to sleep with Kim Trọng. space and time. The author started from
Hence, it was a series of Kiều’s asserting “in the Tale of Kiều, Nguyễn
conscious choices rather than fateful Du created a new ideological theme
arrangements and she was fully aware compared to the original, thereby
of. People can experience on such an creating a new storyline and totally new
open research direction which stands storytelling: Nguyễn Du’s creation
firm for the view of freedom to choose started from the new ideological theme,
one’s action and one’s own decision on new artistic vision of human, to features
their fate (Trần Bích Lan, 1960). of artistic space and time, portrait of
author and artistic colors. Forms of
4. The 1980s were a new era for the writing such as interior monologue,
history of reception andstudies on the classic references, metaphor, form of
Tale of Kiều with abundant, diverse the plot, all showed Nguyễn Du’s
forms in the context of international prosody” (Trần Đình Sử, 2002, p.24).
integration. National cultural exchanges Trần Đình Sử made new analysis on
were expanded, the capabilities to study prosody for interesting and new artistic
and receive methods of literary reading vision of human, artistic time in the
expanded much more than before. As if Tale of Kiều. On the other side, he
to compensate for the shortage in the believed: the Tale of Kiều is not only
previous period due to overrating the the story about conflict between talent
ideological content of the Tale of Kiều, and fate but also the story about the
most of researches in this period focused word “heart”, about the relationship
on studying artistic form of the work and between talent and heart. It was the
made some achievements. There were word “heart” that made Kiều cried for
many studies on the form of the Tale of Đạm Tiên, made her sell herself to
Kiều, such as prosody, style; they redeem her father, advised Thúc Sinh to
mainly studied wordings, i.e. studied the return, acquitted Hoạn Thư, completely
Tale of Kiều as a work of art in words, a returned a benefaction and revenged...
whole world of art, the art of describing It is clearly that the word “heart” played
emotions and scenes, the art of an important role in the storyline. Trần
describing moods of the characters and Đình Sử asserted, the Tale of Kiều was
even the ideological themes of the work. created to challenge the human’s heart
The two outstanding works are Thi pháp when facing misfortunes, Nguyễn Du’s
Truyện Kiều by Trần Đình Sử (1981, entire creation was mainly to make the
Study on ideological aspects… 49

heart of the protagonist reveal with special expressions in people’s

profoundly and completely. mental life, with the desire to create a
spiritual humanistic religion for the
Continuing to prove the Tale of Kiều of
whole nation and for the East Asian
Nguyễn Du is a creative work,
region (Vũ Đình Trác, 1993).
researcher Phan Ngọc in Tìm hiểu phong
cách Nguyễn Du pointed out: “Nguyễn On the other hand, Thích Nhất Hạnh’s
Du changed the “love” and “suffering” work offers new reading of the Tale of
themes into “talent” and “fate” themes. Kiều, not to read in the usual way for a
In terms of ideology, “conflict between literary work but to read as a Buddhist
talent and fate” is Nguyễn Du’s theory, text, from which to learn more about
not borrowed. In the original, it is just life. The author admitted: “In the past, I
cliché, but here, it is an issue arising in a used to teach Vietnamese literature in
certain historical period but raised to an general and the Tale of Kiều in
issue of all time by Nguyễn Du. The particular. However, my mind was not
ideology on conflict between talent and like now. I taught as a professor of
fate reflects the perception of the era in literature, not as a Zen master. To view
which Nguyễn Du lived” (Phan Ngọc, as a Zen master is to look deeply,
2001, p.35). Such notion of Phan Ngọc closely, look at all events by meditation
is a new finding with many accurate exploration through perception, pain,
assessments based on the era in which success, failure and practice. By viewing
Nguyễn Du lived. However, in the Tale in such way when reading the Tale of
of Kiều, the conflict between talent and Kiều, we can find very new things”
fate is not only the reflection of the era’s (Nhất Hạnh, 2000, p.3).
perspective but also Nguyễn Du’s own Both works do not pay much attention
perspective on life as in the beginning of to the content and artistic form of the
the Tale of Kiều, he wrote: “Trăm năm Tale of Kiều but one is based on the
trong cõi người ta. Chữ tài chữ mệnh reference to Confucianism to draw an
khéo là ghét nhau”. ethnical way to live, one analyzes in the
spirit of Buddhism to contemplate life.
5. In recent years, the study on the Tale
Both works seem to complement to
of Kiều has also achieved significant
each other to find good way of life of
success. To mention, the two
Vietnamese people.
remarkable works have been PhD.
thesis Triết lý nhân bản Nguyễn Du by *
Vũ Đình Trác and Thả một bè lau -
The authors of studies on the Tale of
Truyện Kiều dưới cái nhìn thiền quán
Kiều over two hundred years have used
by Thích Nhất Hạnh.
theories such as Confucianism,
Vũ Đình Trác’s work explored Nguyễn Buddhism, Taoism, existentialism...
Du’s humanism on the foundation of Nguyễn Bách Khoa even used scientific
humanistic ideology of Confucianism treatises (psychology and genetics) to
50 Social Sciences Information Review, Vol.9, No.3, September, 2015

explain the Tale of Kiều. Even more 2. Thích Thiện Ân (1985), “Giá trị triết
surprisingly, Đỗ Minh Tuấn applied học tôn giáo trong Truyện Kiều”
Freud’s theory to study Kiều in the (Values of religious philosophy in the
article Thúy Kiều và khát vọng giải sex. Tale of Kiều), Culture Magazine,
no.10.
Currently, studies on the Tale of Kiều
have applied and experienced many 3. Hà Như Chi (1956), Việt Nam thi văn
modern theories and methods. For giảng luận (Vietnam poetry sermon),
Vol. 2, published by Tân Việt,
example, Department of Vietnamese
Hanoi.
literature studies is applying new
methods in studying the Tale of Kiều 4. Xuân Diệu (1971), Bản cáo trạng
such as genre analytical method, cuối cùng trong Truyện Kiều, trong:
Kỷ niệm 200 năm năm sinh Nguyễn
typological method, method of
Du (1765-1965) (The last indictment
comparing historical types, modern in the Tale of Kiều, in:
prosody, method of studying style... Bicentennial celebration of Nguyen
Thus, so far, the authors’ studies on the Du's birth (1765-1965)), second
Tale of Kiều have mainly explored, edition, Social Sciences Publishing
learnt about Confucianism, Buddhism, House, Hanoi.
ethics, aesthetics, conflict between talent 5. Xuân Diệu (reprinted in 2013),
and fate, humanism which genius Truyện Kiều trong văn hóa Việt Nam
Nguyễn Du has put into his famous (The Tale of Kiều in Vietnamese
work. Besides, readers who love the culture), Youth Publishing House,
Tale of Kiều also explore hidden values Sài Gòn.
in the work such as moral, aesthetic, 6. Cao Huy Đỉnh (2005), Triết lý đạo
artistic and cultural values. Not only Phật trong Truyện Kiều (Buddhist
limited to mentioned values, the Tale of philosophy in the Tale of Kiều), in the
Kiều definitely contains many book: 200 năm nghiên cứu bàn luận
unanswered mysteries, like hidden Truyện Kiều (200 years of discussing
icebergs in the ocean. Each era, each and studying the Tale of Kiều),
generation will find values suitable to Education Publishing House, Hanoi.
their era in the work, each era will 7. Thạch Trung Giả (1973), Văn học
discover wonderful things. This means phân tích toàn thư (Complete literary
debates, mixed opinions, diverse analysis), published by Lá Bối, Sài
perspectives on the Tale of Kiều will Gòn..
endlessly occur with time
8. Nhất Hạnh (2000), Thả một bè lau -
Truyện Kiều dưới cái nhìn thiền quán
References (Float a reed raft - The Tale of Kieu
1. Đào Duy Anh (1958), Khảo luận về from the view of meditation),
Truyện Thúy Kiều (Treatise on Kim published by Lá Bối, Sài Gòn..
Vân Kiều), Literature Publishing
House, Hanoi. (continued on page 55)