For my second module, I decided to delve into an earlier time period and examine the Bai Yue people, specifically those residing in the southern Yue area (also known as Nan Yue). The information in this module is mainly pulled from Ancient China and the Yue by Erica Brindley, in which she examines the Yue and their relationship to the ancient Chinese nation and people. Brindley found that the term Bai Yue was mainly used by Chinese people to refer to the “dispersed and variegated groups thought somehow to be related to the peoples and cultures of the erstwhile state of Yue.” The location of these groups probably overlapped with the areas that the dispersed Yue ruling class settled, although later texts place it even further to the south and southwest.[1] It seems to have become shorthand for a much larger area than where the Yue fled, and eventually evolved into shorthand for most of modern-day southern China, including northern Vietnam (94-95).
The Bai Yue area seemed to be of special interest to various emperors throughout the years and the region was under attack/under the control of China quite regularly. Qin Shi Huang (the first Qin emperor) was one of the earliest attackers of the region, using troops to surround Bai Yue and building the Lingqu canal to transport them into the area. In 214 BC, the Qin led a massive campaign against the Western Ou area, which resulted in the colonization and defeat of the Lingnan area. However, the southern Yue area lasted during this period and held until the Han conquered the kingdom much later on.[2]
After the fall of the Qin empire, Zhao Tuo, a Qin general, conquered the lands of the southern Yue and established his own kingdom there, where he went on to rule successfully for quite some time. However, his relationship with the Han was often volatile. For example, the Empress Lu blocked off trade routes to the southern Yue and sent troops to attack the area due to a misunderstanding in her court.[3] Although lines of communication were reopened before any invasion actually occurred, this incident created distrust in Zhao Tuo. The next emperor, Emperor Wendi, took a much more conciliatory tone towards Zhao Tuo, although still demanding customary submission to the Han by the southern Yue. Apart from this submission, though, Zhao Tuo was essentially the emperor of the southern Yue, as he acted and was treated as such.[4]
After the death of Zhao Tuo in 137 BC and the accession of his grandson, Zhao Hu, to the throne (although the significance of this position remained unacknowledged by the Han), a neighboring nation attempted to attack the southern Yue and conquer the area. However, aid was sent by Han Emperor Wudi, signifying the close relationship between the southern Yue and the Han.[5] This Han-southern Yue relationship allowed Zhao Hu to keep his position as the Nan Yue ‘Emperor’, although Wudi gave him the title of “Civilizing King” and referred to him as a king rather than acknowledging him as an emperor or a royal of equal status.[6] The southern Yue continued in relative peace until the accession of Zhao Hu’s grandson, Zhao Xing in 113 BC. Zhao Xing’s young age allowed Prime Minister Lu Jia to essentially take control of the court and shape the kingdom to his whims. While the Dowager Queen wanted to submit to the Han as was customary, Lu Jia was opposed and rebelled, attempted a coup, killed the king and his mother, and established Zhao Xing’s stepbrother, Zhao Yingqi, as the new king. This incident, coupled with Lu Jia’s aggressive actions towards Han troops in the area, prompted the Han to declare war on the southern Yue in 111 BC. The Han defeated Lu Jia and the southern Yue area was colonized by the Han.[7]
After researching this information, it is once again striking to me how strong the Vietnamese identity is in this time period. Although Brindley did not focus much on the cultural differences between the southern Yue and the Han, it was still interesting to see the distinctness of the southern Yue and the Han in a political way. Even though the Han had control over the southern Yue area and its residents were forced to pay tribute to them, Zhao Tuo and his kingdom still remained strong and autonomous from the Han. This would be echoed decades later in a more culturally obvious way during the Han-Viet period in an even more significant way, since the Han-Viet people were not even native to the region, yet still adopted Viet lifestyles and traditions. The strength and longevity of Viet tradition and culture are truly amazing to see, especially after so many years of attempted suppression by various different invading nations.
[1] Brindley, Erica. Ancient China and the Yue: Perceptions and Identities on the Southern Frontier, c.400 BCE – 50 CE. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2018, 92.
[2] Ibid., 95
[3] Ibid., 97
[4] Ibid., 98.
[5] Ibid., 99.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid., 100.
Bibliography
Brindley, Erica. Ancient China and the Yue: Perceptions and Identities on the Southern Frontier, c.400 BCE – 50 CE. First paperback edition. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2018.