The revelation was made by Russian poet Vasili Popov, one of four translators working on the project, in an interview he recently gave to the Vietnamese Danviet newspaper.
The masterpiece comprises 3,254 verses written in Luc Bat (six-eight) meter that recount the trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman who sacrifices herself to save her family.
It is regarded by many prominent figures in the world of literature as the most significant piece of Vietnamese literature of all time.
The classic story has been translated into 31 languages, with 10 different versions in French alone.
Poet Nguyen Du has been recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural celebrity.
Following are key excerpts from the interview with poet Vasili Popov.
Reporter: How is the translation of the project to translate the Tale of Kieu going?
Poet Popov: We have completed the translation of 2,280 of the 3,245 verses. It has been a very demanding and challenging task as the work is the most famous poetic Vietnamese masterpieces.
It is comparable to works by epic poets Evgenhi Onhegin and Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Each verse was written in the old Vietnamese language— more than 200 years ago. Even proficient Vietnamese language translators have encountered difficulty comprehending the meaning of the lyrics.
The work on the project has been slow because we are attempting to capture the deeper meaning of the lyrics and touch the readers’ heart just as the original did hundreds of years. We are diligently working to have the translation published by this summer on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Nguyen Du’s birthday.
Reporter: Do you think that Russian, particularly young readers, will like the Tale of Kieu?
Poet Popov: I believe the great humanitarian message of the epic will be well received by readers throughout the world.
It has so far been translated into dozens of languages, such as French, German, English, Polish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. However, in the current era, wide recognition of any literary work by readers depends on many factors.
How the work is promoted, the use of social media and even the design for the work is extremely important.
We are trying to find a Vietnamese artist who can capture the subtleties and draw the attention of Russian readers.
Reporter: Does your current visit to Vietnam help your translation?
Poet Popov: I have dreamed of coming to Vietnam to visit the home of Nguyen Du and gain some insight into what life might have been like for him. Going to Ha Long Bay has been a remarkable experience for me. Each mountain seems to have been created by a painter the likes of Michelangelo.
I also went to Bac Ninh and listened to Quan Ho folk songs. I did not understand the meaning of songs but I enjoyed their melody, which conjured up images of what life for Thuy Kieu may have been like.
I have found the Vietnamese people to be very hospitable and friendly and feel they have a special comradely with Russian people.
The visit helped me better understand the meaning of Truyen Kieu and I hope to return back to Russia soon and complete the translation project.
Reporter: Why did you choose poetry as your career?
Poet Popov: For me, poetry is not a career, but a destiny. I was not born into a family of that had a strong poetic tradition. My father was a farmer and my mother was a worker. However, I developed an interest in poetry and began writing poems at a very young age. The inspiration to write just came to me naturally.
Reporter: You currently reside in Moscow. How important role does your homeland – Siberia – play in your poems?
Poet Popov: My homeland is imbued in my poetry. It is as my readers know well, the Baikal Lake, Angara River and the Taiga Forest. It’s the pathways through the fields that lead to wooden houses and history.
When I was younger from my apartment’s window I would experience the breath-taking view of boundless birch forests and it would remind me of my village in Iarkust and poetic verses would just come into my mind naturally.
