Zhao Tuo

Zhao Tuo 趙佗 Triệu Đà
King of Nanyue (Nam Việt)
A statue of Emperor Zhao Tuo (Triệu Vũ Đế) in Xuân Quan communal temple, Văn Giang District, Hưng Yên Province, Vietnam
King of Nanyue
Reign	203–137 BC
Successor	Zhao Mo (Triệu Mạt)
Born	ca. 240 BC
Died	137 BC (aged 103)
Burial	Guangzhou
Posthumous name Emperor Wu 武帝 Chinese: 開天體道聖武神哲皇帝 Vietnamese: Khai Thiên Thể Đạo Thánh Vũ Thần Triết Hoàng Đế
House	Triệu dynasty

Zhao Tuo (Chinese: 趙佗; pinyin: Zhào Tuó; Jyutping: Jiu⁶ Tō⁴, Vietnamese: Triệu Đà) was the founder of the kingdom of Nanyue. Zhao was a Chinese military commander who gained independence upon the collapse of the Qin dynasty. Nanyue included northern Vietnam and parts of southern China. His capital was in Panyu, modern Guangzhou, China.

In Vietnamese, Zhao Tuo is rendered as Triệu Đà, and the dynasty he founded is called the Triệu dynasty. In traditional Vietnamese history, he is considered an emperor of Vietnam. However, some modern Vietnamese historians regard him as a foreigner who invaded Vietnam in 207 BC.^[1]

Life

Early life

A statue of Zhao Tuo in Hebei, China

Zhao was born around 240 BC in Zhending, in the northern Chinese province of Hebei, then part of the state of Zhao. The state of Zhao was defeated and absorbed by the state of Qin in 222 BC, whereupon Zhao Tuo became a citizen of Qin. He later served in a Qin expeditionary force that moved to the south.

Conquest of Âu Lạc

In 207 BC, Zhao Tuo defeated King An Dương Vương of the kingdom of Âu Lạc (in northern Vietnam). In 206 BC, he incorporated Âu Lạc into the domain under his command.

Creation of Nanyue

Statue of Zhao Tuo, in front of Heyuan Railway Station

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, Zhao took control of a region comprising modern-day Guangzhou and Xingu. Zhao Tuo built up his power and took over the territory, partially through alliances with native Yue nobility and chieftains. The Qin Governor of Canton advised Zhao to found his own independent Kingdom, since the area was remote and there were many Chinese settlers there.^[2] He then declared himself the King of Nanyue ("Southern Yue") ("Nam Việt" in Vietnamese). His capital was at Panyu ("Phiên Ngung" in Vietnamese), modern-day Guangzhou.

For an extended period, Nanyue was at war with the state of Changsha to the north, the warlike Minyue state to the east; and the Southwestern Yi (西南夷) state to the west, which did not adopt Han ways. Within the Nanyue there were rebellions from the Tây Âu (Chinese: 西甌; pinyin: Xīōu) and Lạc Việt (Chinese: 駱越; pinyin: Luòyuè) tribes. The largest threat to Zhao came from the Han Dynasty, which claimed the territory; however at the time the Han Dynasty "was in no position to challenge"^[3] Zhao's rule.

From tensions to peace and stability

In 196 BC, Lu Jia gave Zhao Tuo a seal representing him the king of Nanyue in return for his nominal submission to Han.^[4] On this occasion, Zhao Tuo squatted and wore his hair in a bun in the Yue manner.^[4] Early in his reign, Emperor Gaozu of Han gave three commanderies (郡) to Prince of Changsha, Wu Rui (長沙王吳芮), and appointed Yao Wuyu, Marquis of Haiyang (海陽侯徭無餘) and Zhi, Prince of Nanhai (南海王織). Emperor Gaozu also put an army in Changsha state to watch over the Nanyue kingdom, which made Zhao Tuo worried about a sudden attack. Zhao Tuo took an opportunity to trade and import things in large amounts from the Central Plains. Zhao Tuo also gave tribute to central authority. After Gaozu died, Emperor Hui of Han ascended the throne, and continued his predecessor's treaty obligations to Nanyue.

Empress Lü raising tensions

After seven years of the reign of Emperor Hui, Empress Dowager Lü came to power. In 183 BCE, during the later days of her reign, the Empress suddenly declared trade restrictions upon the Han with other states. This included useful products such as iron tools and horses to Nanyue territory. Wu Rui, the King of Changsha and the only non-Liu king in Han territory, was treated well by the Empress. Gao Zu removed all non-Liu kings except Wu Rui since his state was not strong enough compared to Wu's, and the empress wanted to appoint Lü kings. The blockade had a great impact on the Nanyue economy, since Nanyue needed iron plow tools, and his people were unhappy about the blockade.

Zhao Tuo faulted the Prince of Changsha for the blockade, sending messengers to the capital of Chang'an to ask for a release from the blockade. But Prince of Changsha Wu Rui sent the messengers into prison in Chang'an. With the help of Wu Rui's advice, Empress Dowager Lü killed Zhao Tuo's relatives in the Central Plains and destroyed Zhao Tuo's ancestral tomb. Zhao Tuo realized that a political approach would no longer succeed.

In response, Zhao Tuo declared himself Martial Emperor of Nanyue (Chinese: 南越武帝; Jyutping: Nām⁴yūd⁶ Mou⁵-Dei³; Vietnamese: Nam Việt Vũ Đế) in 183 BC and is traditionally counted the first emperor of Vietnam. He sacked Wu Rui's Changsha country to the North, prompting a counterattack from the Empress of China. However, most of her army died from disease on their way to Nanyue. The military conflict did not stop until the Empress of China died. As the victor, Zhao Tuo extended his territory by conquering towns near the boundary with Han's domains. He also established relationships with Minyue, Xi'ou (西甌), and Lạc Việt. The war almost wiped out the trading relations between the Central Plains and Nanyue.

Back as vassal and death

In 179 BC, Emperor Wen of Han ascended the throne. The new Emperor abolished some cruel punishments made by the Qin Dynasty. Zhao Tuo communicated with the Emperor that if he removed the two generals from Changsha and restored his relatives in Zhending, he would make peace with Han. Emperor Wen responded positively, repairing the tombs of Zhao's ancestors, finding a surviving member of Zhao family and moving the Han's army out of Changsha. Afterwards, Zhao Tuo revoked his title of emperor. Nanyue became a vassal state of the Han again, although Zhao Tuo retained the autonomy of his Kingdom and was referred to as emperor throughout Nanyue until his death in 137 BC, aged 103.

Legacy

The District 9, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam has named a small street in Hiệp Phú Ward after him.^[5]

References

Bibliography

• Taylor, Keith Weller. (1983). The Birth of Vietnam (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of California Press. ISBN 0520074173. Retrieved 7 August 2013.

See also