The compass used by Nguyen Du in Tien Dien, Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh
Ladies and gentlemen!
When he returned to live in seclusion in his hometown of Tien Dien, to relieve his sadness, Nguyen Du often followed the men of Tien Dien village to hunt on Hong Linh mountain with the nickname “Hong Son liep ho” (the hunter of Hong mountain). Nguyen Du went hunting but his purpose was only to befriend wild animals, not to catch them. This profound philosophy of life was portrayed by the great poet through the verses. Nguyen Du himself once said: "Giai ly nhan tinh, an tai hoach" (meaning “The aim of hunting is to relax, not to catch more wild animals than necessary).
Nguyen Du also once expressed:
“The talented can wear their robes in the clouds,
I am content with the deer.
Just wish to pass the time, expecting no gain,
So it’s not anything inhumane if one kills other species.
The musk deer lies sleeping in the moist fragrance of grass.
The barking of dogs fades within the deep mountains
To each their own, how to enjoy the world’s pleasures
Riding in a carriage, under the parasol, who are those?”
We would like to introduce to you the compass that Nguyen Du often used on each hunting trip, which was made of wood in a spherical shape, with a needle in the middle of a flat surface to determine the direction. This compass accompanied Nguyen Du during his 6 years as a recluse in his hometown.