Exhibition of photographs and introduction of the book "Phan Huy Le's Posthumous Works: Understanding Vietnamese History"

Professor and People's Teacher Phan Huy Le – a great personality and a great career – has become a symbol of modern Vietnamese historiography. He is a shining example and a source of pride for his colleagues and generations of students, not only domestically but also internationally.
Professor Phan Huy Le was born on February 23, 1934, in Thach Chau commune, Thach Ha district (now Loc Ha), Ha Tinh province, into a family with a long tradition of scholarship and many renowned intellectuals such as Phan Huy Ich, Phan Huy Chu, Phan Huy Vinh, Cao Xuan Duc, Cao Xuan Tieu, etc. Inheriting exceptional qualities from his ancestors and striving for academic excellence, at the age of 18, he was selected to attend a preparatory university program in the liberated zone of Thanh Hoa. There, the intelligent and enthusiastic young Phan Huy Le, who aspired to become a natural scientist, was inspired by the legendary Professor Tran Van Giau and developed a passion for history. After graduating from Hanoi Pedagogical University, Professor Le began his journey in the field of history and teaching.
Professor Phan Huy Le, People's Teacher, is a towering figure in modern Vietnamese historiography, a renowned scientist and educator. He is one of the legendary "Four Pillars" of the School of Synthesis in particular, and of contemporary Vietnamese historiography in general, an outstanding successor to the pioneering generation of Vietnamese Revolutionary historiography.
As the President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association from 1988 to 2016 and Head of the Department of Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History, Faculty of History, University of Hanoi (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Professor made immense contributions to the development of education and the field of historiography in Vietnam over three decades. He also founded the Center for Vietnamese Studies and Cultural Exchange at the University of Hanoi (the predecessor of the current Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), and initiated the establishment of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, paving the way for new fields of study such as Oriental Studies, Japanese Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies in Vietnam.
Professor Phan Huy Le also led the historical community and the social sciences and humanities in fostering dialogue with Vietnamese researchers abroad, becoming one of the important bridges connecting Vietnamese history and social sciences with the world in the context of the country's international integration. His name has become a source of pride for his students and colleagues both domestically and internationally.
From 1958 until his passing, with his sharp and insightful thinking; his scientific and rigorous working methods; his resolute spirit, his passion for scientific research; and his prolific writing, Professor Phan Huy Le left behind more than 600 valuable works, many of which "transcend borders" and are "exemplary works in summarizing history."
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Professor Phan Huy Le's birth (February 23, 1934 - February 23, 2024), his children and grandchildren, working in the interdisciplinary history group, as if still being cared for and guided by their father/grandfather, have searched through his posthumous writings for summaries of scientific conferences and seminars; articles that opened up and oriented many new research directions; and discussions on thorny and "sensitive" historical issues and figures... to compile and assemble them into a book entitled "Phan Huy Le's Posthumous Writings: Understanding Vietnamese History".
It can be said that Professor Phan Huy Le's scientific summaries always reached the pinnacle and became a model of "equality and integrity," further highlighting the personality and historical achievements of the leading figure and representative of Vietnamese historiography, which is integrating and developing strongly in the last decades of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
Mr. Vu Trong Dai (General Director of Thoi Dai Science and Education Publishing Joint Stock Company) emotionally shared: “Being the publisher of the book “Phan Huy Le’s posthumous works: Understanding Vietnamese history” is a great honor for our company. With deep respect for the great teacher, we have carried out the work with the utmost urgency and care to ensure the work can be published on schedule.” Professor Vu Minh Giang, on behalf of the selection and compilation team, shared the ideas and wishes of the family and students to provide more objective and truthful information, thereby helping readers to better understand not only the glorious historical career of Professor Phan Huy Le, but also the new advancements in Vietnamese historiography. Compiling a comprehensive work summarizing the entire scientific legacy of Professor Phan Huy Le is an extremely difficult task, because in over 60 years of scientific work, the Professor left behind more than 600 research works on history in many different fields. From the age of 24, the Professor had works that transcended the borders of Vietnam, and even in his 80s, he maintained a prolific writing ability, leading many national-level projects. Through his works, Professor Phan Huy Le truly embodied the art of summarizing and elevating research findings. His discoveries marked a turning point in the understanding of Vietnamese history, introducing many concepts for the first time, especially in terms of perception, methodology, thinking, and unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity and objectivity of historical research. Professor Phan Huy Le was also the one who championed and persistently pursued novel and sensitive research topics that not everyone dared to tackle. Therefore, many historical figures and dynasties have been studied in a multifaceted, objective, and fair manner, achieving the prominent positions they hold today: the Mac Dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty, etc. A great teacher is one from whom anyone can learn something, even without direct instruction. And Professor Phan Huy Le was such a teacher. I am certain that leading researchers, both domestic and international, regardless of their field, as well as young researchers, students, and scholars, will learn something incredibly meaningful for their lives and careers from the historical personality of Phan Huy Le when reading his works or writing about him. "Regarding the research topic of historical figures, Professor Phan Huy Le also has many articles with exemplary, fair, and impartial assessments. This book only selects and introduces three representative articles on Tran Hung Dao, Phan Thanh Gian, and Cao Xuan Duc, military history, and wars of national defense. This number, within the overall structure of this edition, is reasonable and also sufficient evidence of Professor Phan Huy Le's outstanding success in this challenging field," commented Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc.
 

Also as part of the activities commemorating the 90th birthday of Professor of History and People's Teacher Phan Huy Le, the Museum of Anthropology under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities organized the collection and display of 126 images about the life, career, and contributions of Professor Phan Huy Le from his time as a university student to becoming a towering figure in Vietnamese historiography.
Part OneThe portrait of Professor Phan Huy Le, a People's Teacher, consists of 11 photographs that vividly portray a historical figure through different stages, from his time as a university student with many ambitions to becoming a towering figure in modern Vietnamese historiography.
Part twoThe training program includes eight photographs, like fragmented snapshots of different generations of students who received a holistic education from Professor Phan Huy Le.
Part threeThe collection of 56 photographs, showcasing scientific activities and international cooperation, partly depicts the process of a rigorous historian's "journey towards historical truth"; it also reflects the extensive collaboration, both domestically and internationally, of a socially influential historian with a desire to research, preserve, and promote the value of national cultural heritage. These photographs also record the fieldwork of the empirical historian Phan Huy Lê throughout the country.
Part fourProfessor Phan Huy Le, People's Teacher, with his teachers, friends, and colleagues, presents 43 photographs recounting touching and heartwarming stories between him and the academic community. Among them are renowned figures such as Dao Duy Anh and Tran Van Giau, and the legendary "Four Pillars of Historiography" Lam, Le, Tan, and Vuong, along with countless generations of students and colleagues both domestically and internationally.
FifthThe photo album, featuring eight pictures of Professor Phan Huy Le and his family, showcases the elegant and happy family life of Professor Phan Huy Le, his wife, educator Hoang Nhu Lan, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The exhibition of photographs, as well as the publication of the book "Phan Huy Le's Posthumous Works: Understanding Vietnamese History," is a heartfelt tribute from his family, students, and younger generations to the esteemed teacher, renowned scholar, and outstanding historian of modern Vietnamese historiography: Professor and People's Teacher Phan Huy Le.

Here are some photos from the event:                        
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(People's Representatives Newspaper)Book launch and photo exhibition showcasing the research work of Professor Phan Huy Le.