The rowing bonze

The Nhat Tru pagoda where bronze Phap Thuan is worshipped
(photo source: dantri.com.vn)

In the eighth year of Thien Phuc (1), Li Jue (2) who is the Song envoy came to the Dai Co Viet (3). Emperor Le Dai Hanh (4) ordered bonze Do Thuan (5) to disguise himself as a boatman for receiving the envoy at the Sach river (6). In the boat, Li Jue saw two geese and he recited:

       Goose, goose. Two geese

       See the horizon by turning the faces (7).

The boatman recited for continuing:

       The white furs show upon the green water

       The pink oars stir under the blue wave (8).

The Song envoy was amazed and had respect for the boatman.

Annotation:

(1) Thien Phuc: year label used by Emperor Le Dai Hanh from to .

(2) In sino-vietnamese: Lý Giác, in chinese: 李 覺。

(3) Dai Co Viet: country name used by the Dinh, Early Le and Ly dynasties in 86 years, from 968 to 1054.

(4) Le Dai Hanh: first Emperor of the Early Le dynasty, named Le Hoan, ruled from 980 to 1005.

(5) Do Thuan: name of bonze Phap Thuan, abbot of the Co Son pagoda.

(6) Sach river: to day belong Nam Sach district, Hai Duong province.

(7) In sino-vietnamese:

          Nga nga lưỡng nga nga

          Ngưỡng diện hướng thiên nha.

In chinese:

          鵝 鵝 两 鵝 鵝

          仰 面 向 天 涯。

(8) In sino-vietnamese:

          Bạch mao phô lục thủy

          Hồng trạo bãi thanh ba.

In chinese:

          白 毛 敷 綠 水 

          紅 棹 擺 青 波。