The Tale of Kieu
Vietnamese epic poem / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Tale of Kiều is an epic poem in Vietnamese written by Nguyễn Du (1765–1820), well known in Vietnamese literature.[1][2][3][4] The original title in Vietnamese is Đoạn Trường Tân Thanh (斷腸新聲, "A New Cry From a Broken Heart"), but it is better known as Truyện Kiều (傳翹, IPA: [t͡ɕwiən˧˨ʔ kiəw˨˩] ⓘ, lit. "Tale of Kiều").
The Tale of Kiều | |
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Truyện Kiều | |
Original title | Vietnamese: Đoạn Trường Tân Thanh Chữ Hán: 斷腸新聲 |
Also known as | Vietnamese: Truyện Kiều Chữ Hán: 傳翹 |
Author(s) | Nguyễn Du |
Language | Vietnamese (written in Chữ Nôm) |
Date of issue | 1820 |
State of existence | Emperor Minh Mạng |
Authenticity | remake |
Genre | epic poem |
Verse form | lục bát (6/8) |
Length | 3,254 verses |
Personages | Thúy Kiều |
Sources | Jin Yun Qiao |
In 3,254 verses, written in lục bát ("six–eight") meter, the poem recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thúy Kiều, a beautiful and talented young woman, who has to sacrifice herself to save her family. To save her father and younger brother from prison, she sells herself into marriage with a middle-aged man, not knowing that he is a pimp, and is forced into prostitution. While modern interpretations vary, some post-colonial writers have interpreted it as a critical, allegorical reflection on the rise of the Nguyễn dynasty.[5]