The Brave Souls of Viet Nam

It is no secret that many people in the West still do not have a clear understanding of Viet Nam. This is because when most of us think about Viet Nam we immediately think about the Vietnam War. The war in itself brings out more distortions of fact than truth. For instance there are racial stereotypes involved in discussions about the war. There also exist strong emotions which confound the historical facts. There is still deep remorse for the human loss through the fighting on both sides of the political spectrum. However, it is of interest to note that Viet Nam's proud history reaches far back into time... long before there was a "Vietnam War."

Throughout their embattled history, the people of Viet Nam enjoyed a culture which is part legend and rich in tradition. At many times they have displayed the highest level of determination possible. During other events and circumstances, their adaptability was equally remarkable. This is why it is crucial to understand this ancient history to know the importance of Viet Nam's great struggle to maintain its independence. To know the people of Viet Nam today, it is always helpful to understand the past.

According to some of the oldest and most traditional legends, Viet Nam came into existence when King Lac Long Quan (who was also known as the "Dragon Lord of the Seas") took Princess Au Co (a Chinese Immortal who descended from the High Mountains) as his bride. It is said that she bore him 100 eggs which gave him 100 sons. Afterward, they promptly established a mighty kingdom that extended from southern China to northern Indonesia. In this legend it is unmistakable that Viet Nam owes some of its mythology to China. In fact, according to the legend Princess Au Co was herself a "Chinese" person. In any case, the King and Princess for some reason became convinced that their different origins would make them unhappy together. Their solution was to separate from each other. Princess Au Co took 50 sons with her back into the mountains. King Lac Long Quan took the other 50 sons to rule with him over the lowlands. In 2879 BCE the legendary king died. It was at this time that his elder son, Hung Vuong, established what came to be known as the "Hung" dynasty. This beginning is regarded as the founding of the nation. As such, it is also the first official Vietnamese dynasty on record. It is part legend and part fact; the truth is difficult to tell in any precise way.

This legend has the greatest symbolic value to the people of Viet Nam. It symbolizes the importance that the people have placed upon uniting the two geographic and cultural regions of the country. One region is the mountains, which represents the northern section of the country. The other region is the lowlands, which represents the south. Only when these two regions are united together can there be a "true" Viet Nam nation. This theme has been acted out repeatedly in Viet Nam's history. It even extends to the spelling of the name of the country: Viet Nam. It was only after Viet Nam became a colony of France beginning in the late nineteenth century that its name was shortened to "Vietnam."

The Hung dynasty produced 18 kings. Each king ruled for 150 years. It was at this time the nation was named "Van Lang." However, this legendary dynasty was overthrown by a nearby ruler in 258 BCE. This ruler established the new kingdom of Au Lac. Then he built his capital at Phuc An whose remains still exist today in the village of Co Lou, which is located west of Hanoi. Fifty years later, a Chinese general named Trieu Da conquered the kingdom and then formed the new nation of Nam Viet. There are reputed scholars, in addition to many Vietnamese people, who consider this time period to be the official end of historical legend. It is also thought to be the point where authentic, modern Vietnamese history begins. The next one hundred years brought more conflict between King Trieu Da and the Han emperors of China. Finally, in 111 BCE Nam Viet was conquered and incorporated into the Chinese Empire.

It is here that Viet Nam's old history of resistance was born. This is when the people of this southeast, Asian nation began to seriously fight to remain free and independent of foreign control. For nineteen centuries the people of Viet Nam fought hard against the Chinese for their independence. The very first Vietnamese rebellion took place in 39 CE. It was led by the legendary Trung sisters. They succeeded in driving out the Chinese invaders. The nation lived free of Chinese control for the next three years, and then it was re-conquered. This next period of Chinese domination lasted until 539. It was then a Vietnamese scholar, Ly Bon, drove out the Chinese rulers once more. However, Viet Nam was re-invaded and subdued again a few years later.

The Vietnamese people continued to resist the rule of China. This was especially true after the Chinese renamed their country "An Nam." However, at this time the Chinese attempted to persuade the people to accept their rule in a more positive manner. The Chinese introduced many important and beneficial agricultural, technical, and educational innovations to An Nam. These efforts did, in fact, bring some benefits to the Vietnamese people. However, these new innovations did not prove to be sufficient enough to quash the desire of the people for freedom. In addition, the imposition of Chinese culture, customs, language, and political institutions all inspired resentment. Even worse, the cruel oppression and exploitation of the nation finally ignited the flames of resistance once more.

This fire of rebellion broke out in victory! The hope of independence was finally realized in 939 CE. The Tang dynasty of China had fallen into decline. The Chinese were struggling to maintain their control over much of Asia, and internal conflicts were causing real problems at home. The Vietnamese seized upon this opportunity to fight for their freedom. General Ngo Quyen succeeded in driving the Chinese out once again. He established the first of the "Great Dynasties" of Viet Nam. Viet Nam managed to remain mostly independent of all foreign domination for the next 944 years!

This is a very proud, ancient story of the origins of Viet Nam. It reflects the cultural and political facts of a people determined not to be ruled by others. The people of Viet Nam should feel honored by the costly, bitter battles and many sacrifices along the way to bring such events to pass. However, the culture and language of Viet Nam has indeed been influenced by foreign powers. The people of Viet Nam have adopted foreign customs, certain manners, and language elements for cultural reasons with little or resistance at all. Based upon the ancient history, China appears to be the single greatest contributor to the culture of Viet Nam. China is certainly not the only contributor. Its language, customs, ideas, and manners have often been absorbed by the Vietnamese. This has happened intentionally, but it has also occurred unintentionally. Despite the fervent desire to live free of others, Vietnamese people have frequently looked to China in practical matters of life.
This is certainly not difficult to do since both countries border each other. There are no doubt other intimate connections between the people of both countries. As this subject relates to Asian home decor, the Chinese style is often agreeable to the Vietnamese household. While each culture is distinct, there are more similarities than not!

Harlan Urwiler answering all your Asian collectibles questions. For more information, please feel free to visit my website at: http://www.myorientalgallery.com.

Article Source: Harlan_Urwiler

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