We woke up this morning in Taipei, Taiwan. This afternoon we landed in Hanoi, Vietnam. Now we’re in a black sedan cruising down a tree-lined boulevard on our way to our hotel. Looking around as we go, my overriding thought is, Vietnam is amazing. But how did Vietnam become Vietnam?
Most westerners are familiar with the recent history of Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. But how about before the 1960’s? That’s not so well-known. Let’s go back to where we left off with the Trưng sisters.
Some historians consider the first “Vietnam” to be an ancient kingdom called Nam Việt, located here in the Red River Valley. In 43 AD, China invaded Nam Việt with a massive army.
Han Dynasty China occupied the region for the next 1,000 years. “Nam Việt” disappeared. It became just another part of a Chinese province.
1,000 Years of Integration
In those days, Rome was expanding, spreading its empire as far as the British Isles. Cultures in Europe collided and intermingled. The same thing was happening in the Far East.
Buddhism traveled the Silk Road from India to China, then south into the Red River Valley. Taoism, the belief system based on yin and yang, oneness, and living in harmony with the universe, flowed south, too.
Chinese settlers brought confucianism, and it caught on, too. Confucianism is all about structure, organization, and social harmony in both government and personal life.
State and local governments were organized into merit-based hierarchical structures. Standardized civil service exams leveled the playing field. Education was mandatory. Personal life was male-dominated, structured around respect for elders and ancestors.
Native inhabitants of the Red River Valley had their own language – vietnamese. But just as latin became incorporated into french and spanish, chinese characters were incorporated into the vietnamese language.
They Have to Go
Han Chinese rule brought advancements in technology, agriculture, and education, but also harsh dominance. To the local population, the Chinese were uninvited guests who had overstayed their welcome. There were numerous revolts. None of them were successful until the year 938.
By the 10th century AD, Chinese power wasn’t what it used to be. One Vietnamese strongman, backed by the Chinese, declared himself ruler of the southern province in the Red River valley. An internal power struggle ensued.
The self-proclaimed ruler declared war on his own people, but he needed help. He asked the Chinese for a show of force to back him up. Things were quickly coming to a head.
Enter Ngô Quyền
A Vietnamese general named Ngô Quyền assumed leadership of pro-independence forces. He either knew or figured out that a Chinese attack would come by sea, landing troops at the mouth of the Bạch Đằng River.
The water level in this area changes dramatically with the tide. Ngô Quyền set a trap. His troops embedded sharpened iron-tipped stakes in the riverbed, low enough to be underwater at high tide.
The Chinese navy showed up as expected. Vietnamese troops engaged the enemy at high tide, then feigned retreat before low tide. Chinese ships took the bait, sailed in, then got skewered on stakes as the water level dropped. The rest was easy.
The Vietnamese proceeded to rout the remaining Chinese overlords, establishing Vietnamese sovereignty for the first time in 1,000 years. Ngô Quyền proclaimed himself king and established the Ngô Dynasty. The name of the new country would become Đại Việt.
Many, (probably most), historians consider Đại Việt to be “the first Vietnam,” and the Ngô Dynasty to be the first of many Vietnamese dynasties to come.
As for the name, “Vietnam,” (“Việt Nam” in vietnamese), that wouldn’t come along until the 19th century.
To be continued…
Note:
Amazing photo of a foggy mountain sunrise in Vietnam. Credit: istockphoto/Mumemories
