Scholar gives rare East Sea records to State
10:51, 2015/06/15
Researcher Ho Tan Phan has presented copies of rare Vietnamese royal chronicles to the National Boundary Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Phan believes the books could serve as evidence of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes.
The Hue-based researcher said Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Great South Real Record) was a trusted collection of documents that justified Vietnam's sovereignty over the two archipelagoes.
Dai Nam (Great South) was then the name for Vietnam. The chronicles were records from the Nguyen dynasty, prepared and issued by the office of national historiographers from 1802 to 1945.
The records also retell stories from historical era before the Nguyen dynasty.
According to Phan, the chronicles were compiled and issued continuously from 1821, or the second year of the Minh Mang era, to 1939, or the fourtheenth year of Bao Dai era.
Minh Mang and Bao Dai were the second and thirtheenth emperors of the dynasty.
The Hue-based researcher said Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Great South Real Record) was a trusted collection of documents that justified Vietnam's sovereignty over the two archipelagoes.
Dai Nam (Great South) was then the name for Vietnam. The chronicles were records from the Nguyen dynasty, prepared and issued by the office of national historiographers from 1802 to 1945.
The records also retell stories from historical era before the Nguyen dynasty.
According to Phan, the chronicles were compiled and issued continuously from 1821, or the second year of the Minh Mang era, to 1939, or the fourtheenth year of Bao Dai era.
Minh Mang and Bao Dai were the second and thirtheenth emperors of the dynasty.
In the chronicles of the Minh Mang era, the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are described as part of Vietnam territory. Other records show how the dynasty's emperors deployed personnel to the islands and controlled fishing in the area.
"The islands are under international disputes, that's why these documents are invaluable for proving Vietnam's role. Dai Nam Thuc Luc is a legal and verifiable record of a kingdom that existed in world history," said Phan. "The records were copied and re-issued by a university in Japan, adding to the aura of trust surrounding them."
From 1961 to 1981, researchers from the Keio Institute of Linguistic Studies in Tokyo, Japan, arrived in Vietnam to copy the records in miniature.
Last year, Phan began to compare the original copy and the reissued Japanese copies. After verifying them, he produced his own miniature copies and granted a collection to the committee in May.
Phan is a scholar based in Hue. He has a big library of rare books. Last year, he held an auction of books to raise funds for fishermen sailing to the islands despite East Sea tension.
"The islands are under international disputes, that's why these documents are invaluable for proving Vietnam's role. Dai Nam Thuc Luc is a legal and verifiable record of a kingdom that existed in world history," said Phan. "The records were copied and re-issued by a university in Japan, adding to the aura of trust surrounding them."
From 1961 to 1981, researchers from the Keio Institute of Linguistic Studies in Tokyo, Japan, arrived in Vietnam to copy the records in miniature.
Last year, Phan began to compare the original copy and the reissued Japanese copies. After verifying them, he produced his own miniature copies and granted a collection to the committee in May.
Phan is a scholar based in Hue. He has a big library of rare books. Last year, he held an auction of books to raise funds for fishermen sailing to the islands despite East Sea tension.
22:34, 2025/02/24
Vietnam’s Gulf of Tonkin baseline helps protect sovereignty rights
The baseline, which determines the width of Vietnam’s territorial sea in the Gulf of Tonkin, is the legal basis for its maritime boundaries, in line with the United Nations Convention and the Vietnam-China delimitation agreement.
19:52, 2025/01/19
President and spouse join overseas Vietnamese celebrating tradition ahead of Tet
The traditional carp release ceremony, a ritual marking the transition from the old year to the new, is an important part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Vietnam.
17:01, 2025/01/02
Eight Vietnamese ready for UN peacekeeping
Vietnam continues to demonstrate its active participation in the pursuit of world peace by sending eight officers to peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
18:15, 2024/12/19
Highlights of Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024
A display of defense innovations at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024.
20:04, 2024/12/03
Vietnamese Pho continues to spread its international reach
Pho has followed Vietnamese people around the globe as a traditional dish loved by many foreigners, contributing to honoring the culinary culture of the “S-shaped country”.
17:10, 2024/10/25
Hanoi students honored for creative logo celebrating German-Vietnamese ties
The red, yellow and black logo designed by two students from Hanoi has won the logo design competition to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam.
- Vietnam condemns violence by Chinese authorities in Hoang Sa
- Hanoi set to pilot centralized government services
- Vietnam National Day: Insights from expats
- Musical featuring the Spratlys to be aired
- Countries recognize Vietnam’s right to claim extended continental shelf in UN submission
- Vietnam submits limits of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in respect of the East Sea's Central area