The work "History and Culture of Vietnam – A Partial Approach" – A breakthrough in the theory and methodology of social science and humanities research.

This work has been recommended by the State Council for consideration for the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Science and Technology, 5th round, 2016. The Vietnam National University, Hanoi's online portal respectfully introduces to readers some information about this work.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATION FOR THE "FLOW" OF VIETNAMESE HISTORY

According to Professor Phan Huy Le, the most important aspect of historical research is the source of historical data. Based on the limitations in previous research and understanding of history, the author presents a view on the multi-linear, holistic, and comprehensive nature of Vietnamese history.

Previously, Vietnamese history was primarily presented according to the development of the Vietnamese people and their southward migration; wherever the Vietnamese went, history originated. Therefore, the history of the south-central region only began in the 16th century, and the history of the southern region only began in the 17th century.

Based on new research findings, the author establishes the view that Vietnamese history is the history of all communities and ethnic groups that have ever lived on the territory of present-day Vietnam. According to the author's perspective, alongside the mainstream of the cultural history of the majority Vietnamese people, it also includes the integrated streams of other ethnic groups.

With that overall perspective, the author outlines the ancient history of Vietnam, comprising the Dong Son culture center and the Van Lang - Au Lac state in the North, the Sa Huynh culture center with the Lam Ap - Champa state in the Central region, and the Oc Eo culture center with the Funan state in the South. Based on this outline, the book "History of Vietnam, Volume I" (Hanoi Education Publishing House, 2012) was officially included in the Vietnamese history curriculum of the Faculty of History (University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, with the author himself as the chief editor.

Furthermore, the work analyzed the transformations during what could be considered a "turning point" in Vietnamese history in the first half of the 10th century, beginning with Khuc Thua Du's declaration of independence in 905, the consolidation of power under Khuc Hao until Duong Dinh Nghe and the resistance against the Southern Han in 930-931; and Ngo Quyen's victory at Bach Dang in 938. This marked the end of the period of Northern domination and the beginning of the first period of independent feudalism in Vietnam.

The author also delves into the historical transformations from the late 14th to the late 15th centuries, from the late Tran Dynasty to the Ho Dynasty, through the resistance against the Ming Dynasty to the Lam Son Uprising and the early Le Dynasty, encompassing all aspects from economics and society to politics, ideology, and culture. The author argues that this period was not only a crisis of dynastic change but also a profound upheaval, linked to changes in the economic and social structure, ideology, and development model of the centralized monarchy in Vietnam.

In summarizing the history of the Tay Son movement, the author analyzed its contributions and limitations, as well as the reasons for its victories and defeats in the late 18th century.

Evaluating the significance of the work, Professor Vu Minh Giang, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council of Vietnam National University, affirmed that, for the first time in the history of Vietnamese cultural and historical research, a multi-linear, holistic, and comprehensive perspective is presented systematically in a general form as a principle, and explained along the course of Vietnamese history from ancient and medieval times, forming the theoretical foundation for a massive, monumental work that is interconnected in a coherent manner. This is a significant step forward in understanding the history and culture of the nation, which is understood as a layered but relatively linear process of development. This opens a new phase for the development of Vietnamese historiography with the implementation of the Research and Compilation Project of the History of Vietnam, edited by Professor Phan Huy Le.

“Although it is a work in the field of social sciences and humanities, it has a very high interdisciplinary nature in many studies, reflecting the presence and contributions of many other scientific fields, explored by scientists outside the field of social sciences and humanities. In particular, the content of the work has been used as scientific evidence to build the dossier submitted to UNESCO proposing the recognition of Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site,” emphasized Professor Vu Minh Giang.

SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF THANG LONG IMPERIAL CITADEL

In the field of Vietnamese Studies and Oriental Studies, the author has established the position and direction of development for these relatively new disciplines (the author was the first to establish the Department of Oriental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), as well as researching the cultural relationship between Vietnam and Southeast Asian, East Asian, and French and Western countries to identify Vietnamese cultural values ​​in the cultural exchange between the Vietnamese people and foreign cultures.

Professor Phan Huy Le next to an old map of Hanoi.

Regarding rural and urban issues, the author focuses on analyzing the research situation of villages in Vietnam in the 20th century; comparing the land distribution system in Vietnam with that of China; studying ancient land registers of Hanoi from the 19th century; and the history of some localities and ancient cities such as Ha Tinh, Hoi An, and Hanoi. Particularly noteworthy is the in-depth research on the history of Hanoi and the structure of the Thang Long citadel from the 11th to the 19th centuries. This is a decisive point, providing the scientific basis for determining the location of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel within the central area of ​​the Forbidden City from the Ly to the Le dynasties.

Professor Pham Hong Tung, Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, commented that the work has a high academic scope and value, with a profound influence on the scientific community researching Vietnam. The work's outstanding scientific value lies primarily in its high theoretical level, academic perspective, and the consistent approach the author has applied throughout his research. The author views the history of the Vietnamese nation as a whole, with the main subject being the community of Vietnamese ethnic groups. Therefore, it must be the history of all the communities that have ever lived on the territory of present-day Vietnam.

According to Professor Pham Hong Tung, the exceptional value of the work is primarily affirmed by numerous new scientific discoveries with profound and novel interpretations of Vietnamese history and culture through the author's in-depth research on ancient civilization centers and states in Vietnam, on historical and cultural processes, events, and figures; on typical ancient cities; on the life of rural inhabitants; and on the inter-regional, inter-district, and international connections of the Vietnamese nation. This has contributed to a more comprehensive, accurate, and profound understanding of Vietnamese national history. At the same time, it serves as an important guide for forming new research directions on national history and culture.

Furthermore, the work also has significant political importance and immense practical value. In research, the emergence of differing viewpoints and opinions is entirely normal. However, in recent years, both domestically and internationally, there have been studies conducted in the name of science to serve nefarious ideologies aimed at denying the unity of the Vietnamese nation. Against this backdrop, this work provides solid scientific arguments for the struggle to protect national sovereignty and the core values ​​of the Vietnamese people.

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