PHD. DISSERTATION INFORMATION
Dissertation title: “The adaptation of Chinese caizi jiaren novel into Vietnamese Nôm verse tale (A case study of Truyện Song Tinh, Hảo cầu truyện, Ngọc Kiều Lê)”
- Major: Vietnamese Literature
- Major code: 9220121
- PhD. student’s full name: Nguyễn Văn Hoài
- Academic Advisor: Assoc. Prof., Dr. Lê Giang
- Training Institutions: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University-Hochiminh City
+ Dissertation abstract:
There have been very few studies on the adaptation of Chinese chapter novel into Vietnamese Nôm verse tale in specific pairs of works. This topic has been studied neither deeply nor systematically from the view of genre. A narration in the prose form must have endured great changes being adapted into the verse form. How did Vietnamese writers remake Chinese novels into Nôm verse tales? We need to study the differences between the two narrative forms. It is necessary to analyze the adaptation process, focusing on the role and contribution of the Nôm writers, which can help to point out the characteristics and aesthetic rules of Nôm verse tale. This is the objective of this dissertation. However, due to the word limit, just tree adapted works are chosen to be analyzed in this dissertation: Truyện Song Tinh, Hảo cầu truyện, Ngọc Kiều Lê.
Aiming at the above objective, the dissertation uses the methods of typology and typological comparison, along with supporting methods such as positivism, system theory, literary analysis, etc. to carry out this research in the following chapters:
Chapter 1 – General literature review presents the entire literature review over this topic and the theoretical foundation of the study.
Chapter 2 – Concepts and genres of caizi jiaren novel and Nôm verse tale of tài tử giai nhân deals with the theoretical and material issues of the study: (1) Concept, meaning, and criteria to determine caizi jiaren (scholar and beauty) novel; (2) Classification of Nôm verse tales and introduction of the three pairs of works being examined in this study.
Chapter 3 – Simplification of original work during the process of adaptation presents two most-used methods of simplification, which is the basic aesthetic mechanic in adapting Chinese novel into Nôm verse tale: cutting off events to simplify the plot, cutting off characters and details.
Chapter 4 – Creation of narrative content and poeticization and elegantization in Nôm verse tale analyses to proves the following points: (1) Creation of narrative content in Nôm verse tale (including canon and non-canon narrative content), (2) Poeticization and elegantization in Nôm verse tale (poeticizing by adding more emotion and feeling, elegantizing by using classic rhetorical devices)
+ Research Results:
1. Based on studies of Chinese researchers, the dissertation clarifies the term “caizin jiaren novel” and determines “Nôm verse tale of tài tử giai nhân” based on the criteria of main characters, plot model, theme and message, distinguishing them from other similar genres. This is a contribution on the theoretical aspect.
2. This is the first in-depth comparison of the pairs Dingqing ren/ 定情人 vs. Truyện Song Tinh, Haoqiu zhuan/ 好逑傳 vs. Hảo cầu tân truyện, Yu Jiao Li/ 玉嬌梨 vs. Ngọc Kiều Lê tân truyện. Analyzing basic adaptation methods used by Nôm writers, the dissertation proves two universal aesthetic rules in adapting Chinese chapter novel into Vietnamese Nôm verse tale, which are simplifying the original work and poeticizing and elegantizing the writing. The dissertation turns the light on prominent distinctions between a narration in verse and a narration in prose on the aspects of form, language, and aesthetic style.
3. In conducting the dissertation, the author, with help from others, translated three Chinese novels Dingqing ren/ 定情人, Haoqiu zhuan/ 好逑傳, and Yu Jiao Li/ 玉嬌梨. Three translated works in the appendix attached to this dissertaion, despite having not been published, are trustworthy enough and can be considered a contribution of this dissertation.
+ Practical values/ Potentials for further research:
1. The theoretical contribution of this dissertation is clarifying the term “caizin jiaren novel” and providing criteria to determine “Nôm verse tale of tài tử giai nhân”, which can be applied to other studies of Nôm verse tale on the aspects of type and poetics. The list of Nôm tales being provided in this dissertation can be helpful to other researchers.
2. Two aesthetic rules of simplification and poeticization – elegantization in Nôm verse tale are illustrated in detail, showing the adaptation-creation process of Nôm writers. The aesthetic rules, adapting methods and cited materials in the dissertation can be helpful to other studies about adaptation into Nôm tales.
3. The translation of three Chinese novels Dingqing ren/ 定情人, Haoqiu zhuan/ 好逑傳, and Yu Jiao Li/ 玉嬌梨 can be used as reference materials for other researchers.
+ Issues for further research:
Besides two adaptation rules presented in this dissertation, adapted Nôm verse tale needs further study about other characteristics such as nationalization, individualization, etc. However, these characteristics are not as universal as the two rules being studied. The author of this dissertation will study them in the future after having approached more adapted Nôm tales.
Confirmation by Academic Advisors PhD. Student
Assoc. Prof., Dr. Lê Giang Nguyễn Văn Hoài