Phan Boi Chau - A man of an era, a country

(Baonghean) - Phan Boi Chau (Phan Van San), born on December 26, 1867, in Dan Nhiem village, Xuan Hoa commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province, was a national revolutionary, patriotic culturalist, and the greatest democratic thinker in Vietnam in the early 20th century.

He was born into a poor Confucian family in a countryside rich in cultural and patriotic traditions. From his youth, he lived with the working people, imbued with the cultural flow of Nghe An with the folk songs "the Lam River water knows whether it is clear or turbid, living a life knowing whether it is shame or glory" gradually nurtured his soul, personality and fostered the will to fight in Nho San.

When he passed the exam to become the top student in the region, his contemporaries called him Dau Xu San, “a famous name in the literary world”, that fighting spirit became even more intense and urged Phan Boi Chau more than ever, with the consciousness that “fame and glory are lightly brushed aside, the country must repay”. He vowed to dedicate his entire life to the nation and his compatriots.

Mr. Phan Boi Chau

In his journey to fulfill his mission of saving the country, Phan Boi Chau, from the position of Giai San (Phan Van San) of Nghe An, soon became the most brilliant representative in the early 20th century, with a journey across borders to many regions of East Asia and Southeast Asia, overcoming all narrow local and national limitations, to turn patriotism into national pride.

The patriotic movements initiated by Phan Boi Chau such as Duy Tan Association, Dong Du Association, Viet Nam Quang Phuc Association... attracted and inspired people from all walks of life to participate. Especially the youth, they considered Phan as an idol, an ideal model to strive for.

The Dong Du movement stood out with the timeless thoughts of a Confucian scholar of that time. Phan Boi Chau changed the perception of many young people, they had to study to renew their thinking, revive the spirit and intelligence of the people. This was truly a change in thinking, from the idea of ​​studying to become an official to "glorify oneself and enrich one's family", to studying to save the country and save the people.

The Dong Du movement laid the foundation for profound changes in our country in the early 20th century, contributing to training a team of intellectuals ready to accept the path of proletarian revolution, many of whom later became key figures of the Vietnamese Revolution such as Ho Hoc Lam, Dang Thuc Hua, Vo Tung, Nguyen Duc Cong, Nguyen Thuc Duong...

Panoramic view of the memorial site of patriot Phan Boi Chau (Nam Dan). Photo: Duc Anh

Phan Boi Chau was not only a great patriot representing the Vietnamese national liberation movement in the first decades of the 20th century, but also a writer, poet, and thinker who had the value of "awakening the national soul" and adding "Hot blood" to the entire nation under slavery. He and his career have a very important position in modern Vietnamese history.

In the process of historical development, not all efforts are always successful. Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh... and the path to save the country that they chose had all the sweetness, bitterness, and have become history, patriotic sediments and lessons for the nation.

Phan Boi Chau was not only a great patriot, but also a great cultural figure. The legacy he left for posterity is not only a huge and rich treasure of works containing a huge amount of knowledge, but first and foremost, a steadfast heart for the country, a noble personality, and a sharp and sensitive thinking style.

He has a worthy and prominent position in the Vietnamese value system not only in the 20th century but also for the future. He is a cultural ambassador between Vietnam and Japan. The close relationship between Phan Boi Chau and his Japanese friends, especially Dr. Asaba Sakirato, became a bridge for cultural, scientific and educational exchanges between the two countries, contributing to further fostering the international friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

It can be said that Phan Boi Chau devoted his entire life to the national liberation movement, as President Ho Chi Minh commented: Phan Boi Chau was "a hero, an angel, a person who sacrificed himself for national independence, revered by 20 million people in slavery".

Inauguration of Phan Boi Chau memorial house in October 2016. Photo: PV

Not only the country and homeland of Nghe An pay tribute to and commemorate Phan Boi Chau, but the sentiments of the Japanese people towards Phan Boi Chau are also very warm and close. Friendship associations such as the Asaba Association, the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association, the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Association have had many forms of commemoration for Phan Boi Chau, such as presenting a version of the Asaba stele, visiting the Phan Boi Chau memorial site, presenting a Dong Du stele, organizing seminars on Phan Boi Chau and the Dong Du movement...

Especially in Fukuroi city - the hometown of doctor Asaba (who helped Phan Boi Chau and the Dong Du movement), the beautiful friendship between Phan Boi Chau and doctor Asaba Sakirato was included in the moral education program for elementary school students.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of patriot Phan Boi Chau, and solemnly receiving the certificate of ranking the Phan Boi Chau memorial site in Nam Dan as a special national historical relic. This is the honor and recognition of the Party, State and people for Phan Boi Chau's great contributions to the history of national development.

We - the "post-death ward", will continue to protect, preserve and promote the value of the Phan Boi Chau National Special Historical Relic Site in the best and most effective way; this place has been and will be an attractive tourist destination, contributing to educating the people and the young generation about the tradition of patriotism, in order to promote the economic, cultural and social development in Nghe An in the cause of innovation and national construction.

This is also an opportunity for the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province to remember the patriotic enthusiasm of patriot Phan Boi Chau to awaken the youth and people in the poems he wrote nearly a century ago, but still have value in the present period:

The sky is new, people are even more new

Open your eyes to see new opportunities clearly

Shoulder to shoulder the burden of the old country

Thus, to unite and strive to "build our country more decent and beautiful", to build Nghe An into one of the fairly developed provinces in the country, developing towards industrialization and modernization, becoming a center of finance, trade, tourism, education and training, science and technology, health care, culture, sports, and high-tech industry in the North Central region; having a synchronous and gradually modern infrastructure system; improving the material and spiritual life of the people; having an advanced culture, imbued with Nghe An's identity; solid national defense and security, ensuring social order and safety; a strong political system, worthy of the wishes of our ancestors.

Nguyen Xuan Duong

Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Provincial People's Committee