Nguyễn Công Trứ và quan niệm sống tích cực vượt thời đại

Abstract

The hedonic’s problem in Nguyen Cong Tru's poetry has so far been criticized by many researchers. Nevertheless, the prejudice has clouded humanitarian and modernism values conveyed in the author's works. From the view of author’s typology, Nguyen Cong Tru could be regarded as an unorthodox confucianist – considering self-indulgence the mission and purpose of his life. Not only did he follow in his ancestors’ footsteps, but he also developed his own liberal style in his way of describing the deepest corners of human souls where earthly desires and instincts could easily be found. It could be seen from his works that human beings had never ceased wanting to enjoy both their physical and spiritual well-beings. It is also the way people treasure the present life, balance between work and pleasure to enjoy all dimensions of life. Such positive views and values in Nguyen Cong Tru's poems are far ahead of his time.