THE WORLD CIVILIZATIONS AND INDIA , PART-123

VIETNAM ( SERIES -41 )

THE LEGAL REFORMS OF EMPEROR LE THANH TONG OF DAI VIET

History is nothing but demonstrating the past as a meaningful preparation for the future . To Sir Francis Bacon , history makes men wise . So was the history of an Emperor of DAI VIET whose name was LE THANH TONG who brought about numerous reforms in the history of DAI VIET . LEGAL REFORMS were one of them . In 1483 AD , Emperor LE THANH TONG created a new code for DAI VIET , called as HONG DUC CODE . It is kept/preserved in the National Library of VIETNAM in the form of Woodblocks No — A. 314 . The new code was based on CHINESE laws with VIETNAMESE features . Under the new code , the consent of parents was not required for marriage . Daughters were granted equal inheritance rights with sons . Contrary to the women’s position in the CHINESE society , the higher position of women in the society was given recognition in DAI VIET. In the CONFUCIAN view of the world , Emperors were said to have the ‘Mandate of Heaven’ to rule their people who , in turn , owed the Emperor total allegiance . This philosophical perception inculcated among the people that the power of Emperor was absolute . So Emperor was responsible for the prosperity of the people and maintenence of justice and order in the society . And an Emperor who didn’t fulfill his CONFUCIAN responsibilities could , in theory , loose his mandate . A VIETNAMESE proverb says “The laws of the emperors yield to the customs of the village.”

**COINS ISSUED BY EMPEROR LE THANH TONG**

THE ECONOMIC REFORMS OF EMPEROR LE THANH TONG OF DAI VIET

According to KENNETH HALL , “VIETNAMESE civilization had reached its zenith in prosperity .”* In 1461 AD , he warned the officers of the provinces that they should not pursue insignificant trade to ensure internal welfare . He prohibited foreigners to enter into the Kingdom . He introduced a marketplace code to standardize weights and measures . He also nationalized gunpowder and weapons in 1469 AD . He defeated CHAMPA in 1471 AD and sent large group of ethnic people of DAI VIET to settle in the new conquered territory . To make DAI VIET crime free , he sent prisoners and criminals to settle in the conquered territory of CHAMPA . Bureaucrats and military garrisons were set up in the new provinces . Lands were fairly distributed among the people of the country. Central Highlands’ products were now monopolized after the fall of CHAMPA . He took unfavorable view towards international trade . Rather he emphasized on a national self-sustaining economy based on agriculture .

* HALL , KENNETH , “ECONOMIC HISTORY OF EARLY SOUTH-EAST ASIA” (1999) IN TARLING , NICHOLAS (ed) , p-269

**NAMES OF GRADUATE SCHOLARS INSCRIBED IN 1478 AD ON STONE**

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS OF EMPEROR LE THANH TONG OF DAI VIET

During the period of Emperor LE THANH TONG , TEMPLES OF LITERATURE were built in all the provinces of DAI VIET . It was a TEMPLE OF CONFUCIUS or CONFUCIAN TEMPLE . It was meant for spreading CONFUCIAN teachings throughout the country . Well known CONFUCIAN TEMPLES were built in HUE , TAM KY , HOI AN , HÙNG YEN , HAI DUONG , BIEN HOA , VINH LONG and BAC NINH . In those temples , CONFUCIUS was venerated and where classic CONFUCIAN works could be found . On the other hand , he halted the building of any new BUDDHIST or TAOIST temple in the country . He also ordered that monks were not allowed to purchase land . During his reign , the CONFUCIAN scholarship of DAI VIET had reached its golden era when 501 royal scholars graduated . He ordered a CONFUCIAN scholar called NGO SI LIEN to compile an official national history book . NGO SI LIEN was historian of LE DYNASTY of DAI VIET . He was the principal compiler of the DAI VIET SU KY TOAN THU ( A Royal Chronicles of Dai Viet ) . Even this oldest official historical record of DAI VIET remains today . NGO SI LIEN was appreciated not only for the precision of his records but also for the innovative method of compilation . And he was the first writer of DAI VIET who extracted information for his works from collections of myths and legends like LINH NAM CHICH QUAI . It was a 14th-century semi-fictional work written in HAN Scripts by TRAN THE PHAP . And in this way the royal chronicles of DAI VIET called DAI VIET SU KY TOAN THU was finished in 1479 AD and it was presented to Emperor LE THANH TONG .