A great teacher has passed away.

The late Professor and People's Teacher Ha Van Tan (1937-2019)

Professor Ha Van Tan was born on August 16, 1937, in Tien Dien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, a region renowned for its many cultural figures and scholarly families. From his early childhood, the educational traditions of his family and lineage, along with the spiritual atmosphere of the Lam Giang and Hong Mountain region, nurtured and shaped the character, personality, and intellect of a talented scientist.

In 1955, after graduating from the 9th grade at Phan Dinh Phung High School in Ha Tinh, with the aspiration to become a teacher and educator, young Ha Van Tan enrolled in the History and Geography Department at Hanoi Pedagogical University and quickly became an outstanding student, renowned for his academic excellence. Graduating with honors in 1957, he was retained as a lecturer in the Department of Ancient Vietnamese History at Hanoi Pedagogical University and later at Hanoi University. He received guidance and instruction in scientific research methods from Professor Dao Duy Anh and other professors such as Tran Duc Thao, Tran Van Giau, and Cao Xuan Huy.

The late Professor, People's Teacher and his students

With the belief that language is the key to unlocking scientific horizons, and that language is also a source of historical data, enabling access to new scientific achievements and the vast storehouse of human knowledge, and with a passion for conquering scientific heights, young lecturer Ha Van Tan has persistently and resolutely learned many languages ​​of countries that are major academic centers and has actually mastered many foreign languages ​​(including written languages).Sancrit) in research. Encouraged and motivated by the professors of the Enlightenment Generation, and through his self-study abilities, overcoming countless difficulties during the wartime period, Professor Ha Van Tan equipped himself with a vast foundation of knowledge and a broad, profound understanding of many academic fields. Professor Ha Van Tan is the author of many outstanding research works on:Ancient and medieval history of Vietnam,Vietnamese Archaeology,History of Buddhist thought and philosophyandHistorical theory...Everywhere, in any academic field, he was a leading expert, holding a pioneering position and setting the direction for the disciplines.

The "Four Pillars" of Modern Vietnamese Historiography and Professor Tran Van Giau and his wife.

Professor Ha Van Tan was a scientist of outstanding intellect and a meticulous work ethic, always valuing objectivity and the fundamental principles of science. Over more than 60 years of research and teaching, he published over 300 research works, including monographs, reference books, and scientific dissertations in many specialized academic fields, as well as interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary works. Professor Ha Van Tan has many famous scientific works and made outstanding contributions to the development of modern Vietnamese historiography. He played a major role in affirming the origins and development of Vietnamese history; the historical and cultural characteristics of ancient states, ancient cultures, and cultural eras formed on Vietnamese territory; and the similarities and differences of Vietnamese history and culture in comparison with Southeast Asian countries, India, China, and the world. His general and specific research works include:Local history(Introduction, annotations, 1960)History of primitive communism in Vietnam(1960)History of the feudal system in Vietnam(1960)History of Vietnamese Buddhism(1988)Explore the history and culture of Vietnam.(2005), etc., are all well-known works in the research field. In particular, the monographThe resistance war against the Mongol invasion in the 13th century(co-authored with Assoc. Prof. Pham Thi Tam, 1968), and the workFollowing the trail of ancient cultures(1997) established and made a leading name for a scholar. Those works are also a shared pride and a masterpiece of the Vietnamese social sciences and humanities research community.

The memorial service for Professor and People's Teacher Ha Van Tan took place on the morning of December 2nd at Funeral Home No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street.

Professor Ha Van Tan was a pioneer and made significant contributions to the development and establishment of a system of methods, approaches, and theoretical foundations for teaching and researching Vietnamese history and historical sciences. His research works and lectures elevated the knowledge, theoretical basis, and methodology of the country's history training and research centers. His meticulousness, role, and dedication are evident in his work.professional authorityacross various academic disciplines, the research perspective integrates traditional and modern methods, placing historical events and developments in relation to the natural world, ecosystem changes, and the multifaceted impacts of political, economic, and social factors within and outside the region; endogenous and exogenous factors, etc. These works have been honored and established as in-depth, standard research studies. These works, along with the scientific achievements of professors such as Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huy Le, Tran Quoc Vuong, and several other scientists, have contributed to the prestige of the field.The Synthesis School of HistoriographyThe Department of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Institute of Archaeology – these heroic units could not have achieved the accomplishments and glory they have today without the contributions of a generation of pioneering teachers who dedicated their efforts and intellect to their work.

Delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Professor Ha Van Tan was a great scientific personality, a brilliant intellectual, and a towering figure in modern Vietnamese historiography. He was one of the most influential figures in Vietnamese history and archaeology for over half a century, impacting generations of researchers and educators. His role as a scientist, his responsibility, and his sacred mission as a teacher created a strong appeal and widespread influence among professionals and young intellectuals across the country.

Professor Ha Van Tan directly participated in, led, and served as the chief editor of many key national science and technology projects and programs, such as:Archaeological research program on the Spratly Islands - Central Highlands - Southern Vietnam, Book setAnthology of Vietnamese Archaeology, 3 episodes;Dong Son culture...The research works of Professor Ha Van Tan and his team of scientists have made significant contributions to affirming the cultural identity of Vietnam; the sovereignty and the struggle to protect the territorial and maritime sovereignty of the Vietnamese Fatherland. Professor Ha Van Tan is honored as a leading expert on the history of resistance against foreign invasion and the history of thought and traditional culture, with profound and unique summaries of Vietnamese history and culture. With his prestige and widespread influence, Professor Ha Van Tan has provided numerous consultations to the Party and State on policies for the development of science, education, and the preservation and promotion of the value of national cultural heritage.

Professor Ha Van Tan was one of the pioneers in laying the foundation for the development of Vietnamese archaeology. During his teaching years at the Faculty of History, University of Hanoi, and while serving as Director of the Institute of Archaeology, he organized numerous large-scale professional activities, developed doctoral training programs, and promoted exchanges and collaborations with many renowned archaeologists and scientific centers worldwide. He made significant contributions to establishing the theoretical and methodological foundations of Vietnamese archaeology, elevating the discipline to a regional level through a combination of specialization, interdisciplinary approaches, and integration. With his academic expertise and prestige, he was invited to lecture and participate in scientific exchanges at prestigious universities in developed countries such as the University of Paris VII (France), the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), and the University of Tokyo (Japan). His research and teaching activities were highly valued and appreciated by leading international scientific organizations and experts.

During his career, Professor Ha Van Tan held many positions: Head of the Department of Historical Methodology, Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association; Vice Director of the Vietnam Buddhist Studies Research Institute in Hanoi; Member of the Interdisciplinary Academic Rank Council for History - Ethnology - Archaeology; Director of the Institute of Archaeology; Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Archaeology under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences...

For his exceptionally outstanding scientific contributions, Professor Ha Van Tan was awarded academic titles and many prestigious honors by the Party and the State.Professor of History(1980)Outstanding Teacher(1990)People's Teacher(1997);Senior Expert(2002);Second Class Resistance Medal for the War against the US(1985)Third-class Labor Medal(1992)First-class Labor Medal(1997)Ho Chi Minh Prize for Science and Technology(2000),... The professor is a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, with a 30-year Party membership badge. The name, talent, and personality of the Professor and the other Professors in the "Four Pillars" have become legendary, invaluable spiritual values ​​of the History, Archaeology and many other social sciences and humanities fields of the country.

Professor Ha Van Tan made significant contributions to the development of Hanoi University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; to the Institute of Archaeology and many research institutes under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; and participated in building and contributing many major scientific policies and orientations for the social sciences and humanities disciplines of the country. In his educational activities, he was a renowned master. Professor Ha Van Tan not only instilled in generations of students a passion and aspiration for science but also taught them the theory, methods, and ways to implement their ideas and research projects. In him, there was a combination of the character of a traditional educator with the qualities of an outstanding modern scientist. Many of his students have achieved success and are currently holding important positions in universities, scientific institutions, and management organizations both domestically and internationally.

Professor Ha Van Tan was a man with a deep love for his profession, his family, his homeland, and his lineage. The heights of his career were undoubtedly supported and nurtured by a warm family environment. Professor Ha Van Tan always cared deeply about the great cause of the nation and was ready to dedicate his intellect and efforts to the people and the country. Even in his years of illness, as a great, multi-talented, and sensitive scientist, he still yearned to write and complete his scientific works and projects. He also always cared for and shared with his students and colleagues the joys and research achievements they attained. The passing of Professor Ha Van Tan is a tremendous loss to the fields of history, archaeology, many social sciences and humanities, his family, and generations of his students.

In many of his studies, the Professor wrote about Asian spiritual values, considering them as precious gems, agates, and chariots on the vast journeys of the universe and time. He said:Contemplation under the roof of a Vietnamese temple", an explanation of the characteristics of the streamMeditationIn Vietnam, there has always been a harmonious blending with religious beliefs.Esoteric BuddhismandMeditation,Purity,HoneyThese are the three fundamental elements of Vietnamese Buddhism. The teacher also reflected on the word "Leisure"In the realm of human existence, philosophical reflections on rivers and dugout canoes carrying human souls from..."harbor of enchantmentarrivewharf... We humbly ask that your spirit receive from generations of students our respect, sorrow, and gratitude for all that you have contributed to this world. You have passed away, but your legacy and kindness will live on forever. As your beloved students, directly taught by you during our time as undergraduates in the History Department of Hanoi University and throughout our postgraduate studies, we respectfully bid you farewell and pray that your spirit may rest in peace.