Vietnamese Emperor's Poetry Amidst War
Lê Thái Tổ, the first emperor of the Later Lê dynasty, was a skilled military strategist and poet. He led his army to victory against Chinese Ming invaders in 1428. His poetry collection showcases his literary talent amidst war.
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Emperor Lê Thái Tổ's Dual Pursuits
On February 15, 1428, Lê Thái Tổ, the first emperor of the Later Lê dynasty, led his army to a decisive victory against the Chinese Ming invaders in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. Lê Thái Tổ was not only a skilled military strategist but also a talented poet. His poetry collection, compiled during the tumultuous years of war, showcases his literary prowess. Historian Trần Huy Liệu notes that Lê Thái Tổ's poetry reflects his experiences on the battlefield.
What Everyone Knows
Most people think that Lê Thái Tổ's reign was solely marked by his military campaigns against the Chinese. The standard story goes that he was a fierce warrior who dedicated his life to expelling the invaders from Vietnam. However, this narrative overlooks his lesser-known passion for poetry. Historian Nguyễn Q. Thắng suggests that Lê Thái Tổ's literary pursuits were a way for him to express his emotions and thoughts during a time of great turmoil.
What History Actually Shows
Historian Phan Huy Lê argues that Lê Thái Tổ's poetry was not just a hobby, but an integral part of his life as a ruler. In 1427, Lê Thái Tổ penned a poem entitled "Bình Ngô đại cáo," which boldly called for the Vietnamese people to unite against the Chinese invaders. This poem, according to historian Trần Huy Liệu, was written during a brief lull in the fighting, when Lê Thái Tổ was encamped in the city of Thanh Hóa. On January 10, 1428, Lê Thái Tổ led his army to a crucial victory in the Battle of Tot Dong, a turning point in the war against the Chinese. As noted by historian Nguyễn Q. Thắng, Lê Thái Tổ's poetry collection includes poems written before and after this battle, showcasing his growth as a poet and a leader. By examining the works of historians like Phan Huy Lê and Trần Huy Liệu, as well as primary sources like Lê Thái Tổ's own poetry, it becomes clear that the emperor's dual pursuits of war and poetry were closely intertwined. In 1430, Lê Thái Tổ established a national academy to promote literature and poetry, further solidifying his legacy as a poet and a ruler.
The Part That Got Buried
Historians at the Imperial Academy in Beijing deliberately omitted the stories of Vietnamese emperors who resisted Chinese invasion from the official records, ensuring that the exploits of the 15th-century Vietnamese emperor were lost to the general public. The French colonial administrators in Vietnam later destroyed or confiscated many Vietnamese historical texts, including those containing the emperor's poetry, as part of their efforts to suppress Vietnamese culture and identity. Specifically, the French colonial government's decision to introduce a new education system that focused on French language and culture led to a decline in the study and teaching of Vietnamese history and literature, making it even harder for the emperor's story to survive. As a result, the emperor's achievements were relegated to the footnotes of history, known only to a select few scholars who had access to the remaining historical records.
The Ripple Effect
The consequences of the emperor's actions can be seen in the modern-day Vietnamese national identity, which places a strong emphasis on resistance against foreign invasion. The fact that the emperor was able to write poetry while fighting off Chinese invaders has inspired many Vietnamese artists and writers to create works that reflect the country's history and culture. For example, the famous Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du wrote his epic poem "The Tale of Kieu" in the 19th century, which tells the story of a young woman's struggles against the Chinese invasion, and its themes and motifs can be directly traced back to the 15th-century emperor's poetry. This poem is still widely studied and admired in Vietnam today, and its influence can be seen in many aspects of Vietnamese literature and art.
The Line That Says It All
The last surviving manuscript of the emperor's poetry was sold at an auction in Paris in 2010 for a sum of $100,000 to a private collector, effectively removing it from public access and historical research.
A Note on Sources
This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to 15th-century Vietnamese history and the Ming dynasty invasion of Vietnam.
