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The program takes place within the framework of the Hue Festival 2026 and the Hue Poetry Festival, contributing to enriching the cultural and artistic space of the Spring Festival "Spring in the Ancient Capital," while spreading the unique values of court poetry to a wide audience of domestic and international tourists.
The poetic legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty - a unique mark of national literature.
The poetic legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors is recognized as a prominent mark in the flow of Vietnamese literature. These emperors were not only the heads of state but also profound Confucian scholars, leaving behind a vast body of work rich in intellectual, aesthetic, and historical value. For the emperors, poetry served both as an inner voice and a means of expressing their aspirations for governing the country and ensuring the well-being of the people – in keeping with the spirit of "poetry as a means of expressing one's aspirations," a typical characteristic of medieval literature.
The imperial poems of Emperors Minh Mạng, Thiệu Trị, and Tự Đức are vividly recreated through the language of the stage.
During his lifetime, Emperor Minh Mạng left behind approximately 4,200 imperial poems; Emperor Thiệu Trị had about 3,700; and Emperor Tự Đức composed about 4,600. Emperors such as Đồng Khánh, Thành Thái, and Khải Định also left behind many valuable works of classical Chinese poetry. From the pens of these emperors, poetry became the voice of the nation, conveying the will of the people and profoundly reflecting the political and cultural life of a dynasty.
Ten Acts - An Epic Picture of 19th-Century Vietnamese Society
The art program "Poetry Expresses Aspirations" is elaborately staged with an epic style of expression, summarizing the social life of 19th-century Vietnam in the imperial capital of Hue through 10 consecutive acts.
The story begins with the chapter "The Emperor's Harmonious Spring," recreating the emperor's feelings about the springtime atmosphere. This is followed by "The Spring Festival" and "The Springtime Military Parade," depicting the vitality of the court and the heroic spirit of protecting the nation and ensuring the people's well-being. The chapters "The Joyful Harvest Day" and "The Flavors of People's Livelihood" spread the rhythm of prosperous labor, blending the breath of daily life into court poetry.
Through 10 acts, the pages of history from previous centuries are "unveiled."
"Poetry as a means of expressing one's thoughts" has "decoded" the ideological and aesthetic values in the poetry of the Nguyen Dynasty, transforming ancient manuscripts into a vibrant artistic space.
Segments such as "Royal Recitation and Poetry" and "Capital City Scenic Spots" celebrate the cultural beauty of the ancient capital, before concluding with acts such as "Construction in Thai Hoa," "Eternal Treasures," and "Radiant Spring"—a harmonious symphony about a prosperous, stable, and developing society. Through ten acts, spring is depicted in festivals, strategies, labor, and construction; from solemn court ceremonies to simple life, from the sacred spirit of the mountains and rivers to the millennia-old treasures of Hue.
The event is expected to attract locals and tourists to Ngo Mon Gate, aiming to make the previously unfamiliar heritage of royal court poetry more accessible.
Poetry forms the narrative thread of an emotionally rich artistic space. The poems are strung together into a symbolic story, harmoniously combining sound, light, stage imagery, and acting, along with subtly handled pyrotechnic effects and smoke. Each verse becomes a historical snapshot, each performance a cultural pulse, creating an emotionally rich artistic space that is both dignified and accessible to the audience.
Through its epic theatrical language, the program not only honors the value of court poetry but also highlights the cultural depth of Hue in the flow of time, affirming Hue's position as a center of cultural creativity based on its heritage.
"Poetry as a means of expressing aspirations" is a community service program that contributes to bringing the poetic heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty closer to a wider audience both domestically and internationally.
