Você está na página 1de 28

VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892
The British Library
25 sheets (50 pp.), 26x21cm, length 7,749 ideograms
L Qu phng t, 1892

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


Temple University
presents
TUNG AN EXCERPT

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892

SYNOPSIS
[Introduction] Trng the Zen Master passes away suddenly during
his meditation. He was captured by the Earth God and Marshall the
Devil to be taken to Hell for trial.
[Scene 1] The Zen Master was brought in front of the King of Hell.
The Underworld Clerk revealed that there are two persons with the
same last name Trng, and the warrant was intended for Trng the
Butcher. They captured the Butcher, and the Zen Master was
exonerated. Since his body was already cremated, the King of Hell
orders the Zen Master's soul to be placed in the Butchers body.
[Scene 2] Tuyt Nng finds her husband, Trng the Butcher, dead.
She asks her neighbor, elder Trng Lo, to help with the funeral,
and the shaman to perform the cleansing. The Butcher wakes up and
speaks like a monk. He tries to explain to Tuyt Nng but to no
avail. He then runs back to the pagoda.
[Scene 3] The Zen Master knocks on the temple gate. His two
disciples see the Butcher's face with their Master's voice. The Master
explains. The two skeptical disciples test him with secrets that only
the three of them know. The Zen Master passes the tests. Tuyt
Nng arrives and demands her husband back but they shut the gate
on her.
[Scene 4] Tuyt Nng sues the disciples. The District Governor Trn
Thng subpoenas the Zen Master and his disciples to court. Tuyt
Nng confirms that her husband is illiterate. The disciples confirm
that their Master is the only one who writes pagoda sacred texts. The
Governor orders the monk to compose a poem with the rhyme oan
[being falsely accused].
The Tale of Trng the Butcher ends here, perhaps to allow different
conclusions.

Nguyn Quang Thng, Mt n The Mask, 28x66", 2014.

A pre-AAS workshop
Vietnamese Identities
sponsored by The Vietnam Studies Group
9:00 AM 5:30 PM March 26, 2014
Weigley Room, Gladfelter Hall, Temple University

A pre-AAS workshop
Vietnamese Identities
sponsored by The Vietnam Studies Group

PROGRAM

Welcoming remarks
from the Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture and Society and the
Vietnam Studies Group.
Panel 1: History and National Identity
Indigenous Democracy in Vietnamese Ancient Culture, Hi Hng Nguyn,
Ph.D. Candidate, School of Political Science and International Studies,
University of Queensland, Australia.
The historiography about Nguyn Hu and the Ty Sn period and the
condition of "disrupted modernity" of the modern Vietnamese nation, Nguyn
Quc Vinh, Harvard University, East Asian Languages and Civilizations.
The Past Doesn't Pass: Memory and Identity in Commemorating the War
Dead, Hoa T. Nguyn, Trent University.
"Because we are all compatriots": People's Diplomacy and the Vietnamese
in France during the Vietnam War, Nguyn Nguyt, American University.
Panel 2: Social and Cultural Identities
American Consumer Culture and its Impact on Identity in the Republic of
Vietnam in 1965, Helen Ph, University of Texas at Austin.
The Mixture of Film Styles and Questions of Identity in Contemporary
Vietnamese Cinema, Qu-H Hong Nguyn, School of Cinematic Arts,
University of Southern California.
Religious Place and Threads of Memory Through Time: The Dialogic
Construction(s) of Chm Identity at Po Klaung Garai, Dave Paulson, Ph.D.
candidate in Anthropology, Temple University.
Engaging with Vietnam: Meditations on Chm-Vietnamese historical
relations and developing the Intellectual Middle Ground, William Noseworthy,
Ph.D. candidate in History, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Musical Interlude: Creativity and Traditional Music in Post-socialist
Vietnam, Alexander M. Cannon, Assistant Professor of Music
History/Ethnomusicology, Western Michigan University.
Panel 3: Nm Identities
Collective Visualization of the Three Kingdoms in Vietnam, Nam
Nguyn, Vietnam National University.
Reading of an excerpt from the Nm tung Trng nhc
truyn "The tale of Trng the Butcher," by Nguyn T Lan (Harvard Yenching
Institute) & Ng Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University).
Trng the Butcher play: a preliminary research in comparative
literature perspective, by Nguyn T Lan (Institute of Hn Nm Studies &
Harvard Yenching Institute).
A revisit to Tam Thin T Gii m 1831: The first popular
Nm literacy textbook, L Mai Phng (independent, Nm Studies) & Ng
Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University).

Page 2 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


College of Liberal Arts
Temple University
http://www.temple.edu/vietnamese_center
The Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture, and Society at Temple
University was founded in September, 2004. As a national center for
scholarly research, educational training, and mutual understanding, the
Center sponsors a range of programs on Vietnam's rich heritage of
philosophy and culture, including conferences, lectures and research.
The Center was started to support a multi-year faculty seminar program
involving the Departments of Philosophy at Temple University and at
the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy in Hanoi. As part of this
project, Temple and the Ho Chi Minh Academy cooperated on an online handbook of philosophical terms from East and West, with entries
in both Vietnamese and English. This project was supported by the Ford
Foundation (English-Vietnamese Handbook on Philosophy and Political
Economy).
The Center has also contributed to the field of Nm Studies, by
digitizing Nm documents from libraries in Hanoi and making them
available online on our website. The British Librarys Endangered
Archives Program supported this project, led by Center Fellow Dr. Ng
Thanh Nhn.
In 2013 the Center began a program to offer small grants to scholars in
Vietnam to carry out research in the US; we are also offering grants to
US-based scholars for work in Vietnam. This initiative and many other
Center activities have been made possible by funding from the Luce
Foundation.
Contact
Kimberly Ann Goyette
Director
Email: kgoyette@temple.edu

Sophia W Quinn-Judge
Associate Director
Email: quinnjud@temple.edu

Gladfeter Hall, Room 1016


1115 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 27

VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892
Transcription by Lng Th Ngc Thu (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies)
Translation into English by Ng Thanh Nhn & Sophia W Quinn-Judge
(Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society, Temple University)
FULL CAST
Trng Thin s

Trng, the Zen Master (soul)

Trng Nhc

Trng, the Butcher (body)

Tuyt Nng /
M Trng
o Xoa

Trng Tuyt Nng /


Trng the Butcher's wife
Disciple Xoa

o Nguyn

Disciple Nguyn

Dim vng

The King of Hell

Qu tt

Marshall the Devil

Th a

The Earth God

T To quan

Literary Underworld Clerk

Trng Lo / Gi

Elder Trng (a neighbor)

Thy php

Tri huyn Trn Thng


L binh

Shaman
District Governor Trn Thng
Governor's Palace Officer

References
Nguyn Vn Sm, transliteration, commentaries, manuscript, 2007.
Nguyn Hin Tm, translation. Trng nhc truyn, Th vin
Khoa hc Tng hp Tp. HCM xut bn, Tp. HCM 2013 (for internal
circulation).
Page 26 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


Temple University
presents
AN EXCERPT
VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous
Transcription by Lng Th Ngc Thu (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies)
Translation into English by Ng Thanh Nhn & Sophia W Quinn-Judge
(Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Cultue & Society, Temple University)
Reading
Introduction and Scene 1
by
Nguyn T Lan (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies
& Harvard-Yenching Institute)
Ng Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University)
CAST
Trng Thin s

Trng, the Zen Master (soul)

Trng Nhc

Trng, the Butcher (body)

Tuyt Nng /
M Trng
o Xoa

Trng Tuyt Nng /


Trng the Butcher's wife
Disciple Xoa

o Nguyn

Disciple Nguyn

Dim vng

The King of Hell

Qu tt

Marshall the Devil

Th a

The Earth God

T To quan

Literary Underworld Clerk

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 3

Page 1a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Nhc dn vo ci st,
C mi ngy ct tht co n.
Thit [ct 2] ti lm qu bo tin cn,
Ko vt n bo minh oan khc. [ct 3]
Thin s n dn v dng th,
Nhc kia y lut thi [ct 4] hnh.
Qu tt ni:
Mun tu. Xc Thin s ngy n,
Tng [ct 5] o thiu phn.
Ci tu c Dim qun,
Mc lnh trn ch phn. [ct 6]
Dim vng ni:
Hn Thin s em li,
Xc Nhc nhp vo.
Qu [ct 7] tt kh tha truyn,
a chng hi dng th.
Qu tt, Th a ni: [ct 8]
Tha Dim cha lnh truyn
Thn ng ng phng lnh.
English translation:
to a steel cage,
Carve his flesh every day and feed the hyenas.
It's a real example of paying for what you did,
Or the animals will complain of injustice.
Take the Zen Master back to the Overworld,
And that Butcher to proper punishment under the laws.
Marshall the Devil:
With due respect, the dead body of the Zen Master
The monks had cremated the other day.
Your Honor, the King of Hell, we wait
for a decision from Your Highness.
The King of Hell:
Bring the soul of the Zen Master,
to unite with the Butcher's body.
You Marshall the Devil must heed my order,
to bring him back to the Overworld.
Marshall the Devil and the Earth God:
The King of Hell has issued a decision,
We both will execute it with precision. [end of excerpt]

Page 4 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 25

Page 6a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Thin S:
Tiu ngo sn u dng t nhin,
Ma ha nht [ct 2] trch qu tham thin.
B chng thng tm thng nim,
Y bt [ct 3] c sa khoi v bin.
Li ni:
Nc trong y tnh,
Gng sch l [ct 4] lng.
Nim mu thin tch c tu nhn,
Siu kh hi mun ngi [ct 5] mn tnh.
No dc dm xa lnh,
ng danh li vn khng.
Ti [ct 6] biu t h Trng,
Tn Thin S ch t.
o ng!
o ng mau [ct 7] s kp,
Phanh tr trc n tin.
Tu thn khi thu vua, [ct 8]
Hiu hnh phi gn o Pht.
Ch tng lui mt tht,
Thy kp
English translation:
The Zen Master:
Light hearted I am wandering on mountain tops,
nurturing my true nature,
A drop of water from the mahasatva will turn devils to zen.
My constant chants gather Bodhi on my palm,
I am joyful in my saffron, with an alms bowl.
Again the Zen Master:
Transparent like water is my essence,
Reflexive like the mirror is my self
with Zen prayers I practice humanity and grace
I am above the seas of sufferings, everyone loves my nature.
I have turned away from all carnal desires,
and abandoned all earthly vanity.
Trng is my last name,
Zen Master is my title.
My disciples quickly bring tea to the altars.
An ascetic life free of the King's taxes,
I practice virtues and guard the Buddhist precepts
All monks have returned to their quarters,
I must hurry to...

Page 24 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 5

Page 1b
Nm transcription

Page 6 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Dim vng ni:


Thin c trm t [ct 4] d,
Ngay gian tua kh by lng.
Nhc n nc phin ngn.
t [ct 5] ti kia khn th.
Nhc ni:
Mun tu, chng ti
khng lng tch [ct 6] c
chng d tu nhn.
Hi d mun,
Gian tham c mt. [ct 7]
Tng hai ch o u thin c,
Vng Dim vng n c qung [ct 8] khai.
Du ca x cam tha ti.
Dim vng ni:
Trng
English Translation:
when the night drum is pounded,
So I won't be late for the morning market.
Marshall the Devil and Earth God:
As soon as we got the order,
to get this guy named Trng
we brought him here
for any judgment Your Highness sees fit.
he King of Hell:
I am already clear of the good and the evil,
Guilty or not, you must truthfully confess.
If you hide one word,
With no leniency your crime will be judged.
The Butcher:
With infinite respect, we have
no heart for virtue,
no desire to self restraint,
have done harm to hundreds of thousands,
truly I am the only master of greed and cheat.
Based on the principle of good and evil, sow and reap,
I hope that the King of Hell, the all virtuous, all generous
and all lenient, might free me
or even damn me to be flayed, I feel I so deserve...
The King of Hell:
Take Trng the [6b] Butcher
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 23

Page 5b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


canh ku thc dy,
Ko tra bui ch a.
Qu tt, Th a ni: [ct 2]
T vng li lnh dy,
Bt Trng th em v.
u np trc [m ti]. [ct 3]
Mc lnh trn ch phn.
Page 22 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Transliteration into quc ng:


ti phng thin.
K vit:
Nim nim tng tm tr tu minh,
Tam [ct 2] qui chng thng ty trn duyn.
Cm cch ch thnh siu tam chng, [ct 3]
Hi u thin nim vng Ty phng.
Li ni:
Trng lu tr [ct 4] khc,
Vo an ngh gic ho a.
Th a ni:
a i [ct 5] mi mt, kp ngi ti am thin.
H Trng thit l chng, cc [ct 6] ch vo m bt.
o Nguyn, o Xoa ni:
Tha thy, dy m thi tr. i thy i
Thy, thy i! Kh trng ta, kh trng ta!
Thn s ph, thn [ct 8] s ph a.
Thn vit:
Hn nng trn gi,
Phch ho chi my.
English translation:
the meditation hall.
A hymn:
A thought in harmony with our self, our wisdom shines,
Following the Three Jewels to shed all earthly illusions.
Absolute honesty overcomes three hindrances,
Turning around to pure thought one arrives at nirvana.
Again says:
The drum is marking change on the night clock,
Let's turn in and enjoy gentle rest.
Earth God:
I am so tired from walking,
Hurrying to rest at the temple shrine.
That's him, that's the right Trng,
You go and get him.
Disciple Nguyn and Disciple Xoa:
Oh Master, please rise to drink tea. Oh Master.
Alas Master! How painful, so painful!
Weeping for Master, wailing for Master.
Wailing:
His soul was lifted high with the wind,
His spirit is flickering in the clouds.
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 7

Page 2a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


tam can,
u l, gnh tht bn, ko tra bui ch a.
Lon [ct 2] vit:
Bit liu l trang kh mang mang,
Sn tin sn hu qu [ct 3] sn kh.
Bng lng tho mc c long khu,
Khut khc to kh [ct 4]h bo hnh.
Li ni:
Bn tht ri, tr li l trang,
B [ct 5] hin ph ra y m tip.
Li ni:
Mt tri chen ni, [ct 6]
y mn rng t chi m thm phin.
B chi gnh tht bn gnh ng xa,
Cho nn [ct 7] khin tm thn r rit.
Vy thi ta kp vo ni an gic, [ct 7]
mc gia inh qun th gia nh.
Nghe ta dn, gia inh a
Trng
English translation:
three yards high,
Then, I'll carry the meat to the market before noon.
Voice:
Leave the house, I walk in a hurry,
I pass mountains front, back, and the creeks.
And thick grass and plants like dragon beards,
Springs twist and turn like tigers and leopards.
Again:
The meat is sold, I am returning to my home,
Oh, sweet wife, can you come and greet me?
Again:
The sun now squeezes between mountains,
oh why... my limbs feel so tired.
It must be carrying the meat far on the shoulder pole,
that's why my mind and spirit are totally exhausted.
Therefore, I must go to bed and sleep well,
leaving the house staff to tend to the family's need.
Listen to me, people,
Wake me up

Page 8 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 21

Page 5a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Tm sui tin an tha d thy,
Ngn nm eo su bng [ct 2] t.
Li ni:
Do dc t g kia mt m,
B v dng [ct 3] chim n lc by
m hai hng cm by ni thy,
Su mun [ct 4] hc qun au d t.
o Xoa ni:
S ph sm [ct 5] v chu Pht,
Hai ta cn phi gi ly cha
ch chng nn i, ch a. [ct 6]
o Nguyn ni:
Vy ch sa y bnh bt, ta em i cho thy ta,
hay l li, a ch? [ct 7]
o Xoa ni:
Ch a, sa y bnh bt ng em, ch a.
Li [ct 8] ni:
Nh nay ta sa y bnh bt thy li y,
ri ta sm v thp hng, chiu v thp hng,
ta thy sa...
English translation:
Bathing in the fairy spring, feeling at peace,
but my heart is inconsolable for thousands of years, at least.
Again:
Frightened like baby chicks without their mother,
Lost like birds strayed from their flock,
Two streams of tears crying for the fate of Master,
Millions of sorrows wrench my guts.
Disciple Nguyn:
So, brother, do we bring the alms bowl and his
saffron to the Master, or we just leave them here?
Disciple Xoa:
Brother, we shouldn't bring the alms bowl and his saffron
away with us.
And continues:
We now leave the alms bowl and his saffron here,
we will see them every day when we go in and out
to light incense,

Page 20 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 9

Page 2b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


ngi nht sch cng thu,
Tht cng k lc k xut k mn ra! [ct 2]
Tuyt nng ni:
Tha anh hm qua ti ln cha,
ti coi bc nh [ct 3] Thp in.
Ngi thi nm bn chng,
K thi i chu mu.
Cc [ct 4] con ngoi vt,
Cn n ci tu.
Nn ti biu anh b ngh [ct 5] lm heo i.
Nhc ni:
Em, em phn s git heo n, thi [ct 6] ti,
Gi s thin h git c chng mang ti?
Tin chi li [ct 7] ni huyn
M nghi tha d ta.
Ph gia inh bc nc lm [ct 8] heo,
ng cho m ra tay chc huyt.
Lm tht ri nht thng
English translation:
do plan for attack,
Meatmen do turn odds to their success, that's the way!
Tuyt Nng:
Husband, yesterday I visited the pagoda,
I looked at the map of the Ten Justice Temples of the
Underworld Kingdom.
Some people lie on spike beds,
Others carry pots of blood over their heads.
And the butchered animals
carry their complaints [of murder] in their mouths.
That's why I told you to forget pig butchery.
The Butcher:
Dearest, you think it a sin to kill pigs,
You assume there's no sin in their killing fish?
Don't believe in this nonsense talk
That brings doubts to yourself.
Tell the house staff to boil water for cleaning pigs,
So I can begin to spill their blood.
Meat carving will be done by the time the sun is...

Page 10 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 19

Page 4b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


y bnh bt cng nh thy thy ta, ch a.
Linh hn thy trc vng ty phng,
Hi [ct 2] ct nguyn siu thng tin gii.
Tn vit:
Nh ta thiu thy ri, chn tay thy [ct 3] chy ht.
Thy ti thi bung la,
Bn o kh ng lng.
Linh [ct 4] hn thy khoi lc tiu diu,
Vng t min trng vnh bo. [ct 5]
Dim vng ni:
Chc thng qun m ti,
Trm hiu xng Dim cha.
Ton [ct 6] nhn gian ti phc,
Quan thin c v sai.
Nhc h nhn tng o Dim i,
Hu ti gi quyt v dung th.
Qu tt ni: [ct 8]
Chng ti t vng lnh,
Ti chn bt h Trng.
Hi np ti...
English translation:
it's like seeing our Master
His soul will go directly to the Buddha world,
while his flesh and bones will rise to the realm of the fairies.
Expanding:
We have cremated his body,
his arms and legs have turned to ash.
His body no longer holds the fire,
All monks are in agreement.
His soul is joyfully levitating,
wishing his disciples longevity and serenity.
The King of Hell:
I am the master of the underworld,
I am crowned as The King of Hell.
I calculate guilt and grace of all the human world,
I never err in telling good from evil,
If a person is thrown into the Palace of Hell,
There's no mercy for those guilty of crimes.
Marshall the Devil:
We took your order,
to capture the person named Trng.
We now bring him to ...

Page 18 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 11

Page 3a
Nm transcription

Trng Nhc ni:


Qu ng qun Hoi dng,
M tnh Trng [ct 4] Nhc.
Nh ta. Tuy cha tri o cng chi nghip,
Song cng cn Yn [ct 5] t chi phong.
Ngh st sanh bun bn y lng,
iu cn ko [ct 6] gi non l ch.
Tuyt nng ni:
Tha anh, b ngh lm heo i no. [ct 7]
Nhc ni:
Em ch ngh lm heo n,
em cha r m em ch .
Tht cng bit [ct 8] binh khin tng,
Tht cng hay quyt sch vn tr.
Tht cng...
English translation:
and bring both to the Underworld Justice
So we can distinguish the crimes from virtuous deeds.
Marshall the Devil and the Earth God:
We have received the order of the King of Hell
We will follow it to the letter.
Trng the Butcher:
My home is in Hoi dng District,
My name, Trng the Butcher.
About myself. Even though I have not reached the wealth of
Master o,
I do have the elegance of Lord Yn t.
At the heart of the matter, butchery is my business,
And basically I use tipped scales.
Tuyt Nng:
Dear husband, cant you just walk away from this
pig butchery?
The Butcher:
You don't like pig butchery?
because you don't know the trade yet.
Meatmen do know how to move armies and generals,
Meatmen often decide tactics and logistics.
Meatmen ...

Page 12 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 17

Page 4a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Bt hai hn ti np Dim La
Cn ti phc r b khc [ct 2] trc.
Qu tt, Th a ni:
Tha Dim cha lnh truyn
Thn ng ng phng [ct 3] mng.
Page 16 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Transliteration into quc ng:


[tin ng] Mc lnh trn ch phn.
Dim vng ni:
Trng th, i i
Kh t trn [ct 2] k s, tc phc ho, nh h?
Thin s ni:
C lng tch c, [ct 3] c d tu nhn.
No t bi vt chng oan khin,
Ca thng tr i [ct 4] ngi kh hnh.
No dc dm xa lnh,
ng li hi khng tranh. [ct 5]
Vng Dim vng tut cp ngu tnh,
Kht qung lng ko oan bn [ct 6] si.
Dim vng ni:
Lun ti cht bng non Thi,
Sao li kia [ct 7] cn hi ku oan?
T To quan:
Ci tu qua Dim cha,
Nga [ct 8] mt dng Thin nhan.
Thin s du hn xung m quan, cng v ...
English translation:
the Justice Hall, to be judged by Your Highness.
The King of Hell:
Mr. Trng, I am fuming with anger
You'd better testify truthfully of your own deeds,
good and bad, and how so?
The Zen Master:
I always have a heart to nurture virtues,
and a soul to practice humanity,
and Buddhist kindness to help all lost souls,
Eternal gifts shall wait for the ascetics:
I avoid all sensual temptations,
And refused to compete in worldly greed.
I pray that the King of Hell show pity for my honesty,
and I beg for your great leniency,
or injustice shall befall this monk.
The King of Hell:
Your crimes are as high as Mount Thai,
Why do your words protest your innocence?
The Literary Underworld Prosecutor:
I bow and prostrate in front of The King of Hell,
And lift up my face to inform Your Highness,
The Zen Master's soul was led to the Underworld,
Just because...
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 13

Page 3b
Nm transcription

Dim [ct 3] vng ni:


Dy bt Trng Nhc,
qu tt, sao dm bt Trng Thin s?
Qu tt ni:
Dm tu. [ct 4] Vic ti Th a, dy bt Trng Thin s.
Th a ni:
Phi, lnh Dim vng dy bt Trng [ct 5] Nhc
Cc ch ti t miu, cc ch rm rm
rt rt, nhng bt a m tri.
Li ni:
D. Vi [ct 6] bt php, tm thn bt nh,
Phi khoan dung, dong ti tri mnh. [ct 7]
Ci tu dng Dim qun,
Nhn mng y trm nm mi ng cho. [ct 8]
Dim vng ni:
Th a mau thng o, Qu tt tu phong vn...
English translation:

Transliteration into quc ng:


bi hai ngi mt h.
Dim vng ni:
Ai m hai ngi mt h?
[To quan] Phn [ct 2] vit:
Mun tu, Trng Nhc
cng Trng Thin s mt h.
Page 14 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

there are two persons with the same last name.


The King of Hell:
Who are those two with the same last name?
The Literary Underworld Prosecutor:
With deepest respect, Trng the Butcher
and Trng,the Zen Master, bear the same last name.
The King of Hell:
Marshall the Devil, I ordered to arrest Trng the Butcher,
how dare you arrest Trng the Zen Master?
Marshall, the Devil:
Your Highness, this is because the Earth God told me to
arrest Trng, the Zen Master.
Earth God:
That's right. The King of Hell ordered the arrest of Trng
the Butcher. The devils came to the temple shrine, huff and
puff, wrestled and put me in a cuff.
Earth God continues:
Your Highness. Because of this lawlessness,
I was in total mental distress,
Please be lenient, they rushed to tie him up.
Allow me to bow down and address the King of Hell,
This person deserves a hundred years of praise.
The King of Hell:
OK. Earth God, please lead the way,
Marshall the Devil, speed up on winds and clouds
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 15

Page 3b
Nm transcription

Dim [ct 3] vng ni:


Dy bt Trng Nhc,
qu tt, sao dm bt Trng Thin s?
Qu tt ni:
Dm tu. [ct 4] Vic ti Th a, dy bt Trng Thin s.
Th a ni:
Phi, lnh Dim vng dy bt Trng [ct 5] Nhc
Cc ch ti t miu, cc ch rm rm
rt rt, nhng bt a m tri.
Li ni:
D. Vi [ct 6] bt php, tm thn bt nh,
Phi khoan dung, dong ti tri mnh. [ct 7]
Ci tu dng Dim qun,
Nhn mng y trm nm mi ng cho. [ct 8]
Dim vng ni:
Th a mau thng o, Qu tt tu phong vn...
English translation:

Transliteration into quc ng:


bi hai ngi mt h.
Dim vng ni:
Ai m hai ngi mt h?
[To quan] Phn [ct 2] vit:
Mun tu, Trng Nhc
cng Trng Thin s mt h.
Page 14 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

there are two persons with the same last name.


The King of Hell:
Who are those two with the same last name?
The Literary Underworld Prosecutor:
With deepest respect, Trng the Butcher
and Trng,the Zen Master, bear the same last name.
The King of Hell:
Marshall the Devil, I ordered to arrest Trng the Butcher,
how dare you arrest Trng the Zen Master?
Marshall, the Devil:
Your Highness, this is because the Earth God told me to
arrest Trng, the Zen Master.
Earth God:
That's right. The King of Hell ordered the arrest of Trng
the Butcher. The devils came to the temple shrine, huff and
puff, wrestled and put me in a cuff.
Earth God continues:
Your Highness. Because of this lawlessness,
I was in total mental distress,
Please be lenient, they rushed to tie him up.
Allow me to bow down and address the King of Hell,
This person deserves a hundred years of praise.
The King of Hell:
OK. Earth God, please lead the way,
Marshall the Devil, speed up on winds and clouds
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 15

Page 4a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Bt hai hn ti np Dim La
Cn ti phc r b khc [ct 2] trc.
Qu tt, Th a ni:
Tha Dim cha lnh truyn
Thn ng ng phng [ct 3] mng.
Page 16 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Transliteration into quc ng:


[tin ng] Mc lnh trn ch phn.
Dim vng ni:
Trng th, i i
Kh t trn [ct 2] k s, tc phc ho, nh h?
Thin s ni:
C lng tch c, [ct 3] c d tu nhn.
No t bi vt chng oan khin,
Ca thng tr i [ct 4] ngi kh hnh.
No dc dm xa lnh,
ng li hi khng tranh. [ct 5]
Vng Dim vng tut cp ngu tnh,
Kht qung lng ko oan bn [ct 6] si.
Dim vng ni:
Lun ti cht bng non Thi,
Sao li kia [ct 7] cn hi ku oan?
T To quan:
Ci tu qua Dim cha,
Nga [ct 8] mt dng Thin nhan.
Thin s du hn xung m quan, cng v ...
English translation:
the Justice Hall, to be judged by Your Highness.
The King of Hell:
Mr. Trng, I am fuming with anger
You'd better testify truthfully of your own deeds,
good and bad, and how so?
The Zen Master:
I always have a heart to nurture virtues,
and a soul to practice humanity,
and Buddhist kindness to help all lost souls,
Eternal gifts shall wait for the ascetics:
I avoid all sensual temptations,
And refused to compete in worldly greed.
I pray that the King of Hell show pity for my honesty,
and I beg for your great leniency,
or injustice shall befall this monk.
The King of Hell:
Your crimes are as high as Mount Thai,
Why do your words protest your innocence?
The Literary Underworld Prosecutor:
I bow and prostrate in front of The King of Hell,
And lift up my face to inform Your Highness,
The Zen Master's soul was led to the Underworld,
Just because...
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 13

Page 3a
Nm transcription

Trng Nhc ni:


Qu ng qun Hoi dng,
M tnh Trng [ct 4] Nhc.
Nh ta. Tuy cha tri o cng chi nghip,
Song cng cn Yn [ct 5] t chi phong.
Ngh st sanh bun bn y lng,
iu cn ko [ct 6] gi non l ch.
Tuyt nng ni:
Tha anh, b ngh lm heo i no. [ct 7]
Nhc ni:
Em ch ngh lm heo n,
em cha r m em ch .
Tht cng bit [ct 8] binh khin tng,
Tht cng hay quyt sch vn tr.
Tht cng...
English translation:
and bring both to the Underworld Justice
So we can distinguish the crimes from virtuous deeds.
Marshall the Devil and the Earth God:
We have received the order of the King of Hell
We will follow it to the letter.
Trng the Butcher:
My home is in Hoi dng District,
My name, Trng the Butcher.
About myself. Even though I have not reached the wealth of
Master o,
I do have the elegance of Lord Yn t.
At the heart of the matter, butchery is my business,
And basically I use tipped scales.
Tuyt Nng:
Dear husband, cant you just walk away from this
pig butchery?
The Butcher:
You don't like pig butchery?
because you don't know the trade yet.
Meatmen do know how to move armies and generals,
Meatmen often decide tactics and logistics.
Meatmen ...

Page 12 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 17

Page 4b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


y bnh bt cng nh thy thy ta, ch a.
Linh hn thy trc vng ty phng,
Hi [ct 2] ct nguyn siu thng tin gii.
Tn vit:
Nh ta thiu thy ri, chn tay thy [ct 3] chy ht.
Thy ti thi bung la,
Bn o kh ng lng.
Linh [ct 4] hn thy khoi lc tiu diu,
Vng t min trng vnh bo. [ct 5]
Dim vng ni:
Chc thng qun m ti,
Trm hiu xng Dim cha.
Ton [ct 6] nhn gian ti phc,
Quan thin c v sai.
Nhc h nhn tng o Dim i,
Hu ti gi quyt v dung th.
Qu tt ni: [ct 8]
Chng ti t vng lnh,
Ti chn bt h Trng.
Hi np ti...
English translation:
it's like seeing our Master
His soul will go directly to the Buddha world,
while his flesh and bones will rise to the realm of the fairies.
Expanding:
We have cremated his body,
his arms and legs have turned to ash.
His body no longer holds the fire,
All monks are in agreement.
His soul is joyfully levitating,
wishing his disciples longevity and serenity.
The King of Hell:
I am the master of the underworld,
I am crowned as The King of Hell.
I calculate guilt and grace of all the human world,
I never err in telling good from evil,
If a person is thrown into the Palace of Hell,
There's no mercy for those guilty of crimes.
Marshall the Devil:
We took your order,
to capture the person named Trng.
We now bring him to ...

Page 18 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 11

Page 2b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


ngi nht sch cng thu,
Tht cng k lc k xut k mn ra! [ct 2]
Tuyt nng ni:
Tha anh hm qua ti ln cha,
ti coi bc nh [ct 3] Thp in.
Ngi thi nm bn chng,
K thi i chu mu.
Cc [ct 4] con ngoi vt,
Cn n ci tu.
Nn ti biu anh b ngh [ct 5] lm heo i.
Nhc ni:
Em, em phn s git heo n, thi [ct 6] ti,
Gi s thin h git c chng mang ti?
Tin chi li [ct 7] ni huyn
M nghi tha d ta.
Ph gia inh bc nc lm [ct 8] heo,
ng cho m ra tay chc huyt.
Lm tht ri nht thng
English translation:
do plan for attack,
Meatmen do turn odds to their success, that's the way!
Tuyt Nng:
Husband, yesterday I visited the pagoda,
I looked at the map of the Ten Justice Temples of the
Underworld Kingdom.
Some people lie on spike beds,
Others carry pots of blood over their heads.
And the butchered animals
carry their complaints [of murder] in their mouths.
That's why I told you to forget pig butchery.
The Butcher:
Dearest, you think it a sin to kill pigs,
You assume there's no sin in their killing fish?
Don't believe in this nonsense talk
That brings doubts to yourself.
Tell the house staff to boil water for cleaning pigs,
So I can begin to spill their blood.
Meat carving will be done by the time the sun is...

Page 10 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 19

Page 5a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Tm sui tin an tha d thy,
Ngn nm eo su bng [ct 2] t.
Li ni:
Do dc t g kia mt m,
B v dng [ct 3] chim n lc by
m hai hng cm by ni thy,
Su mun [ct 4] hc qun au d t.
o Xoa ni:
S ph sm [ct 5] v chu Pht,
Hai ta cn phi gi ly cha
ch chng nn i, ch a. [ct 6]
o Nguyn ni:
Vy ch sa y bnh bt, ta em i cho thy ta,
hay l li, a ch? [ct 7]
o Xoa ni:
Ch a, sa y bnh bt ng em, ch a.
Li [ct 8] ni:
Nh nay ta sa y bnh bt thy li y,
ri ta sm v thp hng, chiu v thp hng,
ta thy sa...
English translation:
Bathing in the fairy spring, feeling at peace,
but my heart is inconsolable for thousands of years, at least.
Again:
Frightened like baby chicks without their mother,
Lost like birds strayed from their flock,
Two streams of tears crying for the fate of Master,
Millions of sorrows wrench my guts.
Disciple Nguyn:
So, brother, do we bring the alms bowl and his
saffron to the Master, or we just leave them here?
Disciple Xoa:
Brother, we shouldn't bring the alms bowl and his saffron
away with us.
And continues:
We now leave the alms bowl and his saffron here,
we will see them every day when we go in and out
to light incense,

Page 20 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 9

Page 2a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


tam can,
u l, gnh tht bn, ko tra bui ch a.
Lon [ct 2] vit:
Bit liu l trang kh mang mang,
Sn tin sn hu qu [ct 3] sn kh.
Bng lng tho mc c long khu,
Khut khc to kh [ct 4]h bo hnh.
Li ni:
Bn tht ri, tr li l trang,
B [ct 5] hin ph ra y m tip.
Li ni:
Mt tri chen ni, [ct 6]
y mn rng t chi m thm phin.
B chi gnh tht bn gnh ng xa,
Cho nn [ct 7] khin tm thn r rit.
Vy thi ta kp vo ni an gic, [ct 7]
mc gia inh qun th gia nh.
Nghe ta dn, gia inh a
Trng
English translation:
three yards high,
Then, I'll carry the meat to the market before noon.
Voice:
Leave the house, I walk in a hurry,
I pass mountains front, back, and the creeks.
And thick grass and plants like dragon beards,
Springs twist and turn like tigers and leopards.
Again:
The meat is sold, I am returning to my home,
Oh, sweet wife, can you come and greet me?
Again:
The sun now squeezes between mountains,
oh why... my limbs feel so tired.
It must be carrying the meat far on the shoulder pole,
that's why my mind and spirit are totally exhausted.
Therefore, I must go to bed and sleep well,
leaving the house staff to tend to the family's need.
Listen to me, people,
Wake me up

Page 8 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 21

Page 5b
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


canh ku thc dy,
Ko tra bui ch a.
Qu tt, Th a ni: [ct 2]
T vng li lnh dy,
Bt Trng th em v.
u np trc [m ti]. [ct 3]
Mc lnh trn ch phn.
Page 22 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Transliteration into quc ng:


ti phng thin.
K vit:
Nim nim tng tm tr tu minh,
Tam [ct 2] qui chng thng ty trn duyn.
Cm cch ch thnh siu tam chng, [ct 3]
Hi u thin nim vng Ty phng.
Li ni:
Trng lu tr [ct 4] khc,
Vo an ngh gic ho a.
Th a ni:
a i [ct 5] mi mt, kp ngi ti am thin.
H Trng thit l chng, cc [ct 6] ch vo m bt.
o Nguyn, o Xoa ni:
Tha thy, dy m thi tr. i thy i
Thy, thy i! Kh trng ta, kh trng ta!
Thn s ph, thn [ct 8] s ph a.
Thn vit:
Hn nng trn gi,
Phch ho chi my.
English translation:
the meditation hall.
A hymn:
A thought in harmony with our self, our wisdom shines,
Following the Three Jewels to shed all earthly illusions.
Absolute honesty overcomes three hindrances,
Turning around to pure thought one arrives at nirvana.
Again says:
The drum is marking change on the night clock,
Let's turn in and enjoy gentle rest.
Earth God:
I am so tired from walking,
Hurrying to rest at the temple shrine.
That's him, that's the right Trng,
You go and get him.
Disciple Nguyn and Disciple Xoa:
Oh Master, please rise to drink tea. Oh Master.
Alas Master! How painful, so painful!
Weeping for Master, wailing for Master.
Wailing:
His soul was lifted high with the wind,
His spirit is flickering in the clouds.
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 7

Page 1b
Nm transcription

Page 6 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Dim vng ni:


Thin c trm t [ct 4] d,
Ngay gian tua kh by lng.
Nhc n nc phin ngn.
t [ct 5] ti kia khn th.
Nhc ni:
Mun tu, chng ti
khng lng tch [ct 6] c
chng d tu nhn.
Hi d mun,
Gian tham c mt. [ct 7]
Tng hai ch o u thin c,
Vng Dim vng n c qung [ct 8] khai.
Du ca x cam tha ti.
Dim vng ni:
Trng
English Translation:
when the night drum is pounded,
So I won't be late for the morning market.
Marshall the Devil and Earth God:
As soon as we got the order,
to get this guy named Trng
we brought him here
for any judgment Your Highness sees fit.
he King of Hell:
I am already clear of the good and the evil,
Guilty or not, you must truthfully confess.
If you hide one word,
With no leniency your crime will be judged.
The Butcher:
With infinite respect, we have
no heart for virtue,
no desire to self restraint,
have done harm to hundreds of thousands,
truly I am the only master of greed and cheat.
Based on the principle of good and evil, sow and reap,
I hope that the King of Hell, the all virtuous, all generous
and all lenient, might free me
or even damn me to be flayed, I feel I so deserve...
The King of Hell:
Take Trng the [6b] Butcher
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 23

Page 6a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Thin S:
Tiu ngo sn u dng t nhin,
Ma ha nht [ct 2] trch qu tham thin.
B chng thng tm thng nim,
Y bt [ct 3] c sa khoi v bin.
Li ni:
Nc trong y tnh,
Gng sch l [ct 4] lng.
Nim mu thin tch c tu nhn,
Siu kh hi mun ngi [ct 5] mn tnh.
No dc dm xa lnh,
ng danh li vn khng.
Ti [ct 6] biu t h Trng,
Tn Thin S ch t.
o ng!
o ng mau [ct 7] s kp,
Phanh tr trc n tin.
Tu thn khi thu vua, [ct 8]
Hiu hnh phi gn o Pht.
Ch tng lui mt tht,
Thy kp
English translation:
The Zen Master:
Light hearted I am wandering on mountain tops,
nurturing my true nature,
A drop of water from the mahasatva will turn devils to zen.
My constant chants gather Bodhi on my palm,
I am joyful in my saffron, with an alms bowl.
Again the Zen Master:
Transparent like water is my essence,
Reflexive like the mirror is my self
with Zen prayers I practice humanity and grace
I am above the seas of sufferings, everyone loves my nature.
I have turned away from all carnal desires,
and abandoned all earthly vanity.
Trng is my last name,
Zen Master is my title.
My disciples quickly bring tea to the altars.
An ascetic life free of the King's taxes,
I practice virtues and guard the Buddhist precepts
All monks have returned to their quarters,
I must hurry to...

Page 24 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 5

Page 1a
Nm transcription

Transliteration into quc ng:


Nhc dn vo ci st,
C mi ngy ct tht co n.
Thit [ct 2] ti lm qu bo tin cn,
Ko vt n bo minh oan khc. [ct 3]
Thin s n dn v dng th,
Nhc kia y lut thi [ct 4] hnh.
Qu tt ni:
Mun tu. Xc Thin s ngy n,
Tng [ct 5] o thiu phn.
Ci tu c Dim qun,
Mc lnh trn ch phn. [ct 6]
Dim vng ni:
Hn Thin s em li,
Xc Nhc nhp vo.
Qu [ct 7] tt kh tha truyn,
a chng hi dng th.
Qu tt, Th a ni: [ct 8]
Tha Dim cha lnh truyn
Thn ng ng phng lnh.
English translation:
to a steel cage,
Carve his flesh every day and feed the hyenas.
It's a real example of paying for what you did,
Or the animals will complain of injustice.
Take the Zen Master back to the Overworld,
And that Butcher to proper punishment under the laws.
Marshall the Devil:
With due respect, the dead body of the Zen Master
The monks had cremated the other day.
Your Honor, the King of Hell, we wait
for a decision from Your Highness.
The King of Hell:
Bring the soul of the Zen Master,
to unite with the Butcher's body.
You Marshall the Devil must heed my order,
to bring him back to the Overworld.
Marshall the Devil and the Earth God:
The King of Hell has issued a decision,
We both will execute it with precision. [end of excerpt]

Page 4 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 25

VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892
Transcription by Lng Th Ngc Thu (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies)
Translation into English by Ng Thanh Nhn & Sophia W Quinn-Judge
(Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society, Temple University)
FULL CAST
Trng Thin s

Trng, the Zen Master (soul)

Trng Nhc

Trng, the Butcher (body)

Tuyt Nng /
M Trng
o Xoa

Trng Tuyt Nng /


Trng the Butcher's wife
Disciple Xoa

o Nguyn

Disciple Nguyn

Dim vng

The King of Hell

Qu tt

Marshall the Devil

Th a

The Earth God

T To quan

Literary Underworld Clerk

Trng Lo / Gi

Elder Trng (a neighbor)

Thy php

Tri huyn Trn Thng


L binh

Shaman
District Governor Trn Thng
Governor's Palace Officer

References
Nguyn Vn Sm, transliteration, commentaries, manuscript, 2007.
Nguyn Hin Tm, translation. Trng nhc truyn, Th vin
Khoa hc Tng hp Tp. HCM xut bn, Tp. HCM 2013 (for internal
circulation).
Page 26 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


Temple University
presents
AN EXCERPT
VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous
Transcription by Lng Th Ngc Thu (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies)
Translation into English by Ng Thanh Nhn & Sophia W Quinn-Judge
(Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Cultue & Society, Temple University)
Reading
Introduction and Scene 1
by
Nguyn T Lan (Institute of Hn-Nm Studies
& Harvard-Yenching Institute)
Ng Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University)
CAST
Trng Thin s

Trng, the Zen Master (soul)

Trng Nhc

Trng, the Butcher (body)

Tuyt Nng /
M Trng
o Xoa

Trng Tuyt Nng /


Trng the Butcher's wife
Disciple Xoa

o Nguyn

Disciple Nguyn

Dim vng

The King of Hell

Qu tt

Marshall the Devil

Th a

The Earth God

T To quan

Literary Underworld Clerk

Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 3

A pre-AAS workshop
Vietnamese Identities
sponsored by The Vietnam Studies Group

PROGRAM

Welcoming remarks
from the Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture and Society and the
Vietnam Studies Group.
Panel 1: History and National Identity
Indigenous Democracy in Vietnamese Ancient Culture, Hi Hng Nguyn,
Ph.D. Candidate, School of Political Science and International Studies,
University of Queensland, Australia.
The historiography about Nguyn Hu and the Ty Sn period and the
condition of "disrupted modernity" of the modern Vietnamese nation, Nguyn
Quc Vinh, Harvard University, East Asian Languages and Civilizations.
The Past Doesn't Pass: Memory and Identity in Commemorating the War
Dead, Hoa T. Nguyn, Trent University.
"Because we are all compatriots": People's Diplomacy and the Vietnamese
in France during the Vietnam War, Nguyn Nguyt, American University.
Panel 2: Social and Cultural Identities
American Consumer Culture and its Impact on Identity in the Republic of
Vietnam in 1965, Helen Ph, University of Texas at Austin.
The Mixture of Film Styles and Questions of Identity in Contemporary
Vietnamese Cinema, Qu-H Hong Nguyn, School of Cinematic Arts,
University of Southern California.
Religious Place and Threads of Memory Through Time: The Dialogic
Construction(s) of Chm Identity at Po Klaung Garai, Dave Paulson, Ph.D.
candidate in Anthropology, Temple University.
Engaging with Vietnam: Meditations on Chm-Vietnamese historical
relations and developing the Intellectual Middle Ground, William Noseworthy,
Ph.D. candidate in History, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Musical Interlude: Creativity and Traditional Music in Post-socialist
Vietnam, Alexander M. Cannon, Assistant Professor of Music
History/Ethnomusicology, Western Michigan University.
Panel 3: Nm Identities
Collective Visualization of the Three Kingdoms in Vietnam, Nam
Nguyn, Vietnam National University.
Reading of an excerpt from the Nm tung Trng nhc
truyn "The tale of Trng the Butcher," by Nguyn T Lan (Harvard Yenching
Institute) & Ng Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University).
Trng the Butcher play: a preliminary research in comparative
literature perspective, by Nguyn T Lan (Institute of Hn Nm Studies &
Harvard Yenching Institute).
A revisit to Tam Thin T Gii m 1831: The first popular
Nm literacy textbook, L Mai Phng (independent, Nm Studies) & Ng
Thanh Nhn (Nm Studies, Temple University).

Page 2 Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


College of Liberal Arts
Temple University
http://www.temple.edu/vietnamese_center
The Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture, and Society at Temple
University was founded in September, 2004. As a national center for
scholarly research, educational training, and mutual understanding, the
Center sponsors a range of programs on Vietnam's rich heritage of
philosophy and culture, including conferences, lectures and research.
The Center was started to support a multi-year faculty seminar program
involving the Departments of Philosophy at Temple University and at
the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy in Hanoi. As part of this
project, Temple and the Ho Chi Minh Academy cooperated on an online handbook of philosophical terms from East and West, with entries
in both Vietnamese and English. This project was supported by the Ford
Foundation (English-Vietnamese Handbook on Philosophy and Political
Economy).
The Center has also contributed to the field of Nm Studies, by
digitizing Nm documents from libraries in Hanoi and making them
available online on our website. The British Librarys Endangered
Archives Program supported this project, led by Center Fellow Dr. Ng
Thanh Nhn.
In 2013 the Center began a program to offer small grants to scholars in
Vietnam to carry out research in the US; we are also offering grants to
US-based scholars for work in Vietnam. This initiative and many other
Center activities have been made possible by funding from the Luce
Foundation.
Contact
Kimberly Ann Goyette
Director
Email: kgoyette@temple.edu

Sophia W Quinn-Judge
Associate Director
Email: quinnjud@temple.edu

Gladfeter Hall, Room 1016


1115 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Vietnamese tung The Tale of Trng the Butcher Page 27

VIETNAMESE TUNG CLASSICAL THEATER

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892
The British Library
25 sheets (50 pp.), 26x21cm, length 7,749 ideograms
L Qu phng t, 1892

Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society


Temple University
presents
TUNG AN EXCERPT

Trng nhc truyn


THE TALE OF TRNG THE BUTCHER
Anonymous, 1892

SYNOPSIS
[Introduction] Trng the Zen Master passes away suddenly during
his meditation. He was captured by the Earth God and Marshall the
Devil to be taken to Hell for trial.
[Scene 1] The Zen Master was brought in front of the King of Hell.
The Underworld Clerk revealed that there are two persons with the
same last name Trng, and the warrant was intended for Trng the
Butcher. They captured the Butcher, and the Zen Master was
exonerated. Since his body was already cremated, the King of Hell
orders the Zen Master's soul to be placed in the Butchers body.
[Scene 2] Tuyt Nng finds her husband, Trng the Butcher, dead.
She asks her neighbor, elder Trng Lo, to help with the funeral,
and the shaman to perform the cleansing. The Butcher wakes up and
speaks like a monk. He tries to explain to Tuyt Nng but to no
avail. He then runs back to the pagoda.
[Scene 3] The Zen Master knocks on the temple gate. His two
disciples see the Butcher's face with their Master's voice. The Master
explains. The two skeptical disciples test him with secrets that only
the three of them know. The Zen Master passes the tests. Tuyt
Nng arrives and demands her husband back but they shut the gate
on her.
[Scene 4] Tuyt Nng sues the disciples. The District Governor Trn
Thng subpoenas the Zen Master and his disciples to court. Tuyt
Nng confirms that her husband is illiterate. The disciples confirm
that their Master is the only one who writes pagoda sacred texts. The
Governor orders the monk to compose a poem with the rhyme oan
[being falsely accused].
The Tale of Trng the Butcher ends here, perhaps to allow different
conclusions.

Nguyn Quang Thng, Mt n The Mask, 28x66", 2014.

A pre-AAS workshop
Vietnamese Identities
sponsored by The Vietnam Studies Group
9:00 AM 5:30 PM March 26, 2014
Weigley Room, Gladfelter Hall, Temple University

Você também pode gostar