Nguyen Trung Ngan (1289 - 1370)

Nguyen Trung Ngan was a native of Tho Hoang commune, Thien Thi district (Currently Tho Bang commune of An Thi district). His childhood name was Cot and his pseudonym was Gioi Hien. He came from a common family, but he was famous as child prodigy. When he was 16 years old, he successfully won the second-rank title in the court feudal competition held in 1304 in the reign of Tran Anh Tong King.

He became a mandarin when he was 24 years old. After Tran Minh Tong came to the throne, he was sent to the Nguyen dynasty in China as the King’s envoy at the age of 26.

In 1321, he held the position of assistant to Court Counselor and then became Secretary in Anh Lang Chau (An old administrative unit). With his political talent, he was promoted to be Thiem Tri - a mandarin in charge of works in Thanh Tu palace. In 1326, he became An phu su (A mandarin in charge of pacification) of Thanh Hoa region. In 1329, when he was a member of King Tran Minh Tong’s retinue to attack Da Giang, he was ordered to write a book about this military march. In 1332, he worked in Vien Tham Hinh (Justice Department). In 1337, he was An phu su of Nghe An and in charge of national history writing. He established Tao Thuong barn to provide food for the hunger. In 1340, he came back to the capital to held the position of Dai Doan (A title of mandarin)

In the reign of King Du Tong in 1341, he, together with Truong Han Sieu, wrote the criminal law. In 1342, he was promoted to be a mandarin in charge of Khu Mat. In 1355, he became the governor of Lang Giang, and then Doctor in Kinh Duyen and Gia Than Duke.

During his nearly 60 years of life, Nguyen Trung Ngan held many positions. He was always incorruptible and dedicated to make contributions to the country and people. He was a talented politician and diplomat. He performed his duties excellently during his two times of going on diplomatic mission to China, having significant influence on the defense of national sovereignty and independence as well as the relations between Vietnam and China.

Nguyen Trung Ngan was also talented writer and poet.

His poem was the combination of the patriotism and the loyalty and the art was full of sound and rhythm. In the "Dynasties' history", as assessing his poems, Phan Huy Chu  wrote "Lines of his poetry illustrated a soul full of love, the mettle spirit and  broad minded characteristic which could be compared to these of Do Phu. Especially his four line poem was so wonderful that it could be compared to the excellent poems of Tang period".

84 poems in his works called "Gioi Hien" were copied in "Vietnamese poems" by Le Quy Don. At present, there only exists its copy (in 1775) named "Vung tap Gioi Hien thi cam toan trat" with 81 poems and 1 variant.

His works include:

• Gioi Hien’s poem collection
• Criminal law book
• Royal court great rituals
• Thanh chi Da Giang royal annals
• Ma nhai ky cong bi van (With variant coded AC83).