A Human's View:
Nostalgia for the Ancient Thang Long Citadel
O Lord why did you cause such a farce-like arena,
Upon which swiftly elapsed eons of times when morning dew had come and gone?
The old busy paths along which there used to be many horse-drawn carriages are now overgrown with withered autumn grass.
The capital citadel with its ancient foundation is a silhouette in the setting sun.
The rocks and stones lie indifferently in the eternal moonlight,
while the water bears a grouchy face against life changes.
For thousands of years good examples have been set for teaching generations after generations.
Watching scenes of vicissitudes, the viewer feels as if her guts were cut into pieces.
by Madame Thanh Quan (1802)
Tạo hóa gây chi cuộc hí trường
Đến nay thấm thoắt mấy tinh sương
Dấu xưa xe ngựa hồn thu thảo,
Nền cũ lâu đài bóng tịch dương,
Đá vẫn trơ gan cùng tuế nguyệt,
Nước còn cau mặt với tang thương.
Ngàn năm gương cũ soi kim cổ.
Cảnh đấy người đây luống đoạn trường.
(Madame Thanh Quan composed this poem when Nguyễn Ánh was enthroned as King Gia Long, and decided to move the Capital of Vietnam from Thăng Long to Huế. The poem reveals the Citadel's scene of desolation and the poetess's nostalgia.)
A Zen Master's View:
Everything that appears with a form
Must be looked upon as dreams and bubbles,
As morning dews and thunder lightnings.
Let's develop such insights while observing things and events in life.
