Journey to Hoành Sơn Pass - Part 5: Cloud and Rain Exchange a Hundred-Year Life

The Hoành Sơn Pass, a historic mountain pass in Vietnam, is the setting for a dramatic and legendary tale of Tam Xuyên Tôn Thất Mỹ, a member of the royal family who met his end there in 1913. Known for his poetic nature and unconventional life, Tôn Thất Mỹ, born in 1860, reportedly died from "thượng mã phong" (a sudden death during or after sexual intercourse) following an intimate encounter with his young concubine, Mộng Liên, in a remote mountain hut. This event occurred on August 30, 1913, during his journey to visit relatives.

Tam Xuyên Tôn Thất Mỹ hailed from a distinguished royal lineage, being a descendant of Nguyễn Phúc Chu. His father, Tôn Thất Phan, was a significant figure who signed the Giáp Thân treaty in 1884. Despite his privileged background, Tôn Thất Mỹ chose a life less ordinary. His death on the Hoành Sơn Pass, a place historically used for inspecting troops and maintaining order, became a poignant symbol of his life's dramatic flair. A well-known couplet by Nguyễn Hữu Bài, a former minister, commemorates his fate: "Traveling north and south, poetry fills his bag with wind and moon; Ascending and descending passes, cloud and rain exchange a hundred-year life."

Beyond his dramatic demise, Tôn Thất Mỹ was a figure who inspired literary works, notably appearing in Nguyễn Tuân's "Đánh thơ" (Playing Poetry). He is depicted as a talented nobleman who embraced a wandering life, engaging in poetic duels and enjoying music with Mộng Liên as they traveled. His personality was a blend of artistic "rebellion" and the wisdom of a royal intellectual. Even after being stripped of his titles due to perceived official misconduct, he reportedly retreated to a simple life, unfazed by his fall from grace. His story continues to be remembered as a testament to a life lived on his own terms, intertwined with the mystique of the Hoành Sơn Pass.

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Ra Bắc vào Nam, trăng gió đề huề thơ một túi; Lên đèo xuống ải, mây mưa đánh đổi cuộc trăm năm