THE CATEGORY OF "CHÍ" IN NGUYEN TRAI'S NOM POETRY

Abstract

Middle age Vietnamese literature often exalts the "chí" (will, ambition, aspiration) of the noble man, the true gentleman. Using poetry to express one's "chí" is a way for poets to reveal their inner thoughts, emotions, and aspirations. Nguyen Trai, however, had a unique way of expressing his "chí." How is this uniqueness manifested in his Nom poetry? Through an initial examination of his Quoc am thi tap (National pronunciation poetry collection), particularly the 21 poems titled Ngon Chi (Expressing Aspirations), the results reveal aspects of the will of a patriotic Confucian scholar. In Nguyen Trai's poetry, "chí" represents patriotism and the desire to build a prosperous nation in peace. At the same time, Nguyen Trai also shows that "chí" encompasses personal emotions and individual ideals towards the community. This study reveals a close relationship between ideology and literature, a relationship not only found in Nguyen Trai's works but also in many other authors of middle age Vietnamese literature.