Curses and their fulfillment

(Baonghean)Reading the February 2007 issue of the Literature and Youth Magazine, I came across an article by Dr. Le Huu Tinh introducing the pen name of writer Ta Duy Anh. According to the article, writer Ta Duy Anh's real name is Ta Viet Dang, and he was born in Dong Trua village, Hoang Dieu commune, Chuong My district, Ha Tay province (now part of Hanoi). The writer's pen name is associated with a legendary story from his hometown.

Once upon a time, a man from his village passed the imperial examinations and returned home to pay respects to his ancestors. However, no one in the village greeted him. Looking into the village temple, he saw officials and villagers feasting and drinking (punishing a girl who had become pregnant out of wedlock). The newly appointed scholar, enraged, exclaimed, "They're just a bunch of gluttons, they don't care about learning!" Then, before boarding the ferry to cross the river, he immediately threw a stone into the water and uttered a curse: "Only when this stone floats to the surface will any of the descendants of this village achieve academic success..."

And the curse came true. Until the 1970s, no one in Dong Trua village had completed high school except for a student named Ta Viet Dang. After finishing high school, he studied Electrical Engineering and later became a writer under the pen name Ta Duy Anh. The meaning of this pen name is "only him" (meaning only he studied, everyone else dropped out). This story inspired and motivated the writer to complete "Overcoming the Curse," a work that significantly contributed to establishing Ta Duy Anh's name in the literary world.

In my hometown of Tuong Son commune (Anh Son district, formerly Quan Lang commune, Luong Son district, Anh Son prefecture), there is a story about a curse. The story goes that, long ago, a man passed the imperial examinations, was appointed an official by the king, and was allowed to return home for a triumphant return to his ancestral village. Upon receiving the royal decree, the villagers joyfully welcomed the newly appointed official. However, upon arriving at the village temple, the official did not dismount to pay respects to the village deity, but instead rode straight home. Outraged by the disrespectful and somewhat arrogant attitude of the newly appointed official, the villagers abandoned the procession and began discussing the matter animatedly before returning home. Feeling insulted, the official dismounted, picked up a stone, and threw it into the river, uttering a curse: "Three years is a time for the examinations / Students of Quan Lang should not waste money traveling / When the stone floats and the flowers sink / Students of Quan Lang will seek glory." Afterward, he returned home, fell ill a few days later, and died...

Many people in my village feared the curse of the newly graduated scholar. However, for generations, each generation has produced highly successful individuals. Currently, many hold doctoral and master's degrees and work at universities and research institutes throughout the country. Some are now high-ranking officials at the central and provincial levels, or hold important positions in the military and police forces. The number of students admitted to universities and colleges is increasing. This proves that the curse did not come true, or perhaps the people of my village have "overcome the curse"?

Could it be that the curse on the newly graduated scholar from Dong Trua village came true because the officials and villagers did not respect learning and those who passed the exams? And the curse on the newly graduated scholar from my village did not come true because he was talented but arrogant, lacked respect for customs, traditions, and the villagers, and was therefore surpassed and forgotten?

Bui Cong Kien