102
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
they accepted as payment. Tu Thuc was praised by the local
community for his generosity.
Some years later, tired from the duties of his office, Tu Thuc
resigned and set out to explore his native land and write poetry
on events and scenes that inspired him. High in the mountains,
he sat down to rest and composed a poem on the Land of
Bliss (see Appendix 6.2). As he completed it, a cavern appeared
before him in a mountain, and it seemed almost to beckon him.
He entered and passed into a land of crystalline springs, lotus
leaves and wonderful birds with bright colourful feathers. A
choir of angelic voices sang gently in the background.
A group of lovely maidens presented him to their queen, who
smiled and welcomed him. He was astonished to see at her side
the young maid he had befriended years before. “This is my
daughter, Giang Huong,” she said. “We have never forgotten
the help you gave her when she was in distress.” Tu Thuc felt his
heart go out to the demure fairy princess. “You are obviously a
kind and generous man,” continued the queen, “and I offer you
my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The wedding was celebrated that day, with great pomp and
festivities. Tu Thuc had never been so happy. However, as time
passed, he began to feel nostalgia for his old village. Finally, he
asked the Queen if he might be allowed to visit his friends and
relatives for just a few weeks. He promised to return, for his love
for his young wife was as strong as ever.
The queen reluctantly acceded and suggested to Tu Thuc that
he lie down on the ground and close his eyes. He did so and
fell asleep immediately. When he awoke, he looked around but
could not recognize where he was. He stopped a passing old
man and said to him. “I am Tu Thuc, and I am seeking my village
in Tien Du.”
The old man shook his head. “There was once a Tu Thuc, who
was chief of the Tien Du district, but that was a hundred years
ago, long before I was born. He set out on a long journey, and
never returned. Some say he perished, and others that he found
a secret way into heaven.”
Tu Thuc realized that during the time he had been in the
Land of Bliss, a hundred years had passed by on earth. There
was nothing left for him anymore in the village of his birth.
All his friends were dead, and the customs of the young people
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
they accepted as payment. Tu Thuc was praised by the local
community for his generosity.
Some years later, tired from the duties of his office, Tu Thuc
resigned and set out to explore his native land and write poetry
on events and scenes that inspired him. High in the mountains,
he sat down to rest and composed a poem on the Land of
Bliss (see Appendix 6.2). As he completed it, a cavern appeared
before him in a mountain, and it seemed almost to beckon him.
He entered and passed into a land of crystalline springs, lotus
leaves and wonderful birds with bright colourful feathers. A
choir of angelic voices sang gently in the background.
A group of lovely maidens presented him to their queen, who
smiled and welcomed him. He was astonished to see at her side
the young maid he had befriended years before. “This is my
daughter, Giang Huong,” she said. “We have never forgotten
the help you gave her when she was in distress.” Tu Thuc felt his
heart go out to the demure fairy princess. “You are obviously a
kind and generous man,” continued the queen, “and I offer you
my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The wedding was celebrated that day, with great pomp and
festivities. Tu Thuc had never been so happy. However, as time
passed, he began to feel nostalgia for his old village. Finally, he
asked the Queen if he might be allowed to visit his friends and
relatives for just a few weeks. He promised to return, for his love
for his young wife was as strong as ever.
The queen reluctantly acceded and suggested to Tu Thuc that
he lie down on the ground and close his eyes. He did so and
fell asleep immediately. When he awoke, he looked around but
could not recognize where he was. He stopped a passing old
man and said to him. “I am Tu Thuc, and I am seeking my village
in Tien Du.”
The old man shook his head. “There was once a Tu Thuc, who
was chief of the Tien Du district, but that was a hundred years
ago, long before I was born. He set out on a long journey, and
never returned. Some say he perished, and others that he found
a secret way into heaven.”
Tu Thuc realized that during the time he had been in the
Land of Bliss, a hundred years had passed by on earth. There
was nothing left for him anymore in the village of his birth.
All his friends were dead, and the customs of the young people