Trieu dynasty

Triệu or Zhào
Country Nam Việt (南越; pinyin: Nányuè)
Titles
  • Governor of Nánhăi
  • King of Nam Việt (南越王; pinyin: Nányuè wáng)
  • Emperor of Nam Việt (帝南越; pinyin: dì Nányuè)
Founder Triệu Đà (趙佗; pinyin: Zhào Tuó)
Founding 207 BC
Dissolution 111 BC

The Trieu dynasty (Vietnamese: Nhà Triệu; 家越; pinyin: Zhào cháo) ruled the kingdom of Nam Việt ("South Yuè"), which consisted of parts of southern China as well as northern Vietnam. Its capital was Panyu, modern Guangzhou. Zhao Tuo or Trieu Da, the founder of the dynasty, was a military governor for the Qin Empire who asserted his independence in 207 BC when the Qin collapsed. The ruling elite included both ethnic Chinese and native Yue, with intermarriage and assimilation encouraged.[1] Zhao Tuo conquered the Vietnamese state of Au Lac. In Vietnamese historiography, this dynasty was a government of the Vietnamese nation and its end marks the beginning of the First Chinese Domination (111 BC–39 AD).

Contents

Historiography

The scholar Huang Zuo produced the first detailed published history of Nam Viet in the fifteenth century.[2] Chinese historians have generally denounced the Trieu as separatists from the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), but have also praised them as a civilizing force. A particularly strident denunciation was produced by poet Qu Dajun in 1696.[3] Qu used the authoritarian Qin Shi Huang as a model of how to uphold the purity of Chinese culture by dealing with barbarians in a strong and uncompromising manner.[3] A more positive view of Trieu multiculturalism was presented by Liang Tíngnan in Nányuè Wŭ Wáng Chuán (History of the Five Kings of Nanyue) in 1833.[2] The Cantonese traditionally reject or minimize their Yue ancestry with implausible stories that assert pure northern Chinese ancestry.[4]

Meanwhile, Vietnamese historians have struggled with the issue of whether to regard the Trieu heroically as founders of Vietnam, or to denounce them as foreign invaders. For centuries afterward, Trieu Da was a folk hero among the Viets, and was remembered for standing up to the Han Empire.[5] After Lý Bí drove the Chinese out of northern Vietnam, he proclaimed himself "emperor of Nam Viet" (Nam Việt đế) in 544, thus identifying his state as a revival of the Trieu, despite obvious differences in terms of location and ethnic makeup.[6] In the thirteenth century, Lê Văn Hưu wrote a history of Vietnam that used the Trieu as it's starting point, with Trieu Da receiving glowing praise as Vietnam's first emperor.[2] In the 18th century, Ngô Thì Sĩ reevaluated Trieu Da as a foreign invader.[2] Under the Nguyen dynasty, Trieu Da continued to receive high praise, although it was acknowledged that the original Nam Viet was not in fact a Vietnamese state.[2] The current Communist government portrays Trieu Da negatively as a foreign invader who vanquished Vietnam's heroic King An Duong.[2] Peter Bellwood suggested that, modern Vietnamese are descended from the ancient Yue of northern Vietnam and western Guangdong.[7]

Trieu Da or Zhao Tuo

History of Vietnam
Hồng Bàng dynasty prior to 257 BC
Thục dynasty 257–207 BC
Triệu dynasty 207–111 BC
First Chinese domination 111 BC–39 AD
Trưng sisters 40–43
Second Chinese domination 43–544
Early Lý dynasty 544–602
Third Chinese domination 602–905
Autonomy 905–938
Ngô dynasty 939–967
Đinh dynasty 968–980
Early Lê dynasty 980–1009
Lý dynasty 1009–1225
Trần dynasty 1225–1400
Hồ dynasty 1400–1407
Fourth Chinese domination 1407–1427
• Later Trần dynasty 1407–1413
Later Lê dynasty (Early Lê) 1428–1527
Mạc dynasty 1527–1592
Later Lê dynasty (Restored Lê) 1533–1788
• Trịnh Lords 1545–1787
• Nguyễn Lords 1558–1777
Tây Sơn dynasty 1778–1802
Nguyễn dynasty 1802–1945
• French imperialism 1887–1954
Partition 1954–1975
• Democratic Republic (North) 1945–1976
• State of Vietnam (South) 1949–1955
• Republic of Vietnam (South) 1955–1975
Socialist Republic from 1976
Related topics
Champa Dynasties 192–1832
List of Vietnamese monarchs
Economic history of Vietnam
Prehistoric cultures of Vietnam

Triệu Đà (r. 204-136 BC), the founder of the dynasty, was an ethnic Chinese born in the Kingdom of Zhao, now Hebei province. He became military governor of Nanhai (now Guangdong) upon the death of Governor Ren Xiao in 208 BC, just as the Qin Empire was collapsing. He asserted Nanhai's independence declared himself the king of Nam Việt in 204 BC, established in the area of Lingnan, the modern provinces of comprises Guangdong, Guangxi, south Hunan, south Jiangxi and other nearby areas.[8] He ruled Nam Việt and committed acts of defiance against Emperor Gaozu of Han and he severed all ties with China, killed many Chinese employees appointed by the central government and favored local customs.[8] Being a talented general and cunning diplomat, he sought a peaceful relationship with China, both with the Chinese Qin Empire and the succeeding Chinese Han Empire.

In 196 BC, Emperor Gaozu sent the scholar Lu Jia to the court of Triệu Đà.[9] On this occasion, Triệu Đà squatted and wore his hair in a bun, in the Yuè manner.[9] "You are a Chinese and your forefathers and kin lie buried in Zhending in the land of Zhao," Lu told the king.[10] "Yet now you turn against that nature which heaven has given you at birth, cast aside the dress of your native land and, with this tiny, far-off land of Yue, think to set yourself up as a rival to the Son of Heaven and an enemy state....It is proper under such circumstances that you should advance as far as the suburbs to greet me and bow to the north and refer to yourself as a 'subject'."[10] After Lu threatened a Han military attack on Nam Việt, Triệu Đà stood up and apologized.[10] Lu stayed at Panyu for several months and Triệu Đà delighted in his company.[11] "There is no one in all Yue worth talking to," said the king, "Now that you have come, everyday I hear something I have never heard before!"[11] Lǔ recognized Triệu Đà as "king of Yue."[11] An agreement was reached that allowed legal trade between the Han Empire and Nam Việt, as the people of Nam Việt were anxious to purchase iron vessels from China.[12] When Lǔ returned to Chang'an, Emperor Gaozu was much pleased by this result.[11]

Lü Zhi, the Han dowager empress, banned trade with Nam Việt in 185 BC.[12] "Emperor Gaozu set me up as a feudal lord and sent his envoy giving me permission to carry on trade," said Triệu Đà.[12] "But now Empress Lu...[is] treating me like one of the barbarians and breaking off our trade in iron vessels and goods."[12] Triệu Đà responded by declaring himself an emperor and by attacking some border towns.[12] His imperial status was recognized by the Minyue, Western Ou, and the Luolou.[13] The army sent against Nam Việt by Empress Lǚ was ravaged by a cholera epidemic.[9] When Triệu Đà was reconciled with the Han Empire in 180 BC, he sent a message to Emperor Wu of Han in which he described himself as, "Your aged subject Tuo, a barbarian chief".[13] Triệu Đà agreed to recognize the Han ruler as the only emperor.[13]

Peace meant that Nam Việt lost its imperial authority over the other Yue states. Its earlier empire had not been based on supremacy, but was instead a framework for a wartime military alliance opposed to the Hàn.[9] The army Triệu Đà had created to oppose the Hàn was now available to deploy against the Âu Lạc kingdom in northern Vietnam.[9] This kingdom was conquered in 179-180 BC.[9] Triệu Đà divided his kingdom into two regions: Cửu Chân and Giao Chỉ. Giao Chỉ now encompasses most of northern Vietnam. He allowed each region to have representatives to the central government, thus his administration was quite relaxed and had a feeling of being decentralized. However, he remained in control. By the time Triệu Đà died in 136 BC, he had ruled for more than 70 years and outlived his sons.

In modern Vietnam, Triệu Đà is best remembered as a character in the "Legend of the Magic Crossbow". According to this legend, Triệu Đà's son Trọng Thủy married Mỵ Châu, the daughter of King An Dương of Âu Lạc, and used her love to steal the secret of An Dương's magic crossbow.[14]

Trieu Van or Zhao Mo

Triệu Đà died in 136 BC and was succeeded by his grandson, who took the temple name Triệu Văn (Chinese: 趙眜; pinyin: Zhào Mò). Triệu Văn was the son of Trọng Thủy and Mỵ Châu, according the Legend of the Magic Crossbow. He was 71 years old at the time. In 135 BC, the Minyue attacked and Triệu Văn requested the assistance of the Han Empire.[15] Emperor Wu offered to "help" by sending his army, ostensibly to suppress the assist Nam Việt, but with an eye of seizing the country should an occasion arise. Crown Prince Triệu Anh Tề was sent to live and study in the Hàn court.[15] The king took this as a gesture of goodwill by the emperor, whom he viewed as a brother, to strengthen the relationship between Han and Nam Việt. Triệu Văn died in 124 BC. His mausoleum was found in Guangzhou in 1983.

Trieu Minh Vuong or Zhao Ming Di

Triệu Anh Te (r. 124-112 BC) was the crown prince when his father, Triệu Vǎn Vương, died. Triệu Anh Te's appointment to the position of Triệu Minh Vương (Emperor Zhao Ming) was a conciliatory measure to the Emperor in Chang'an as a sign of respect. This crowned prince, Triệu Anh Te, lived most of his life in China. In China he had fathered a son by a ethnic Chinese woman name Cu Thi; In one popular theory, she was Emperor Wu's own daughter. He named the son Triệu Hưng. Only when his father, Triệu Văn Vương, died did Triệu Anh Te receive permission to go home for his father's funeral. This happened in 124 BC. Triệu Anh Te ascended the throne as Triệu Minh Vương. Not much is known about Triệu Minh Vương's reign, probably because it is a short one and he was subservient to the Han emperor. His Chinese-born son, Triệu Hưng, was only about 6 years old when Trieu Minh Vương died. Owing to Triệu Hưng's extreme youth, his mother Cu Thi, became the Empress Dowager.

Trieu Minh Vương's death precipitated the events that would lead to the seizure and domination of Nam Việt by the Hán forces.

Trieu Ai Vuong or Zhao Ai Di

Triệu Hưng (r. 113-112 BC), just 6 years old, ascended the throne and adopted the temple name Triệu Ai Vương. Soon thereafter, Emperor Wu of Han summoned him and his mother, Cu Thi, to an audience to pay homage in the Hán court. The Hán held Cu Thi and Triệu Ai under the pretext that the young emperor needed their protection. By acquiescing to this gesture, both the empress dowager and the young emperor gave the public the impression that they were just puppets in the hands of the Hán court. With Triệu Ai in their hands and the empress dowager beheaded, the Chinese prepared their army for an invasion. In 112 BC, the emperor sent two of his commanders, Lộ Bác Đức and Dương Bộc, along with 5,000 of his best soldiers to invade Nam Việt.

Trieu Duong Vuong or Zhao Yang Di

Nam Việt's senior prime minister, Quan Thái-phó, Lữ Gia (Lü Jia) sent out the army to meet the Hán at the border to repel the invasion. The army was strong, but smaller in number. Meanwhile, inside the country, The word has spread that Triệu Dương Vương is in the hand of the Han emperor. The Việt feared that if they resist, their Emperor would be harm by the hands of the Han Emperor. The country is now in a state of chaos. When the Han kept sending more and more reinforcements for his army at the border, the Nam Việt's army was unable to hold their position. Lữ Gia saw that Nam Việt must have a new king in order to calm its people and to stir up Nam Việt patriotism to fight. Triệu Kiến Ðức, Triệu Minh Vương's eldest son from one of his concubines, took the burden of leading his people to war. Triệu Kiến Ðức took the title of Triệu Dương Vương (Emperor Zhao Yang) (r. 111 BC).

With its king being too young and inexperienced; leading an untrained, however brave army. Nam Việt was only able to keep their strong-hold for a while. Hán crushed the Nam Việt army along with Lữ Gia (Lü Jia) and his King (Trieu Duong Vuong), both resisted until the end. Nam Việt as the prefecture of Giao Chỉ (Jiaozhi) of the Han Empire, was divided into nine districts. China would dominate Nam Việt until the revolt of the Trưng Sisters.

List of kings

Temple Name Given Name Reign (BC)
Vietnamese Pinyin Chinese Vietnamese Pinyin Chinese
Triệu Vũ Vương Wǔ Wáng 武王 Triệu Đà Zhào Tuó 趙佗 203 – 137
Triệu Văn Vương Wén Wáng 文王 Triệu Mắt Zhào Mò 赵眜 137 – 122
Triệu Minh Vương Míng Wáng 明王 Triệu Anh Tề Zhào Yīngqí 趙嬰齊 122 – 115
Triệu Ai Vương Āi Wáng 哀王 Triệu Hưng Zhào Xīng 趙興 115 – 112
Triệu Thuật Dương Vương Shù Yáng Wáng 趙術陽王 Triệu Kiến Đức Zhào Jiàndé 趙建德 112 – 111

Sources

References

  1. ^ Snow, Donald B., Cantonese as written language: the growth of a written Chinese vernacular (2004), Hong Kong University Press, p. 70.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Yoshikai Masato, "Ancient Nam Viet in historical descriptions", Southeast Asia: a historical encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Volume 2, ABC-CLIO, 2004, p. 934.
  3. ^ a b Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, Wolfgang Schluchter, Björn Wittrock, Public spheres and collective identities, Transaction Publishers, 2001, p. 213.
  4. ^ Sow-Theng Leong, Tim Wright, George William Skinner, Sow-Theng Leong, Tim Wright (1997). Migration and ethnicity in Chinese history: Hakkas, Pengmin, and their neighbors. Stanford University Press. pp. 40-41. http://books.google.com/books?id=6qeC_0u3pLIC&dq=. 
  5. ^ Woods, L. Shelton (2002). Vietnam: a global studies handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 15. http://books.google.com/books?id=3mWv1Xgn9poC&dq=. 
  6. ^ Anderson, James (2007). The rebel den of Nùng Trí Cao: loyalty and identity along the Sino-Vietnamese frontier. NUS Press. p. 36. http://books.google.com/books?id=-E9NS39GaTkC&dq=. 
  7. ^ Peter Bellwood. Indo-Pacific prehistory: the Chiang Mai papers. Volume 2. Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association of of Australian National University. p. 96. 
  8. ^ a b Chapius, Oscar, A history of Vietnam: from Hong Bang to Tu Duc
  9. ^ a b c d e f Taylor, Keith Weller, The Birth of Vietnam, p. 24. University of California Press, 1991.
  10. ^ a b c Sima Qian, Burton Watson, Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty I, pp 224-225. ISBN 0231081650.
  11. ^ a b c d Sima Qian, p, 226.
  12. ^ a b c d e Wicks, Robert S., Money, markets, and trade in early Southeast Asia: the development of indigenous monetary systems to AD 1400, SEAP Publications, 1992. p. 27.
  13. ^ a b c Wicks, p. 28.
  14. ^ Sachs, Dana, Two cakes fit for a king: folktales from Vietnam, pp. 19-26. University of Hawaii Press, 2003.
  15. ^ a b Taylor, p. 27.

See also

Preceded by
Thục Dynasty		 Dynasty of Vietnam
207-111 BC		 Succeeded by
First Chinese domination