Home / Text

Research on the National History Text - 2


In 2002, Bachelor Nguyen To Lan, in his internship thesis at the Institute of Han Nom Studies, also studied the Lower Volume of QSDB in depth . Unlike Professor Tran Kinh Hoa, from the specific statistics of events similar to the ĐNTL, Nguyen To Lan made some quite convincing comments. However, due to the limited framework of the internship thesis, Bachelor Nguyen To Lan did not have the opportunity to study the entire work in depth, nor did she have the opportunity to introduce in detail the life and creative career of Phan Thuc Truc, including Tran Le Ngoai Truyen - a work considered related to QSDB , so she made somewhat subjective comments about this work .

In 2009, Dr. Nguyen Thi Oanh, in her article introducing QSDB for the translated work QSDB - an Institute-level project, accepted on July 15, 2009 at the Institute of Han Nom Studies, analyzed in depth some of the contents of QSDB . From comparing some of the "Tham bo" and "Ngoai truyen" sections in QSDB with the main text of this work, the author of the article made a conclusion based on relatively valid grounds that Tran Le Ngoai truyen is not related to QSDB . At the same time, through in-depth analysis and evaluation of the content of QSDB , the author of the article also emphasized some of the values ​​that the work brings. These are useful suggestions for the author of the thesis in realizing the goals set out in the thesis. However, due to the limitations of the introduction to QSDB , the author of the article has not had the opportunity to introduce in detail the author Phan Thuc Truc and his works. The author of this article has given a general introduction to the work Tran Le Ngoai Truyen , but the detailed content of the work has not been clarified. The comparison of the handwritten copy of QSDB, coded A.1045/1-2 (VHN) with the book QSDB published in Hong Kong has not been carried out. The comparison of QSDB with DNTL has only stopped at a few events, there are no detailed statistics of events that do not appear in DNTL , or events that are imported and exported between the two works...


In short, previous researchers have achieved many successes in the study of QSDB . We would like to inherit these achievements and continue to develop issues that researchers have not had the opportunity to implement, within the limits set forth in this thesis.

Maybe you are interested!

3. Research object and scope


Research on the National History Text - 2

3.1. Subjects :


- National History Di Bien , Chinese version, code A.1045/1-2 (VHN) (Chinese version and translation of National History Di Bien by the Department of Historical - Geographical Text Research, edited by Dr. Nguyen Thi Oanh).

- Tran Le Ngoai Truyen , Chinese version, code A.1069 (VHN).


- National History , Chinese version published by the Institute of New Asian Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1965. This version was provided by Associate Professor Onishi Kazuhiko (Japan).

3.2. Research scope:


The scope of the study is the QSDB work and some related works such as Tran Le Ngoai Truyen , aiming to clarify some textual issues and the value of the work. In addition, to clarify the life and creative career of Phan Thuc Truc, the author of the thesis will introduce the remaining poetic works of Phan Thuc Truc such as Cam Dinh Van Tap, Cam Dinh Thi Tap and Cam Dinh Thi Van Toan Tap currently kept at the Institute of Han Nom Studies. Due to the lack of conditions to collect Phan Thuc Truc's works in other libraries, we would like to note here the shortcomings in terms of documents. We will supplement these documents (if any) in a more comprehensive research project on Phan Thuc Truc.


4. Research methods


- Textual method: Collect documents, compare to study documents, compare and classify, find taboo words, learn some regulations when copying documents...

- Quantitative statistical method: Statistics, distinguish the import and export of events between the QSDB and Tran Le Ngoai Truyen , between QSDB and DNTL.

- Historical methodology: Study and distinguish historical events and historical impacts in the process of text formation.

- Interdisciplinary research method: Applying research methods of literature, history, and language to deeply examine and analyze the work.

5. Contributions of the thesis


- Clarifying the life and creative career of Phan Thuc Truc.


- Clarifying the issue of the QSDB text through comparison with Tran Le Ngoai Truyen - a work that previous researchers have identified as related to QSDB and its author is Phan Thuc Truc.

- Clarify the inevitable errors of the QSDB printed in Hong Kong.

- Clarifying the date of birth of the National History .


- Highlight the historical, literary and linguistic values ​​of the work

National history

6. Thesis Structure Introduction


1. Reasons for choosing the topic


2. Problem history


3. Research object and scope


4. Research methods


5. Contributions of the Thesis


Content section


Chapter 1: Phan Thuc Truc - life and writing career


1. Some features of the historical context of the early Nguyen Dynasty


2. A few lines about Phan Thuc Truc's biography


3. Creative career


Chapter 2: Some textual issues of the National History Di Bien


1. About the QSDB manuscript at the Han Nom Institute and the QSDB printed in Hong Kong.


2. About the time of birth of QSDB


3. Regarding the content of the sections "Supplementary", "Appendix", "Extra Story" in

QSDB


4. About Tran Le side story


Chapter 3: The Value of National History


1. Intention and viewpoint of compiling QSDB


2. Historical value


3. Literary and linguistic values


4. Some limitations


Conclusion


CONTENT SECTION

CHAPTER I


PHAN THUC TRUC - LIFE AND CREATIVE CAREER

In this chapter, we would like to give an overview of the historical context of the early Nguyen Dynasty (from 1802-1841) - the period associated with the work QSDB and the author Phan Thuc Truc [1808-1852]. Next, we would like to introduce the life and creative career of Phan Thuc Truc, in order to clarify his personality and talent in the fields of poetry composition and historical book compilation.

1. Some features of the historical context of the early Nguyen Dynasty


In 1802, after defeating the Tay Son dynasty and taking control of the entire territory of Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai, Nguyen Anh named himself Gia Long and established the Nguyen dynasty. The Nguyen kings from Gia Long (1802-1819), Minh Mang (1820-1840) to Thieu Tri (1841-1847), Tu Duc (1848-1883) successively built and consolidated their rule, protecting the feudal regime in a context of crisis and decline. However, during more than half a century of existence under the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnamese society almost failed to develop in the progressive direction of the times, fierce social conflicts led to a series of major uprisings of the people, of ethnic minorities and eventually became the target of invasion by Western colonialism.

Established and ruled in the 19th century, the Nguyen Dynasty inherited the great achievements of the Tay Son peasant movement in the cause of national unification, dominating a territory stretching from Nam Quan Pass to Cape.


Ca Mau. To demonstrate his position, in 1803, Gia Long sent an embassy headed by Le Quang Dinh to the Qing Dynasty to request a national name and in early 1804 officially announced the name as Vietnam. In 1838, Minh Mang, indignant, reaffirmed the national name as Dai Nam, with the capital in Phu Xuan. The Nguyen Dynasty was born and existed not only in a special context of the country but also in a world situation with many major changes. The victory of capitalism in Western Europe led to the development of colonialism and international trade. A series of Asian countries fell under colonial rule, and Vietnam could not avoid that threat.

Regarding the organization of the government, Nguyen Anh had already appointed officials and granted generals to his assistants. After taking over the entire North, Nguyen Anh proclaimed himself king, reviewed the old system of administrative units, and appointed officials to manage them. At that time, Gia Long kept the old organization, in Dang Ngoai there were still towns, prefectures, districts, and communes, in Dang Trong there were towns, palaces, districts, and communes. Regarding the central government, Gia Long and Minh Mang kept the old system of agencies of previous dynasties, the king held all power in an autocratic manner, below were the 6 ministries. To further enhance the authority of the king, Gia Long established the rule of "four nos" (but not recorded in writing), that is, not appointing prime ministers, not establishing queens, not choosing top candidates in examinations, and not granting the title of king to people outside the king's family. The Nguyen Dynasty's mandarin apparatus was neither cumbersome nor large, but that did not reduce corruption. In 1807, Senho commented: "The people were extremely hungry and miserable, the king and his mandarins exploited them terribly. Justice was a commodity, the rich could openly kill the poor and were confident that with the power of money, justice would be in their hands." Due to the awareness of the contradiction between the state and the people, the kings Gia Long and Minh Mang severely punished a series of high-ranking mandarins, including at least 11 corrupt Tran Thu and Hiep Tran who were dismissed or executed. However, corruption was widespread.


still could not be stopped. The injustice of the superiors created conditions for the tyrants to run rampant... In 1855, Tu Duc still admitted: "The village chiefs, every family was rich, had servants or one hundred people, or sixty or seventy people, recruited thugs, secretly stored weapons, people in a commune, a village, if they raised their lips and raised their chins, they had to follow...". In the first years of the dynasty, the most reprehensible action of the Nguyen Dynasty was the revenge against Tay Son, in 1802 before executing Nguyen Quang Toan, Gia Long had to force him to watch soldiers dig up the graves of Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and his wife, take the remains, pound them, put them in a large pot, then urinate on them... the skulls were put in a dark prison in the castle. Quang Toan's turn was torn apart by elephants, chopped into 5 pieces and displayed in 5 markets. Quan Toan's younger brothers were all trampled by elephants. Tran Quang Dieu was chopped into hundreds of pieces, his wife Bui Thi Xuan was also trampled by elephants along with her daughter. The soldiers divided their hearts and livers among themselves. In 1831, Minh Mang ordered the arrest of all 100 descendants of the Tay Son family, either executing them or forcing them into slaves.

Regarding the army, the conscription system was heavy, with almost every 3-4 men taken. To maintain the loyalty of the soldiers, the Nguyen Dynasty established a very generous land and salary system, in addition to a high land ration, however, the spirit and quality of the army gradually declined.

In terms of diplomacy, the Nguyen Dynasty's attitude towards the Qing Dynasty was blind submission. Meanwhile, the Nguyen Dynasty used military force to control Cambodia, established the Tran Tay citadel and forced Laos to submit. Relations with Siam were erratic, sometimes friendly and peaceful, sometimes conflicting. Towards Western countries, the spirit of closure and rejection was maintained until the outbreak of the French colonial invasion.


Regarding agriculture, the agricultural economy of the Nguyen Dynasty was quite diverse and rich but still could not surpass the traditional production methods. The Nguyen Dynasty government also paid attention to building dikes and dredging canals, but in general, the water control work did not have any positive results, the Nguyen Dynasty showed its helplessness. Meanwhile, natural disasters, crop failures, and continuous epidemics greatly affected the people's lives.

Regarding the social situation and people's lives, as in previous dynasties, under the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnamese society was divided into two large ruling and ruled classes. The ruling class included the king, mandarins, and scholars in the government system and the landlord class. The king and the royal family had now become a large class of people, with the most privileged being the king's close descendants. They had mansions, spacious fields, and were protected by a system of agencies, headed by the Ton Nhan Palace. Officials came from many different classes, but due to their positions, they became opponents of the people, harassing and exploiting the people. Of course, among them were also honest and upright people who cared about the people's lives and the stability of society. The landlord class had now become a large force, both powerful in the officialdom and powerful in the villages. The ruled class included all farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and some urban poor. The class of exiles, slaves and their families living on plantations also increased significantly. The vast majority of people's lives were extremely poor, they were the class of people who suffered all the disasters of nature, all the disadvantages and injustices of society. Those who had little land had heavy taxes, injustice and tyranny that made them extremely miserable, besides, natural disasters and crop failures occurred frequently, threatening the lives of the poor. After each major flood, the crops were damaged, people had to leave their villages to wander to find food. The Nguyen government tried every way to relieve hunger such as opening granaries to distribute rice, giving loans,

Comment


Agree Privacy Policy *