An Oral Tradition: My Last Name
Take my hand, let me take you back and back in time, back two hundred and fifty years ago, the t ransition into the 18th century - Vietnam. This is a story of our origin pass down generation to generation; of our name and our home. Told first by my great-great-great grandfather whose name is lost in time, thrown into oblivion, not by choice but by mistake. Here, I'll tell it now to you : Once upon a time when Vietnam was still ruled by emperors and empresses, there was a rule. The government's 2nd highest position was the general of the army, and only one person ruled the general – the emperor. If the general attempts to murder the king to take the crown, he would be severely punished. All with his last name, family or not, would be obliterated, along with the next three generations with the same last name. My great-great-great grandfather was not a general but he served the government. He was no traitor, but the traitor and him share