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From: Charles Waugh
Date: Wed, May 6, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Dear list,
At the Hainan Congregation's Assembly Hall in Hoi An, a display tells the story of some sailors mistaken for pirates and massacred off the Vietnamese coast, including Emperor Tu Duc's response: "On the 27th of the same month, these dishonest officers also submitted a report to Emperor Tu Duc describing their achievement of defeating the pirates. But the Emperor did not much believe it. Later, on his inspecting tour to Thuan An, Emperor Tu Duc witnessed the inability of the officers and soldiers. He was so disappointed that he composed a poem..." The officers later confessed, and depending on the degree of their culpability, were either caned, beheaded, or dismembered.
Does anyone by any chance know the poem? Or know of a collection of Tu Duc's poetry that might contain it?
With many thanks,
Charles Waugh
Utah State University
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From: Bradley Davis
Date: Wed, May 6, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Dear Charles,
This collection might.
Bùi-Tấn-Niên (ed), Tự Đức Thánh Chế Văn Tam Tập (quyền mục lục, quyền I dến VIII) [聖製文三集].
Saigon: Phủ Quốc-Vụ-Khanh Đặc-Trách Văn-Hóa, 1971.
Happy hunting.
Bradley Davis
Eastern Washington Univ.
US
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From: NGUYEN THE ANH
Date: Wed, May 6, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Tu Duc's poem might be found in "Thánh chê thi tam tâp" published in Dông Khanh 3rd year (1888), a copy of which is still preserved in the library of the Ecole Francaise d'Extrême-Orient in Paris (EFEO Viet/A/Litt. 2(1-4).
Best wishes,
Nguyen The Anh
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