Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.

Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a nation that has a long-standing traditional culture. Aulacese music is very rich; since ancient times, there have been many musical instruments that move the soul with a wide variety of sounds like those of the copper drum, gong, lithophone, bamboo xylophone, cymbals and panpipe. In 2003, Elegant Music, a form of Huế royal music, was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an intangible cultural heritage of the world.

Âu Lạc’s music represents the unique features of each region, for example, Quan Họ folksongs in the North, Huế tunes in the Central, and cải lương (modern folk opera) in the South. In addition, there are many other forms of music, including hò (work songs), lý (village songs), ceremonial songs, Aulacese classical opera, chèo traditional opera, Hồ Quảng opera, and so on.

Indeed, music has been deeply instilled in the hearts of people in this beautiful country, and has been cultivated until this day. Northern Âu Lạc has a folk art called xẩm singing that is very popular in the northern plains and midland. This genre, in the old time, was performed by minstrel bands.

In a gathering with a small group of our Association members some years past, Supreme Master Ching Hai was inspired to spontaneously compose and sing in the xẩm style a poem she had written in her late 20s in Germany. The poem was originally written in English which the poet herself translated into Aulacese.

We now invite you to enjoy an excerpt of the xẩm singing “We Don't Live More Than One Hundred Years!” composed and sung by Supreme Master Ching Hai.

I mean tonight I was nuts! But so what: Aren’t the rest of us!... Otherwise how could we carry on living, For life isn’t worth a thing!?

You know that I am still in love with you! But that has nothing to do... I cannot please everybody, So I will please me! That doesn’t mean you are not right; We all have only one life!

On Enlightening Entertainment, Supreme Master Television is pleased to introduce different forms of arts from Âu Lạc (Vietnam), as well as from other countries in the world, in order to share the beauty and cultures of the peoples on our planet.

Chèo traditional opera is a folk theater art which originated from the regions near the mountains and from the plains of northern Âu Lạc. There are varied opinions about the beginning of chèo traditional opera: the earliest time is believed to be in 4th century BCE and the most recent is 14th century, at the end of the Trần dynasty. Chèo is a narrative genre of folk theater, recounting stories through a combination of music, singing and dance.

One of the unique features of chèo is a skillful portrayal of subtle gestures and movements. During festivals, people in the plains of northern Âu Lạc often look forward to watching chèo traditional opera. The lyrics are infused with folk poetry and proverbs; tragedies are usually counter-balanced with satires. Chèo is replete with the pure simplicity of the common folk, yet equally profound in meaning.

The Aulacese chèo traditional opera “Heavenly Affinity” is based on the legend of the smart and beautiful Princess Tiên Dung during the reign of King Hùng III and Chử Đồng Tử, a poor but very filial and compassionate young man. This is a famous Aulacese love story which conveys spiritual meanings, upholds altruism, and reveals the senselessness of placing import on transient outer forms.

Saint Chử Đồng Tử is also considered one of “The Four Immortals” in the Aulacese pantheon. To date, many places in the country still worship Saint Chử Đồng Tử and Princess Tiên Dung.

We now invite you to enjoy part 1 of the Aulacese chèo traditional opera titled “Heavenly Affinity” by playwright Nguyễn Thị Hồng Ngát. It will be presented in 3 episodes,

with performances by Mr. Mạnh Huấn as Saint Chử Đồng Tử, Ms. Vân Quyền as Princess Tiên Dung, Mr. Xuân Vượng as King Hùng, Mr. Trần Hải as Minister, Ms. Thanh Mạn as Miss Nguyễn, Mr. Thanh Tùng as Court Clown, Mr. Ngọc Kình as the Fairy, Mr. Tuấn Cường as Handsome Nobleman, Mr. Khắc Bình as the Minister’s Nephew, Mr. Đỗ Vinh as Old Nobleman, Mr. Vũ Ngọc as Young Nobleman, and other artists.

Thank you for watching today’s Enlightening Entertainment. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television. Coming up is Words of Wisdom. May your life be filled with happiness from noble love. Farewell for now, and we’ll see you next week.

Respectful greetings, Your Highness.

Be at ease! My father has the lamps lit and flowers decked everywhere for all to rejoice today when he chooses a son-in-law. That’s right. Soon I will find out everything. I’ll be able to behold all the great talent. Let the blossom reveal its fresh beauty and colors in the breeze. At the round-moon age, I’ve yearned one day to soar like a bird seeking her fairy companion. Alas, who would understand my heart?

Long live Your Majesty!

Be at ease. You all may leave!

Leave!

My daughter looks so beautiful today!

Oh, Father!

Tiên Dung, my child! You know that I have only you as a daughter. Today, you’ve just turned 18. I want to find a worthy place to entrust the gold. So, choose whom you are pleased with.

Father!

Don’t take lightly a hundred years’ commitment. Just one mistake and you’ll regret for life, understand?

Yes, I do, Father!

Tiên Dung, my child! (Yes.) Remember: You’re to marry but once. Only someone of rank and fashion is a match for a noble lady. I advise you to choose carefully.

Yes, Father. I’ll keep that in mind.

Where is the minister? (Yes.) Let the selection begin!

Yes, Your Majesty. The selecting process begins! Welcome, noblemen!

Welcome, noblemen!

Long live Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! This is my nephew. He’s very handsome and also a great dancer and singer.

Is this your nephew?

Yes.

Tiên Dung, child! (Yes.) What do you think of him?

He dresses up quite flamboyantly. I’m only afraid that he’s all empty and blank inside. So, what’s your talent, friend? Show us!

I have the talent of…

Of what?

Uncle!

My God! You’re good at dancing and singing, so dance!

All right, let me dance.

Yes, go ahead and dance!

Is that how you dance? Go in there and talk to the Princess! Say “I love you; I’m crazy about you; I adore you, O Princess.” Quickly!

O Princess! I’m crazy about you! I adore you! I wish to marry you, O Princess. If I could, I’ll carry you on my head.

I’m sorry. I heard that you’re from a family of rank and fashion. How could you talk so silly? Respected Father, a prince consort later will have to handle national affairs. Is such a person like him worthy, Father?

All right, go back!

You’re indeed a good- for-nothing chap who don’t have much to say. That’s enough. Quit it already! Even half a word can attest to a person’s wisdom. Get lost!

Leave! Welcome the next nobleman!

Next!

Your Majesty!

Elder, where are you going, for God’s sake? Have you come to the wrong place? (No!) No? How old are you though?

You asked about my age?

Awful!

I’m 20 this year.

You don’t look 20, do you?

I already said less 3 days, 9 months and 30 years , I’m exactly 20.

Your Majesty! He said that less 3 days, 9 months and 30 years, he is exactly 20.

That man! (Yes...) My daughter is at the prime of age, and you’re over 50. How dare you come here for the selection process? You may leave now!

Leave!

Your Majesty and Your Highness, I’m the son of a low-ranking mandarin. I’m not as rich as the other noblemen, sons and nephews of ministers. I have only a sensitive heart that throbs with emotions. O Princess, I’ve been secretly in love with you all this time.

Go ahead and tell me. I’m listening.

O eyes, sharp as an areca-cutting knife, causing cycles of longing and melancholy. The wave of love billows like the river tide. Know you not my feelings? I’ve dreamt to spend my life with you.

Thank you, nobleman. But my heart is still cold and empty, absent of any sign of blossoming romance. Respected Father, I feel very tired.

All right, you may leave.

Dismissed!

Tiên Dung, child! (Yes.) It seems like today isn’t a good day. Tomorrow I will resume the selection and see how it goes.

Please don’t waste your effort, Father. Love can’t be found around here within the four surrounding citadel walls, where people are insensitive like wood and stone. How I feel so confined here! Respected Father, I suddenly yearn for a journey.

My daughter is really contrary. Since childhood, you wouldn’t sit still.

O Father!

Do you wish to travel by horse or carriage today, so I can order the guards to prepare?

O Father, you’ve let me go up the mountain.

You’ve let me travel by horse carriage too many times.

Now, may I sail down the Nhị Hà River to sightsee?

All right... Guards! (Yes.) Immediately launch 5 dragon boats and send 200 royal maids to escort Princess Tiên Dung for sightseeing along the Nhị Hà River!

My gratefulness, Royal Father!

The ship sails down the river. Paddles strike the water. This ship sails down the river.

I spend my life by the river. The alluvial sandbank is my home through good and bad times. O I beseech Heaven for calm wind and serene waves. O Father, I, Chử Đồng Tử, pray to you, Chử Cù Vân. If you lived as a wise man and died as a sage’s spirit, please come back and bless your son to find plenty of food.

O Heaven and Earth, please lessen those rainy and windy days, for the river and its shore to calm. There isn’t a trace of people by the river, except I who dwell here from dawn to dusk. I work hard day after day to earn a living. The thatched hut barely fits half a room. I befriend the mountain wind through the four seasons. River water rises, flooding the white sandbank. Has the river heard my singing and opened its heart to embrace an orphan? Alas! Where from are those strange boats?

The rippling waves push the boat away from shore. That boat is drifting and bobbing. The azure sky calls on the sun to shine brightly. Through four seasons, my homeland is beautiful like a painting. Folk singing rises earnestly morning and evening. A flock of birds flies to the river’s end. Waves tumble along the boat sides. The sound of paddling, the echo of footsteps. The boat sails over the waves.

Young sisters! (Yes.) We’ve been on our journey for 2 days and 2 nights. The waves lap against the boat sides. It’s an amazingly beautiful day, don’t you think? The sky and clouds are crystal clear! The morning sunray freshens our countenance.

It’s truly so, Your Highness!

Look! The Nhị Hà’s two tributaries are infused with red alluvium. Why is it that a long stretch of white sandbank emerges at that section of the river? I’ve never seen such a thing in my life.

Your Highness, that’s why people call it the Natural Bank.

The Natural Bank? What an interesting name!

Legend has it that at this river’s bottom there is a castle of the Water Deity. He had a son, but his son liked to live on land, so he had the waves raise a sandbank there.

Look! See the white crane strolling on that sandbank?

Oh, how adorable!

Could that be him?

It’s very possible.

Perhaps today he saw you arriving here, so he came to have a glimpse of you.

Oh, I feel too warm all of a sudden! It’d be wonderful if I could bathe for a while.

Please come into the boat’s hold, Your Highness. We’ve already prepared the perfumed water.

No, I want to bathe in Nhị Hà River itself.

But I’m afraid the red color of Nhị Hà River will ruin your skin.

No, no. The cool and gentle water is from nature. I wish to bathe and swim to my heart’s content. Oh, I suddenly want to run barefoot on the sand.

Young sisters! (Yes.) Let’s anchor our boat by that sandbank! (Yes.)

The rippling waves push the boat away from shore. That boat is drifting and bobbing. The azure sky calls on the sun to shine brightly. Through four seasons, my homeland is beautiful like a painting. Folk singing rises earnestly morning and evening. A flock of birds flies to the river’s end.

Since my birth, I’ve never seen such strange looking boats coming ashore here, wafting fragrance. Could they be fairies descending on Earth? The most beautiful must be the Fairy Queen.

Oh, how shameful when I have not even a piece of cloth to cover my body! My God! Where should I go to hide from them now? Submerging myself in the water? But my head, where can I hide it? Ah, I know what to do. I’ll dig up the sand and bury myself in it. No one can find out. O golden sand, white sand! Help me cover this body.

There’s a five-color cloud above. Let’s put up the curtain to bathe here.

This place even has a grove; it’d be very cool to bathe here.

Let’s hang the strings.

The clouds will be our roof shielding the sun. Giving you a bath with the water of Nhị Hà River, giving you a bath for beautiful skin, the Princess is like a flower. Giving you a bath to make your long hair silken and graceful.

The clear, emerald water reflects the clouds. The wind sways the clouds; the waves vie anxiously to speak. O faraway beloved, where are you? Know you not that I await? My tresses flow long like the waves. My skin white and smooth like a cool stream. Like a cool stream, O beloved!

You all may leave.

I wish to offer you, O beloved!

Who are you? (I...)

Tell me, who are you?

Please forgive me, Fairy Queen. I’m Chử Đồng Tử; I was born and also live here.

No. I’m not the Fairy Queen. I’m Tiên Dung, King Hùng’s daughter.

King Hùng’s daughter? But why would King Hùng’s daughter bathe at this river bank?

Oh look! Why is it that the clouds shift about quickly? Elegant music resounds from somewhere. What an extraordinary sign! May I ask, why did you bury yourself in the sand?

You must have noticed. I’m too poor, having no clothes to wear. Seeing you coming, I had to bury myself to hide. I didn’t expect...

This is indeed very strange! Or is this an arrangement by Heaven and Earth for my fate? Oh my, such a handsome young man with a bright and pure face!

There is even a strip of five-color cloud above your head. Or... are you the son of the Water God?

No, no! I’m not the Water God’s son. I’m just the son of a person... My father and I had only one piece of loincloth that we took turns to use.

What were you saying? Father and son took turns to use one piece of loincloth? Alas! I’m surprised that under my father’s reign, there are still such destitute people. Please tell me where your father is now.

My father? My father passed away exactly one year ago. I didn’t want to bury my father bare, so I...

I understand.

My father suffered hardship alone all his life because of me. Then one stormy night, he returned to the womb of the Earth. O Father, I had to bury you with a tattered piece of loincloth. I remain in the world, enduring a poor and hard life. Since you were gone, the river bank is cold and desolate. Our worlds are separated; I’m here all alone. My heart is still weighed down from missing you. Though storm-lashed and wave-tossed, I’m still by your side.

You’re such a filial and kind son whose piety is unsurpassed. In this world, the wealthy are plenty, but how likely it is to find someone filial to his father like that. An alluvial sand bank by the river; autumn passes and winter comes, pitying a lone person. By the windy Nhị Hà River, sparkling morning dew reflects the image of a couple. We’d never expect to meet here. O vast river, witness our love, a heavenly affinity. My heart stirs with affection for someone.

My life has been used to rain and shine. I’ve made this riverbank my home for years, braving rain and storm. You’re a noble princess, passing by here for enjoyment. Your pitying my lonely fate, that I will always remember.

Did Heaven tie the love thread and Earth bring about our wondrous encounter? Why is it that I feel oddly excited all of a sudden? Could it be that I...

Since my birth, I’ve never heard such peculiar speech.

I wish to be your friend. Is that possible?

You want to befriend me, a dirt-poor young man?

When in love, we don’t care about financial status. Besides, in nature, haven’t we known each other like husband and wife already?

You are too daring! Aren’t you afraid of the wrath of your father, the King?

No! My father loves me very much. Besides, hasn’t he always wished to find a righteous son-in-law?

But anyhow you are a princess. You can’t be married to a poor and lowly person like me.

I’ll help you escape poverty.

With the King’s gold and silver? No! I’m not accustomed to living on someone else’s money. I’m used to sustaining myself by my own effort.

Hearing your words, I adore you even more. Your self-respect makes me admire you. I wish to be with you for a hundred years, but I’m only concerned about one thing. Do you love me?

Love you? Such a beautiful young lady who is also magnanimous, gentle and virtuous, even the trees and plants are charmed by you, let alone...

That means you love me too? Do you know that you’re the one I’ve always yearned for? I didn’t expect the Nhị Hà River to be the shore of love. The Natural Bank is our place of encounter.

I’ve waited for you times and again. Now we’ve met each other. Is it Heaven’s will that we become husband and wife? Lasting happiness isn’t easy to find. O beloved! O precious!

O Minister!

Your Excellency Minister!

Minister!

Goodness! What kind of person sleeps all day long! For crying out loud, he keeps dozing off during discussions of important affairs! Minister! The King calls you.

What... what’s the matter?

You’ve been sleeping all day.

When did I?

You even deny it?

I was just dreaming a little, not sleeping!

The King called you.

The King called me? Your Majesty, I am present.

Minister! (Yes.) I’ve read the prime minister’s report, and I’m very happy that the country is at peace. The land of Hùng dynasty must be more peaceful and prosperous each day. Only then shall I not feel ashamed with our ancestors and future generations.

How sensible! What I heard pleases my ears so much! The King’s thoughts are exactly like mine. But I never get to be king.

O Clown! (What?) Don’t daydream, son. Being a clown to amuse the King is already a great boon for your 70 generations. You even covet an official position?

Let me tell you this. When it comes to war, an official who loses ground will seek to be a clown. Look, being an official is easy, Being a clown is a little hard. Being a clown is hard, while being an official...

Enough, Clown! Are you going to let me discuss important matters?

I didn’t do anything.

Minister! (Yes.) Do you know what I’m most concerned about right now?

How would I know, Your Majesty? I’m dark like the night, thick like a rice cake, and dense like a brick; how would I possibly know?

All these tens of years, this is the first time I heard him utter something honest. He’s indeed dark like the night, thick like a rice cake and dense like a brick, yet he still covets a high-ranking position.

It seems that people everywhere are not well off.

Your Majesty, it isn’t so. I’ve just returned from an assignment. People are all well off, happy, and healthy. Songs are heard everywhere. Your Majesty, if people weren’t well-fed, they wouldn’t be singing.

Your Majesty, I heard differently though.

What did you hear, Clown?

I heard that in many places, people worry where their next meal comes from. Four generations worry and don’t know when they will stop worrying.

Is that so, Clown?

I’ve never told an untruth.

I really am to blame. Minister! (Yes.) So, do you have any way to help me?

Your Majesty,, I’ve racked my brain and still haven’t found a solution. Every night my two knees stay awake, yet no answer has turned up.

You are of no help to me. I probably have to depose you from office!

That’s right. Depose him!

Your Majesty, please don’t do that! If you depose me, how I am to live? A wife and children will be left uncared for. Your Majesty, I’m used to being an official. Now if I can’t work as an official, I don’t know any other job.

All right, I have to consider your merit of being with me through life and death in the past.

I’m very grateful to Your Majesty.

Alas! Everyday I must take care of court affairs. I’m so exhausted. My bones are as if falling apart. I’m getting old already. Old age comes, sparing no one. That time of charging into danger is over. Now my knees are tired, my steps slow. National responsibility weighs down on my shoulders.

Minister!

Yes, Your Majesty!

I think there isn’t a lack of talented men in this world, how come...

Your Majesty! I only summoned the children of wealthy families to the selection. I wouldn’t dare call on the commoners. But if you wish, please allow me.

Wait! You said you’re going to invite the commoners’ children? Impossible! My royal lineage can’t be mixed up like that. (Yes.)

Your Majesty! There is a handsome and intelligent nobleman who wishes to ask for Her Highness’ hand in marriage.