Conceptual Metaphor “Woman is Flower” in Nguyen Du’s Truyen Kieu

Conceptual metaphor is a cognitive mechanism that helps humans explore and understand the world. In Nguyen Du’s Truyen Kieu, the conceptual metaphor flower appears frequently and maps onto various target domains such as time, space, people, and society. The concept of flower in Truyện Kieu is not merely an aesthetic element but also a powerful artistic tool that allows Nguyen Du to express his humanistic ideals and creative genius. This article focuses on analyzing the conceptual metaphors “WOMAN IS FLOWER” to explore the author's cognitive characteristics and the cultural identity reflected through the concept of flower. Through a close reading of key passages, the study demonstrates how Nguyen Du skillfully employs floral imagery to depict the beauty, fragility, and transience of women’s lives, especially in the context of Confucian gender norms and social injustice. By grounding metaphor analysis within the framework of cognitive linguistics and Vietnamese cultural traditions, this paper reveals how the metaphor not only embodies emotional resonance but also critiques the constrained roles of women in feudal society. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Nguyen Du’s poetic language and affirm the enduring relevance of conceptual metaphor in literary and cultural studies.