Việt Nam sử lược


Việt Nam sử lược, was the first history text published in the Vietnamese alphabet. It was compiled by Vietnamese historian Trần Trọng Kim. It covered the period from Hồng Bàng dynasty to the time of French Indochina. The book was first published in 1920 and reprinted many times. It was the standard history text in South Vietnam. It was often criticized by Communist historians, who argued with Kim's interpretation of the Tay Son Rebellion and the reign of Hồ Quý Ly. Both of these were heroes to the Communists, but condemned by mainstream historians.

Background

Since late 19th century, Vietnam became French colony. Vietnamese emperors were only rubber stamp of French and had little power. Vietnam was facing an uncertain future because the future of this country was controlled by French people. Trần Trọng Kim believed that if Vietnamese people knew their own history, they would have patriotic hearts; all people study or work hard for the society, then the country would be stronger.
However, all historian books were written in Classical Chinese. The use of Classical Chinese, and its written form Hán tự, died out in Vietnam early in the 20th century. Trần Trọng Kim concerned that one day most of Vietnamese people could not read Hán tự, the national history would be forgotten. So, it was necessary to write an outline history in Vietnamese.

Contents

Việt Nam sử lược contained five parts:
  1. Early historical period: From Hồng Bàng dynasty to Triệu dynasty;
  2. Period Belonging to the North: From First Chinese domination to the establishment of Ngô dynasty;
  3. Independent period : Ngô dynasty, Đinh dynasty, Early Lê dynasty, Lý dynasty, Trần dynasty, Lê dynasty;
  4. Independent period : From Mạc dynasty to Tây Sơn dynasty;
  5. Recent and modern period: From Nguyễn dynasty to early 20th century.

    Written in [chữ Nho] and [chữ Quốc Ngữ]

  6. Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư- Ngô Sĩ Liên
  7. Khâm định Việt sử thông giám cương mục
  8. Trần triều thế phổ hành trang
  9. Bình Nguyên công thần thực lục
  10. Hoàng Lê nhất thống chí
  11. Lịch triều hiến chương- Phan Huy Chú
  12. Đại Nam thực lục tiền biên
  13. Đại Nam thực lục chính biên
  14. Đại Nam thống chí
  15. Đại Nam chính biên liệt truyện
  16. Đại Nam điển lễ toát yếu- Đỗ Văn Tâm
  17. Minh Mệnh chính yếu
  18. Quốc triều sử toát yếu- Cao Xuân Dục
  19. Thanh triều sử ký
  20. Trung Quốc lịch sử
  21. Hạnh Thục ca- Nguyễn Nhược Thị

    Written in French

  22. Cours d' Histoire Annamite – Trương Vĩnh Ký
  23. Notion d' Histoire d'Annam – Charles Maybon and Henri Russier
  24. Pays d' Annam – E. Luro
  25. L'Empire d' Annam – Charles Gosselin
  26. Abrégé de l'Histoire d'Annam – Alfred Schreiner
  27. Histoire de la Cochinchine – P. Cultru
  28. Les Origines de la question du Tong-kin, 1896 – Jean Dupuis
  29. Le Tonkin de 1872 à 1866 – Jean Dupuis
  30. La Vie de Monseigneur Puginier – Louis-Eugène Louvet
  31. L'insurrection de Gia Định – Jean Silvestre