Manh Mau moved houses three times in order to keep his child away from a bad environment. It wasn’t until they moved next to a school in a residential area with good customs that the two of them were able to settle down and live there. This is also the legend of “Manh Mau’s Three House Moves” that has been passed down through the ages. The noteworthy thing here is his mother’s “Teaching by Example” spirit.
Manh Mau and Manh Tu (illustration)
According to the book “Han Thi Ngoai Truyen,” since Manh Mau was pregnant with Manh Tu, she taught her child through “body teaching” (using her body as an example). She said, “When I was pregnant with you, I didn’t sit in any incorrect postures, didn’t eat cut or uncooked food. This is called prenatal education.”
Manh Mau’s daily life is a set of ethical rules. These rules are “Integrity” (standing up straight, speaking truthfully, eating properly).
It is said that when Manh Mau was still living near the market, there was a time when Manh Tu saw the neighbors slaughtering a pig. Manh Tu asked his mother, “Why are the neighbors slaughtering a pig?” Because Manh Mau was busy at the time, she casually answered Manh Tu, “To feed you.” Manh Tu really believed his mother’s words, so he eagerly awaited for the meat to be ready. Manh Mau didn’t want to break her promise to her child, so she had to reluctantly spend her savings to buy meat for her child to eat. Manh Mau did this to teach Manh Tu to become a person of integrity, upholding their word.
There is another story where one day, Manh Mau was sitting weaving fabric. At that time, the weaving was about to finish and become a beautiful piece of brocade when Manh Tu came back from school, complaining and saying he didn’t want to study anymore. Manh Mau immediately took scissors and cut the fabric into two pieces to make Manh Tu aware of the importance of perseverance and not giving up halfway.
In Manh Mau’s time, people were ready to give up their own ideals to care for their parents. And yet, Manh Mau nurtured her child by saying, “When it comes to women, they should not act independently but should embody the virtues of triple obedience and four virtues, being obedient to their fathers when young, obedient to their husbands when married, and obedient to their children when their husbands pass away. This is the propriety. Now that you are grown up and I am old, you should follow your own path, and I will follow mine.” These words from Manh Mau helped Manh Tu overcome his inner struggles and set out on a journey to explore the country.
