Povestea TU-THUC - Țara Fericirii - Secțiunea 1
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LAN BACH LE THAI 1
In Vietnam, when a man sees a remarkably beautiful woman, he may whisper to his neighbour: «Look at this wonderful beauty. Perhaps she is a native of the Land of Bliss. » He is referring to the story told long ago by TU-THUC who once was fortunate enough to visit the fairyland or the «Land of Bliss» and left it afterwards.
More than five centuries ago, under the reign of King TRAN-THUAN-TON, there was a young mandarin named TU-THUC, chief of the Tien-Du district. He was a very learned man and had so many precious books that he could find them so much learning except where the Land of the Blessed Ones was, and this was just what he longed most to know.
When he was a little boy he was told that the «Land of Bliss» was the place where the Împărat chinez DUONG-MINH-HOANG went, one night, when the August moon was full and where people had a peach-blossom complexion and wc rainbow-coloured dresses, with long and wide butter winged sleeves. Over there, one had eternal youth and wot spend one’s time amidst laughter, music, songs and dance Împărat DUONG-MINH-HOANG himself learned from the fairi the wonderful «Nghe-Thuong» dance which, on his return earth, he taught the Ladies of the Imperial Palace to dance for him whenever he sipped his perfumed wine under the golden moonlight.
TU-THUC kept dreaming of this Land and wished he could visit it sometime.
One day, TU-THUC happened to pass by an old pagoda which was well-known for its glorious peony-tree. It was during the Festivalul de flori al anului Binh-Ti, and the peony-tree was in full blossom. A young maiden of radiant beauty and sweet countenance bent a branch to admire the blossoms and broke it. The monks of the pagoda did not allow her to go, and imposed a fine, but nobody came to pay it to take her home. TU-THUC generously took off his brocade coat and offered it to the monks to set her free. And everybody praised his kind gesture.
Some time later, tired of the «circle of honour and worldly interests» he resigned from his office to be able to visit the «blue mountains and emerald-green waters». He retired to Bong-Son, a place were many beautiful springs and splendid caves were found.
Followed by a child carrying some wine, a guitar and a book of poems, he wandered through the woods where graceful boughs wove canopies between the trees. He crossed the limpid streams and visited the famous Muntele Roz, Cave of the Green Clouds, Lai river, and composed beautiful verses to sing their wild and magic charm.
One day, he woke up early in the morning and beheld above the sea, five pastel coloured clouds which glittered and unfolded in the morning light, into the form of lotus flowers. He rowed to the place, and saw a superb mountain floating on the sea. He stepped ashore and climbed on the mist-covered flanks.
Deeply moved by the beauty of the scenery around him, he sang:
In lofty boughs, thousands of reflected lights quiver.
And the cave flowers bowed to welcome the distinguished guest.
Near the bubbling brook, where is the herb gatherer ?
On the brimming river, there is a lone boatman rowing away.
O’er the rising and sinking waves, o’er the seat wide, float the notes of the string’d guitar.
Lazily glides the boat and the calabash is full of wine.
Shall we ask Vo-Lang, the fisherman,
Where are the glistening peach-trees of the Land of Bliss ?
But suddenly he saw a black crevice in the rocks, and heard a strange rustling from inside. He proceeded into the darkness, and saw a blue light streaming over the crystal-clear stones, hanging over his head. For some distance, the cavern was so narrow that he had to crawl along on his hands and knees, but soon the tunnel became lofty and wide. In the end, he reached a place where a golden light shone to greet him. The rocks above were as clear as the white clouds in the purest sky. The air was fresh and sweet-scented as one blowing through a valley of lilies and roses. A spring as clear as crystal flowed near his feet, with gold and silver fish swimming in it. And the broad lotus leaves which floated on the surface shone with the colours of rainbows. The glowing white or pink lotus flowers themselves looked like brilliant lamps on the water. A bridge of marble and precious gems, thrown over the spring, led to a wonderful garden where were hidden fairies who sang the sweetest songs, in tunes so soft and harmonious that no human voice could match them.
A path strewn with fallen petals, led to a blossoming garden with boughs quivering under the starry flowers. TU-THUC had never seen such glorious scenery before. Wonderful birds were mingled with the flowers and poured out their most melodious songs. On the green grass scattered with colourful petals, stood a flock of peacocks, spreading their tails out. And all around the young TU-THUC, the petals ke falling down like soft flakes of snow.
All of a sudden, he was bathed again by the sunlight, warm and luminous sunlight which shone upon richl decorated marble and crystal palaces standing among eve green and waving trees.
A group of lovely young maidens, with sparkling sta in their black sheen hair, came to meet him.
« Many greetings to our handsome bridegroom », said or of them.
They disappeared into the Palace to announce his arrive and came back to bow to him :
« Be pleased to enter, Your Lordship », they said.
He followed them into a magnificent hall, covered wit silk and brocade, and came into suites glittering with gold an silver decorations. A song floated in the air, soft and gentle like a melody, and the harps sounded more sweetly at his approach.
A majestic and sweet-looking Lady in a snow-white silke dress sat on a richly-carved throne and said to him :
«Learned scholar and lover of beautiful sites, do you know what this place is ? And do you not remember an encounter under a blossoming peony-tree ? "
« It is true that I have visited many blue mountains and thick woods », he answered politely, « but never had I dreamt of such a wonferful Land, worthy of the Blessed Ones! Would it please the Most Noble Lady to tell me where I am now ? »
The Lady gave him a luminous smile and said :
« How could a man from the world of the Pink Dust recognize this place ? You are in one of the 36 caves of the Phi-Lai Mountain which floats about on the wide ocean, appears and vanishes according to the winds. I am the Fairy-Queen of the Nam-Nhac Summit, and my name is Nguy. I know you have a beautiful soul and a noble heart, and it is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you here today. »
Then she gave a sign to the maidens who all withdrew and ushered a shy and beautiful young maiden into the room. TU-THUC ventured to glance at her and realized she was the young maiden he met under the peony-tree.
« Here is my daughter Giang-Huong whom you saved once », the Fairy-Queen added. «I have never forgotten your noble and generous gesture, and I allow her to marry yol today to pay you her debt of gratitude. »
A big feast was prepared and the wedding was celebrate! in great pomp.
Then followed many blessed days amidst laughter and happiness in the Land of Bliss. The weather there was no hot or cold, it was just fresh and nice like in the Spring-time — in fact, it was Primăvara veșnică. In the gardens, the bough were laden with flowers, every one even more beautiful than the rose. It seemed that there was nothing else that TU-THUC could wish for.
... continued in Section 2 ...
NOTE:
1 : Cuvântul înainte al lui RW PARKES introduce LE THAI BACH LAN și cărțile ei de nuvele: „Mrs. Bach Lan a adunat o selecție interesantă de Legende vietnameze pentru care mă bucur să scriu un scurt cuvânt. Aceste povești, bine traduse și pur și simplu de autor, au un farmec considerabil, derivat în mică parte din sensul pe care îl transmit de situații umane familiare îmbrăcate în rochii exotice. Aici, în decoruri tropicale, avem iubiți fideli, soții geloase, mame vitrege necurate, chestii din care sunt făcute atât de multe povești populare occidentale. O poveste este într-adevăr Cenușăreasă Din nou. Am încredere că această mică carte va găsi mulți cititori și va stimula interesul prietenos într-o țară ale cărei probleme din zilele noastre sunt regretabil mai bine cunoscute decât cultura ei din trecut. Saigon, 26 februarie 1958. "
2 :… Actualizare…
NOTE:
◊ Conținut și imagini - Sursa: Legende vietnameze - Doamna LT. BACH LAN. Kim Lai An Quan Editori, Saigon 1958.
◊ Imaginile sepiate prezentate au fost setate de Ban Tu Thu - thanhdiavietnamhoc.com.
BAN TU THU
07 / 2020