Dong Culture - A work of geography, history and culture of Hai Duong

In early spring of the year of Giap Thin 2024, readers in many places received the publication Van hien xu Dong (Writers Association Publishing House, December 2023), presented by author Nguyen Huu Oanh, former Vice Chairman of Hai Duong province, a son of the Dong region.

A 400-page book printed with passion and concern, laboriousness and devotion, simple yet profound... Readers are surprised to realize a land in the East with layers of cultural and historical sediments, which at one time seemed to have fallen asleep, obscured by time and change, and sometimes forgotten. From fastidious scholars to the general readers, they all come together to ponder over the heroic history of the nation; historical and cultural events are reconstructed seriously, wisely and scientifically; the names and careers of famous people are illuminated and shine; historical places are confirmed and clarified; cultural and spiritual works are restored and shine...

With the passion and effort devoted to the cultural and educational cause of his hometown Hai Duong for many years, the author has summarized and remembered the search, restoration, embellishment, and opening up of the cultural sediments of the Eastern region during the renovation period (1997-2006) that he and his comrades and colleagues, together with the people of his hometown, contributed to building.

As a work of essays, research, and notes, Van hien xu Dong attracts readers with a style imbued with literature, historical records, and reportage... with 5 parts like 5 tones, 5 variations of a grand choir.

Part I: Inviting the ancestors, is a dialogue between the author and himself, with the substitute being Professor Hoang, a close friend, to make the story lively, sometimes juggling, sometimes questioning, and arguing. The 15 most important cultural and spiritual works in the Eastern region and also representative of the country that the author participated in searching for, restoring, and embellishing, such as the Kiep Bac cultural area, the Con Son cultural area, the Chu Van An temple, the Mao Dien Temple of Literature, the Khuc Thua Du temple, the Thanh Mai temple... brought the reader into the spiritual world, with vivid stories, sometimes magical and mysterious. It is interesting that, to "meet" and understand the ancients, first and foremost, one must have a sincere heart, a foundation of worship, gratitude, and then concern and pity... The 15 cultural and spiritual works commemorating the ancestors today did not come about suddenly.

Part II: Words of posterity, continuing part I, is a collection of funeral orations, speeches, scientific seminars... about the ancestors of the Eastern region and those associated with Hai Duong: Le Dai Hanh, Mac Dinh Chi, Tran Hung Dao, Chu Van An, Tue Tinh Zen master, Nguyen Trai, Mao Dien Temple of Literature... are the most spiritual emotions, the serious and wise scientific research, the suggestions with discovery nature. In particular, the discussions about Con Son and Nguyen Trai, about Chu Van An, Tue Tinh divine doctor, Khuc Thua Du... have interpretations and discoveries worthy of scientific works.

If part III: Marks of the years and part IV: Minutes of trance show readers a part of the author's private life and the inevitable relationships: A geography teacher who used to teach at the Vinh Linh frontline during the war against the US, returned to teach in his hometown, then turned to management, from Secretary of the Cam Giang District Party Committee, to Vice Chairman of Hai Duong Province, in charge of culture, society... That person, that hometown, that family, that friends, will inevitably be invited to the ancestors and expressed on behalf of future generations to the ancients.

The book's conclusion, part V: The Heart of Friends, as an Epilogue, is a message from friends to the author, because of Nguyen Huu Oanh's remarkable contributions to cultural and spiritual works to honor national heroes, cultural celebrities, scientists, and medical practitioners of the East that he and the leaders of the government and people of Hai Duong have built over the years.

The article by poet Tran Nhuan Minh, a son of Nam Sach homeland, is both a confession and a general assessment of the contributions of the Vice Chairman of Hai Duong province, a representative of those working in culture, education, and the people of Hai Duong, who has made the culture of the Eastern region shine.

Poet Tran Nhuan Minh did not exaggerate when he gave Nguyen Huu Oanh a handwritten poem (in Han Nom characters):
"Every living being is blessed"
Bac Ha is famous
Mind of the distant heaven and earth
Sage Nguyen Huu Oanh".

Hoang Giap translated:
“A life of serving the sacred temple
Bac Ha is famous for its virtuous mandarins.
Sincere heart among people
Worthy of the title of gentleman with a golden heart, Huu Oanh".

Hopefully, readers will welcome Van hien xu Dong as a spiritual dish for the traditional Tet holiday, as a gift from the Dong land of talented people, rich and beautiful, cultured and always welcoming friends from near and far.