Before "Chinese" and "Vietnamese" in the Red River Plain: The Han–Tang Period
Date
2010
Authors
Churchman, Michael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Centre for the Study of the Chinese Southern Diaspora, The Australian National University
Access Statement
Open Access
Abstract
The identification of people as Chinese and Vietnamese in Vietnam, that has caused much
suffering in the last half-century, has been projected back into distant pasts where it does
not belong. Almost all historians of the Han©Tang period in the Red River Delta use
modern ideas of ©Chinese© and ©Vietnamese© ethnicity to discuss this era, contrasting
©Chinese© invaders with indigenous ©Vietnamese©. Using textual analysis and historical
linguistics, this essay argues that no Han©Tang period texts recognise these ethnic
divisions, meaning these terms cannot accurately reflect social divisions of the period.
Furthermore, none of the national ethnonyms Vietnamese historians claim as their own
(like Vi?t and L?c) referred exclusively to Red River Delta people. Where Chinese are
concerned, the article explores how the equally problematic term ©Chinese© became
applicable to northern migrants, and when it became a useful analytical category of
ethnicity in early Vietnamese experience.
Description
Keywords
Ancient Vietnam, Han©Tang southern China, Lingnan, origin of Vietnamese, Yue
Citation
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Source
Chinese Southern Diaspora Studies
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Publication
Access Statement
Open Access