Book Introduction: Vietnam - Maritime Economic and Cultural Traditions

In their research on the sea, members of the NCTMCA Group always focus on fundamental values, traditions, and cultural foundations, as well as the communities living along the coast and on islands. In the minds of the Vietnamese people and many coastal communities in Vietnam, the sea and ocean are the living environment, the space for survival and development. Many myths, legends, philosophies of life, and even scientific knowledge and perceptions in the national cultural heritage have been formed in connection with the sea. Ancient populations in all three regions of Vietnam (North, Central, and South) demonstrated early capabilities in exploiting the sea, adapting to and integrating with the marine environment and life at sea. In the process of building the essential foundation for the emergence of early states, the economic, social, intellectual, and cultural heritage of coastal and island communities contributed to the formation of the nation's consciousness and thinking. In this sense, the life and philosophy of the Vietnamese people always contain elements of the sea.Water, deeply ingrained and blended with the river environment.WaterIt is a source of life, a cultural symbol, always reminding us of a distant past in the history of our nation's creation.WaterIt is also an expression of dynamic thinking, and it is this very process of syncretism that harmonizes into a sacred concept:CountryThat concept has becomeconstantThe culture and civilization of generations of Vietnamese people.

From within the very environment of the sea and rivers, the Vietnamese people have become accustomed to a way of life and thinking, and have built for themselves the knowledge and ability to control the rivers and conquer the seas... Legends about the founding of the nation such as Lac Long Quan - Au Co, Son Tinh - Thuy Tinh, Chu Dong Tu - Tien Dung or Mai An Tiem... all bear the imprint of culture and deep affection for the sea and the connection between...mainlandwithseaIn coastal and offshore areas, many communities have engaged in economic activities such as fishing, aquaculture, and the development of maritime trade and services. The sea and the aquatic environment also inspire creativity and the dissemination of art, while simultaneously contributing to the development of character, intellect, community cohesion, awareness of their living environment, survival space, and exclusive economic zone.

With that line of thought and approach, in Part 1 of the book, the authors focus on presenting "perceptions and interpretations" of cultural spaces, awareness of the sea, sovereignty and maritime security of communities and governmental entities within the social and cultural context of the region and the world. The process of settlement and concentration created a mixed environment and diverse cultural nuances of ancient cultures. The owners of ancient cultures such as Dong Son, Sa Huynh - Champa, Funan... were early learners of crafting and using rafts and various types of boats as means of transportation, exploiting marine resources, and communicating on rivers and seas. Continuing this tradition, in the 16th-18th centuries, the inhabitants of Dang Ngoai (Northern Vietnam) as well as Dang Trong (Southern Vietnam) were able to build many types of boats, and they used boats, along with their knowledge and experience, to venture out to exploit marine resources, control coastal island chains, and further afield to ocean archipelagos such as Hoang Sa and Truong Sa...

In their research, aiming for a more comprehensive and profound understanding of Vietnamese history and culture, the authors have not only clarified indigenous and endogenous factors but have also made significant efforts to delve into exogenous factors and external impacts on Vietnamese history, society, and culture. In this book, the approach from the sea (View from the seaThis continues to be the result of the research group's experimentation and experience. Furthermore, based on the core principles of historical science's thinking and research methodology, the interdisciplinary research perspective, combining history with archaeology, sociology, anthropology, etc., is also promoted in many monographs.

Looking back at Vietnamese history, we see that from the tradition of exploiting the sea and adapting to the marine environment to the promulgation and implementation of policies for managing islands and protecting exclusive economic zones... all demonstrate a tradition of rivers, seas, and maritime trade of the Vietnamese people. Throughout the dynasties from the Ly, Tran, early Le, to the Mac, later Le, and Nguyen periods... everywhere and at all times, the nation's journey has been closely linked to maritime economic and cultural activities. In the 17th and 18th centuries, along with the Trinh lords in the North, the Nguyen lords in the South implemented many dynamic and open policies to promote foreign economic activities. These positive and proactive policies enabled the Dai Viet nation to integrate with the general developments of the Asian trade era.Age of Asian Commerce.

Building upon previous research achievements (and the Group's strengths), the picture of maritime trade activities is presented quite deeply in Part 2 of the book. I believe that many of the issues presented have been, are, and will continue to be topics attracting the attention of researchers both domestically and internationally. Along with several overview studies, the book includes in-depth research on the activities of economic centers and port cities in the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of Vietnam. It is noteworthy that the research issues are always viewed within a systemic framework, and thanks to this systemic approach, the scale and nature of the trading ports, the roles of the dynasties, etc., are more comprehensively outlined and analyzed. In the book, the commercial and industrial activities of the Mac Dynasty, the Le Trung Hung Dynasty, and the Nguyen Dynasty are presented from a new perspective. With their open-door policies and strong commercial mindset, the monarchical dynasties prepared the fundamental conditions for the country's major integration into the universal market economy.Mass-market economy) of Asian peoples. The Mac Dynasty, like the Le-Trinh and Nguyen dynasties, implemented many new policies and management methods while continuously encouraging the development of the commercial and industrial economy.

In the journey southward of Vietnamese history, several articles in this book have conducted thorough research on the central region of Vietnam, with a system of trading ports stretching from Thanh Hoa - Nghe Tinh to Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai... Famous port cities in the central region such as Chiem Cang - Hoi An or Thi Nai - Nuoc Man, which originated from the Champa era, have been presented with new insights and placed within new perspectives. A meticulous study of economic centers like Nghe An - Tinh has helped us understand the historical depth and position of these port cities in the central region. Historically, particularly during the Ly-Tran dynasties, Nghe An - Tinh played the role of an economic gateway and center.goods circulationimportant national issues of Dai Viet. Besides that, issues such as the relationship between the sea and the land; the process of establishing and the characteristics of the East-West trade system, the intra-Asian trade network, and the role of the varioussourceThe system of traditional markets, such as Cam Lo, has been vividly presented with abundant and accurate scientific information. Through these treatises, we see that the foreign economic activities of the Dai Viet - Dai Nam nation were always closely linked to production activities and to domestic and international trade centers. On the other hand, foreign economic activities were always influenced by the policies and guidelines of the central government as well as local governments.

To clarify the contributions, vision, and maritime-oriented thinking of several dynasties and historical figures, Part 3 of this book focuses on presenting the policies and strategies of the Le-Trinh government in the North and the Nguyen lords in the South, as well as the achievements of several figures in Vietnamese history in establishing and protecting maritime sovereignty, safeguarding marine resources, and fostering maritime trade. This is the initial selection by the research group from among many historical figures who deserve to be studied and honored. In the nation's development, they represent various social strata, from the talented general Tran Khanh Du, famous for his victory at Van Don in 1288 and his commercial thinking during the Tran dynasty, to Lord Nguyen Hoang, the founder of the South. Governor Lê Đình Kiên played a crucial role in the revitalization of Phố Hiến and ultimately embodied a personality and destiny similar to Nguyễn Ánh - Gia Long, the monarch who founded the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945). The Nguyễn dynasty is the one that has left the most lasting impact, the most diverse perspectives, and the most insightful reflections on the development of modern Vietnamese history.

These heroes and monarchs lived in different eras and dynasties, but all shared a strong maritime vision and mindset. In my opinion, this topic needs further in-depth and comprehensive research to better understand the maritime tradition, the process of exploration, and the struggle to establish sovereignty over the sea by the Vietnamese people. The case study of Le Quy Don in this book also helps us to better understand the personality, the perspective on the sea, its position and resources, and the challenges it presents... of a typical Confucian scholar of the Le Trung Hung dynasty. Through constant dialogue with information and knowledge from both East and West, the renowned scholar Le Quy Don equipped himself with a profound knowledge of the sea.

Analyzing and evaluating several historical figures reveals the imprints, mindsets, responses, and decisions of these historical individuals. They all sought to overcome the constraints of time, habits, ways of thinking, and even the intellectual traditions of China... to reach a broader vision, to engage with regional and contemporary thinking. Reflecting on the actions and mindsets of the past, it can be argued that the desire to rise above limitations, break free from established patterns and institutions to assert one's own position, absorb global knowledge, and integrate with global developments has always been a timeless need and aspiration of the nation.

Finally, it must be said that the book:Vietnam - A tradition of maritime economy and culture.Edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim and Dr. Nguyen Manh Dung, this book represents an effort and acknowledges a new research achievement.Asian Trade Research GroupThis book contains essays that have been published in domestic and international specialized scientific journals, but also articles that are the results of new research, published for the first time. As someone who has been involved for many years in the management and professional activities of the Department of World History, Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, I would like to respectfully introduce to researchers and readers this research work, which demonstrates the spirit of collaboration and the efforts of the Group members in exploring and always striving for new research topics and content.Asian Trade Research.

                                      Hanoi, June 25, 2014

                                                                          Professor Vu Duong Ninh, People's Teacher