DOAN LENH KHUONG (1726 - 1800)

Doan Lenh Khuong was born in Giai Pham village (later renamed as Hien Pham), Van Giang district, Kinh Bac (now Giai Pham commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province). She grew in a cultured land and an educated family. She had an intelligent and virtuous mother and a talented father. She was smart, studious and had the succession of her father. Her father is Doan Doan Luan, who passed the exam with the highest result, but only taught at home and was respected by people. His home was a school, which always had literary activities of him and his sister Doan Thi Diem and celebrities. When she was 9 years old, her father died, her aunt - Doan Thi Diem brought her to raise. At the age of 16, she was famous with her talent and beauty throughout the region.

The old story in the locality says: One day, an old man asked her to write a distich for him to earn a living. The distich was very interesting so her reputation was well-known. An imperial concubine in Bao Vuc village wanted to bring her into the palace as well, but she refused.

Despite of her talent, her love met difficulties. At the age of 31, she became Nguyen Xuan Huy's second wife and gave birth to a daughter. But the marriage was short, they lived together for less than seven years, Mr. Huy died. A few days ago, Huy's own son and her daughter died from illness.

Then she went to Thang Long to teach and lived in Ha Khau ward (now in Hoan Kiem district), pupils followed her a lot.

Her poetry is now largely lost, only the distich and the poem Nuoc Dang were handed down in the human. This poem she did when she was in school.

She died in 1800, at the age of 75.