Vietnam (越南) is located south of China. Although it experienced approximately 1,000 years of Chinese rule, it maintained its desire for independence and developed its own state and culture.
The Jiaozhi Period under Chinese Rule
In 111 BCE, Emperor Wu of the Former Han conquered northern Vietnam (the Jiaozhi region), established commanderies, and placed it under his rule. From then until the fall of the Tang dynasty in the 10th century, northern Vietnam remained under the direct rule of Chinese dynasties for approximately 1,000 years.
- 111 BCE: Rule by the Former Han began (the three commanderies of Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinan were established)
- 39–43 CE: The Trung Sisters rose in an independence revolt against the Later Han → Although suppressed, they are still revered as national heroes
- Tang dynasty: The Annam Protectorate was established as the center of rule
In 939, Ngo Quyen defeated the Southern Han army at the Battle of the Bach Dang River, and Vietnam regained its independence.
・Ly dynasty (1009–1225): The first stable independent dynasty. Capital: Thang Long (present-day Hanoi). Protected Buddhism. Began civil-service examinations in 1075
・Tran dynasty (1225–1400): Repelled all three Mongol invasions (1258, 1285, and 1288). The national hero Tran Hung Dao (Tran Quoc Tuan) played an active role
・Expansion southward: Advanced south while conquering Champa (a kingdom of the Cham people) (“southward expansion” became an important theme in Vietnamese history)
Characteristics of Vietnamese Culture
Vietnam adopted Chinese culture (Chinese characters, Confucianism, Buddhism, and the legal system) while developing its own script, Chu Nom. It was also influenced by Champa (within the Indian cultural sphere) and the Khmer civilization of Cambodia, and developed a distinctive culture located at the crossroads of Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Practice
- Give the name of the person who restored Vietnam’s independence at the Battle of the Bach Dang River in 939.
- Give the name of the capital of the first stable dynasty after Vietnam’s independence (the Ly dynasty), including the city’s present-day name.
- What were the Vietnamese national heroines who led an independence revolt against the Later Han called?