Lý Thái Tổ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lý Thái Tổ | |
| Emperor of Viet Nam | |
| Full name | Lý Công Uẩn |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Lê Ngọa Triều |
| Successor | Lý Thái Tông |
| Dynasty | Lý Dynasty |
Lý Thái Tổ (Hán tự: 李太祖, born name Lý Công Uẩn 李公蘊) ruled Việt Nam 19 years from 1009 to 1028 under the Lý Dynasty of which he was the founder.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
He was born in Cổ Pháp village, Đình Bảng, Từ Sơn, Bac Ninh Province in 974. About his parent there are still some mysteries. It is known that his mother often called “Phạm Thị” meaning Ms Phạm.
He was born at Cổ Pháp pagoda which also has name Rặn pagoda or Dận pagoda. At the age of 3, his mother brought him back to the pagoda. Lý Khánh Văn, superior monk of the pagoda, adopted him and named him Lý Công Uẩn. He came in to the pagoda and became a monk under the roof of pagoda.
When growing up, under the protection and support of Lý Vạn Hạnh also known as Vạn Hạnh monk which was a respected monk in the holy Anterior Le Dynasty court, he came to the capital and gradually was promoted from a small official to a title called “Tả thân vệ Điện tiền Chỉ huy sứ” meaning the Left Guard-Commander of Anterior Citadel, which was a high rank in the army system. In 1009, Lê Ngoạ Triều , the last king of Anterior Le Dynasty died under the wrath of people because of the ferocity and cruelty brought on in that time. The power of Đào Cam Mộc, an official and Vạn Hạnh monk enthroned him without any debate, put the descendant of Anterior Le Dynasty aside.
After ascension to the throne, Lý Công Uẩn named his era “Thuận Thiên” meaning “follow the celestial thought”.
[edit] A religious king
[edit] Change the capital
Considering Hoa Lư was a tiny area with a craggy situation bounded by mountainous ranges which was suitable to choose in the turbulent era but not in the peace era to extend and flourish, Lý Thái Tổ moved capital from this site to a broad area situating in the fatly alluvial delta named Đại La, now Hà Nội. In 1010, he began taking the moving. During travelling from former capital to new land, he saw a Yellow Dragon ascending so he changed name of new land from Đại La to Thăng Long. He also set up Trường An citadel in former capital and Thiên Đức citadel in Cổ Pháp village in which he was born.
[edit] Religion
Originating from a Buddhistic monk, Lý Thái Tổ respected Buddhism as the national religion. As a result, he gave many supports to the class of buddhistic clergies. He also allocated a lot of money to build pagoda, cast the large bell. Many people, under the support of the emperor, left mundane joys, devoted themselves to religious works. Some officials such as Nguyễn Đạo Thanh and Phạm Hạc was sent to China to bring the sutra named Tam Tạng back.
[edit] Internal and external policies
During the reign of Lý Thái Tổ, the Song Dynasty had lost work to do than conflict with neighbouring nationals. So with some ingenious diplomacy with this great nation, Lý Thái Tổ sent envoys to Song and demanded its government to regconize Đại Việt as a vassal kingdom. Accepting to his request, emperor of Song Dynasty sent envoys back to confer a title on him originally as the Lord of Giao Chỉ, and later, The Lord of Pacifying South. Some tributary kingdom as Champa and Chenla annually send tribute adequately so external relation was in good fettle.
There were some small rebellions in Nghệ An or in highland-areas. Lý Thái Tổ himself led the army to oppress all these rebellions. During this dynasty, all princes were conferred a title “Vương” or Lord, a title given to the kin of emperor or occasionally given to some primary official or commander who had achieved many victories. These princes also themselves had to lead their individual armies to participate in battles. So they were very good at army-tactics and martial art.
He also paid attention to the internal works such as: changing the code of the Anterior Le Dynasty, rearranging the administrative system over the nation, re-divided his realm into 24 “lộ” meaning “way”, called Hoan Châu and Ái Châu camps. He imposed 6 ranks of taxe upon internal exchanges and businesses:
- Tax on inundated land, also include field, bond, fish preserve, and so on.
- Tax on land, include alluvial field and land to cultivate mulberry.
- Tax on mountainous good .
- Tax on salt.
- Tax on luxurious goods, such as horns of rhinoceros, ivoryies and incense.
- Tax on wood and fruit.
It was unfrequent that the princesses were allowed to participate in internal work by managing collection of these taxes.
[edit] Death
He died in 1028 at the age of 55 according to the account of the East which often include the time of fetus in the time of life. He was intered at “Thọ Lăng” meaning the Mausoleum of Longevity, Thiên Đức Palace. His name in temple was Thái Tổ meaning Superior Ancestor, his posthumous name was “Thần Vũ Hoàng Đế” meaning Emperor Deity of Martial Art.
[edit] Reference
- "Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư"
- [1]
| Preceded by Lê Ngoạ Triều |
King of the Lý Dynasty 1009-1028 |
Succeeded by Lý Thái Tông |
