| History of Vietnam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hồng Bàng dynasty (鴻龐), also known as the Lạc Dynasty, is the first dynasty that supposedly ruled in Vietnam (then known as Văn Lang) for over 2000 years, until the third century BC. Its founder is said to have been Hùng Vương. There are many legends surrounding it, but little verifiable historical information is known about this dynasty.
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Vietnam, a nation located along the eastern coast of mainland Southeast Asia, has had a long and turbulent history. 5000 years ago, northern Vietnam was a place with mountains, forests, and rivers. Most ancient peoples lived around the Hồng River and the Mã River.
According to the Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư, more than 1000 years after pre-historical inhabitants (post stone age), tribal populations grew and spread throughout Vietnam. Near the Hồng River, Cả River and Mã rivers, were 15 Vietnamese tribes. The 15 Vietnamese tribes were the primary tribes at this time. Their territory included the Hồng River to the foot of the Ba Mountain to the foot of the Tam Bao Mountain. An early tribal leader consolidated the other tribes to became leader of the 15 tribes. He declared himself "king" and took the title Hùng Vương, creating the first Vietnamese dynasty known as Hồng Bàng. He is considered a Vietnamese cultural hero who is credited with teaching his people how to cultivate rice. Hùng Vương was the first king in Vietnam (approx. 2897 BC) and the founding father of the country. King Hùng has named his Kingdom "Văn Lang" (that means Vietnam in the present), and set up the capital at Phong Châu (Việt Trì, Phu Tho Province) on the cross-point of three rivers where the Red River Delta begins from the foot of mountains.
Rule was passed to Hùng Vương's male heirs which formed the Hùng Dynasty. The Hùng Dynasty stopped after 18 lines of descent on the advent of the military leader An Dương Vương's conquest of Văn Lang. The Hồng Bàng Dynasty was ruled by 18 successive lines of descent (although only names of the first king of each line were recovered). Numerous wars were fought in the late period of the dynasty.
The Hùng Vương era was thriving along with the water-rice civilization in the Red River Delta, at the mid-Bronze Age.
The first Hùng Vương established the first state of Viet nation from 15 tribes of Lạc Việt in responding the needs of co-operation in constructing hydraulic systems, and in struggle against the enemies. This is a very primitive form of a State with the King Hùng on top, under him is a Court consisted of assistants - the Lạc Hầu. The country composes of 15 Bộ (region), each ruled by a Lạc Tướng, usually Lạc Tướng was a member of King Hùng's family. Bộ comprised the agricultural hamlets and villages based on a matriarchal clan relationship and headed by Bộ Chínhs (usually a male tribal elder).
The east border of the country was to the sea (Tonkin Gulf now), the west to Ba Thục (Sichuan), the north to Dongting Lake, and the south to Hu Tun Kingdom (Champa).
The economy was based mainly on water-rice cultivation, and in addition were handicrafts, hunting and gathering, husbandry and fishing. Especially, the skill of bronze casting was at high level. The famous relics are Đông Sơn Bronze Drums on which depicted house models, clothing, custom, habits, and cultural activities of Hùng era. The Hùng kings ruled Văn Lang in feudal fashion with the aid of the Lạc lords, who controlled the communal settlements around each irrigated area, organized construction and maintenance of the dikes, and regulated the supply of water. Besides cultivating rice, the people of Văn Lang grew other grains and beans and raised stock, mainly buffaloes, chickens, and pigs. Potterymaking and bamboo-working were highly developed crafts, as were basketry, leather-working, and the weaving of hemp, jute, and silk. Both transport and communication were provided by dugout canoes, which plied the network of rivers and canals.
By about 2000 B.C., the development of wet-rice cultivation and bronze casting in the Mã River and Hồng River plains led to the development of the Đông Sơn culture, notable for its elaborate bronze drums. The bronze weapons, tools, and drums of Đông Sơnian sites show a Southeast Asian influence that indicates an indigenous origin for the bronze-casting technology. Many small, ancient copper mine sites have been found in northern Vietnam. Some of the similarities between the Đông Sơnian sites and other Southeast Asian sites include the presence of boat-shaped coffins and burial jars, stilt dwellings, and evidence of the customs of betel-nut-chewing and teeth-blackening.
The last Hùng Vương was overthrown in 258 B.C. by Thục Phán (An Dương Vương), the ruler of the Âu Việt. An Dương Vương conquered Văn Lang (Lạc Việt) and united the Lạc Việt and Âu Việt tribes to form the kingdom of Âu Lạc, building his capital and citadel at Cổ Loa, thirty-five kilometers north of present-day Hanoi.
There were 18 consecutive Hùng reigns handed down from generation to generation, 18 titles of the first king of which are known:
| Line of descent | Title | Real name | Year of birth | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chi Càn | Kinh Dương Vương | Lộc Tục | 2919 BC | 2879-2794 BC |
| Chi Khảm | Hùng Hiền Vương | Sùng Lãm | 2825 BC | Several kings ruled from 2793-2525 BC, all took the title Hùng Hiền Vương |
| Chi Cấn | Hùng Quốc Vương | Hùng Lân | Several kings ruled from 2524-2253 BC, all took the title Hùng Quốc Vương | |
| Chi Chấn | Hùng Hoa Vương | Hùng Bửu Lang | Several kings ruled from 2254-1912 BC, all took the title Hùng Hoa Vương | |
| Chi Tốn | Hùng Huy Vương | Bảo Lang | 2030 BC | Several kings ruled from 1971-1771 BC, all took the title Hùng Huy Vương |
| Chi Ly | Hùng Hồn Vương | Long Tiên Lang | 1740 BC | 2 kings ruled from 1771-1690 BC, all took the title Hùng Hồn Vương |
| Chi Khôn | Hùng Chiêu Vương | Quốc Lang | 1702 BC | 5 kings ruled from 1690-1490 BC, all took the title Hùng Chiêu Vương |
| Chi Đoài | Hùng Vĩ Vương | Thừa Vân Lang | 1466 BC | 5 kings ruled from 1435-1335 BC, all took the title Hùng Vĩ Vương |
| Chi Giáp | Hùng Định Vương | Chân Nhân Lang | 1381 BC | 3 kings ruled from 1336-1256 BC, all took the title Hùng Định Vương |
| Chi Ất | Hùng Uy Vương | Hoàng Long Lang | 1294 BC | 3 kings ruled from 1257-1167 BC, all took the title Hùng Uy Vương |
| Chi Bính | Hùng Trinh Vương | Hưng Đức Lang | 1218 BC | 4 kings ruled from 1168-1061 BC, all took the title Hùng Trinh Vương |
| Chi Đinh | Hùng Vũ Vương | Đức Hiền Lang | 1114 BC | 3 kings ruled from 1062-966 BC, all took the title Hùng Vũ Vương |
| Chi Mậu | Hùng Việt Vương | Tuấn Lang | 990 BC | 5 kings ruled from 967-862 BC, all took the title Hùng Việt Vương |
| Chi Kỷ | Hùng Anh Vương | Viên Lang | 905 BC | 4 kings ruled from 863-779 BC, all took the title Hùng Anh Vương |
| Chi Canh | Hùng Triệu Vương | Chiêu Lang | 745 BC | 3 kings ruled from 780-686 BC, all took the title Hùng Triệu Vương |
| Chi Tân | Hùng Tạo Vương | Đúc Quân Lang | 740 BC | 3 kings ruled from 687-595 BC, all took the title Hùng Tạo Vương |
| Chi Nhâm | Hùng Nghi Vương | Bảo Quang Lang | 605 BC | 4 kings ruled from 596-336 BC, all took the title Hùng Nghi Vương |
| Chi Quý | Hùng Duệ Vương | Huệ Lang | 350 BC | 3 kings ruled from 337-258 BC, all took the title Hùng Duệ Vương |
| Preceded by TBD |
Dynasty of Vietnam 2897 BC-258 BC |
Succeeded by Thục Dynasty |