Bà Triệu Riding an Elephant

Bà Triệu Riding an Elephant

For this piece, I have once again drawn inspiration from Đông Hồ folk paintings (an Intangible Cultural Heritage). By using folk artistry to re-imagine a historical Vietnamese figure, I aim to weave together the thread of our spiritual and cultural values.

"I only want to ride the strong wind, tread the fierce waves, slay the killer whales in the East Sea, drive out the Ngô army, reclaim our land, and break the yoke of slavery. I will never bow my head to become a concubine!"

When going to battle, Bà Triệu wore golden armor, put on ivory clogs, fastened a golden hairpin, and rode a rare one-tusked white elephant. She was revered as Nhụy Kiều Tướng Quân (The Lady General as Beautiful as a Flower Bud). Wherever her army went, the people rose in support, and the enemy trembled in fear.

In this painting, however, her posture is not one of combat. Instead, she appears serene and composed—a portrait of confidence and celebration after victory. There is fortitude and heroism in her stance, yet it remains graceful and natural. It does not focus on glory or hatred, but rather embodies rustic, everyday humanity.