(ĐN)- A ceremony to commemorate the 144th death anniversary of cultural celebrity Bui Huu Nghia was held in Tran Bien Temple of Literature in Bien Hoa city early on February 14.
(ĐN)- A ceremony to commemorate the 144th death anniversary of cultural celebrity Bui Huu Nghia was held in Tran Bien Temple of Literature in Bien Hoa city early on February 14.
 |
| Illustration image |
Bui Huu Nghia (1807 (the Dinh Mao cat year) – 1872) was born to a poor fisherman’s family in present-day Can Tho city. With the help of an acquaintance, he went to Bien Hoa and attended the Confucian school of scholars Do Hoanh. In 1835, he won the first laureate at an interprovincial exam in the Gia Dinh exam compound.
At first he was appointed chief of Phuc Long county. After that, he was demoted to be chief of Tra Vinh district in Tra Vinh province because he was upright and often protected the poor. Later, he was falsely accused of inciting a people’s rebellion. He was arrested and sentenced to death.
His wife took pains to go to Hue to see the king and claim her husband’s innocence. He was pardoned but demoted to look after the Vinh Thong military post in Chau Doc. Meanwhile, his wife fell sick after the long travel and died in his absence. He wrote a funeral oration to mourn his wife. Later, it became a noted literary work among others.
After that, Nghia became fed up with the mandarinate. He resigned and worked as a school teacher. He joined the Can Vuong (Royalist) Movement against the French colonialists. He left many renowned literary works full of patriotism and love for the people.
Reported by B.N
