INFORMATION ON TO NU PAINTINGS Material: Lacquer carving - Size: 70 x 90 cm Adapted from Hang Trong folk paintings Belonging to the genre of Tu Binh paintings (including 4 paintings), depicting 4 Vietnamese girls in ancient costumes, with ponytails, wearing five-panel shirts and all standing with 4 different gestures: erhu, pipa, moon lute, and flute. Each person has a different beauty and facial expressions that express the soul of ancient Vietnamese girls. In folklore, there is a story of Bich Cau Ky Ngo related to To Nu painting. The story goes that during the reign of Le Thanh Tong, there was a scholar named Tran Tu Uyen. When he went to Cau Dong market, he was fascinated by To Nu painting and bought it, brought it home and hung it in his study. Then at every meal, he prepared two bowls, two pairs of chopsticks, invited To Nu to eat with him and occasionally talked, treating her like a real person. One day, Tu Uyen came home from school and saw that the meal was already prepared. The next day, he pretended to leave, but sneaked back to stand and watch in a certain place. Sure enough, he saw To Nu in the painting appear as a real person... Poet Ho Xuan Huong wrote a poem about To Nu's painting: How old are you, my dear? You are also beautiful, I am also beautiful. The couple is like a blank sheet of paper. For a thousand years, the youth will last forever. The mai mai does not dare to be romantic with the moon and wind. The willow tree is weak, its fate is fragile. Why not paint the other pleasures? Blame the skillful painter for being heartless.