A monograph on Hoi An

A monograph on Hoi An was conducted by a foreign “Vietnamologist” nearly 60 years ago. The monograph was evaluated as “very elaborate and serious”.

Chinese in Hoi An “Some comments on Minh Huong commune and the ancient relics in Hoi An” is the name of a study on the Chinese community and their construction works in Hoi An. The author of the monograph is Professor of History Chen Ching Ho, a Taiwanese who came to live and study in Japan and is currently the Chairman of the Translation Committee of Hue University. The monograph is more than 30,000 words long with 70 pages, first published in 2 issues of Vietnam Archaeological Journal (No. 1/1960 and No. 3/1962). This is an annual journal of the Saigon Archaeological Institute. Thanks to his Taiwanese “origin” and fluency in many foreign languages, the author easily accessed relatively rich and diverse local source materials, comparing them with many historical sources from China, Japan, and the West to present a difficult and interesting issue. The monograph consists of 5 parts. Part I is the introduction, Chen Ching Ho focuses on presenting the policies of Vietnamese feudal dynasties towards the management of Chinese immigrants. According to him, these were the policy of separation (Tran Dynasty, early Le Dynasty) and the policy of assimilation (Later Le Dynasty and Nguyen Lords). He also believes that "although the attitude of Nguyen Lords towards merchants and Ming Dynasty's exiled officials was relatively lenient, with immigrants who were group-oriented and armed, some special measures had to be sought to control them" (Volume I, page 5). Explaining this policy of "separation" and "assimilation", Chen Ching Ho gave three reasons, emphasizing the "geopolitical" reason. Part II studies the time of establishment of the Khach town and Minh Huong commune in Hoi An. Chen Ching Ho compared many documents and came to the conclusion: "The Khach town and the Japanese town have existed since the early 17th century" (Volume I, page 12). Regarding Minh Huong commune, he said that "between 1645 and 1653, most likely a few years after 1645, Hoi An Minh Huong commune, the first Minh Huong commune in Vietnam, was founded" (page 18). Part III talks about the "predecessors" of Minh Huong commune. Chen Ching Ho also shares the same opinion as Nguyen Thieu Lau that they were the Ten Elders including: Khong Thai Lao Gia; Nhan, Du, Tu, Chu, Hoang, Truong, Tran, Thai, Luu Lao Gia. However, he added Luc Tinh (six families) and Tam Gia (three families) as well as emphasizing the role of Khong Thai Lao Gia. In part IV, Chen Ching Ho presents the area, administration and taxes of Minh Huong commune. Regarding the area, he tells about the expansion process of the commune from the first purchased land of only 14 and a half acres to nearly 20 acres (1878). His special discovery was that 10 lans belonging to many localities today are also under the Minh Huong commune such as Tra Nhieu, Ban Thach, Ha Nhuan, Viet An, Khanh Tho, Lieu Tri, Tam Ky... Regarding the administrative apparatus, the head of Minh Huong commune is Cai Xa. Under Cai Xa are Huong Quan, Huong Lao and Huong Truong. Regarding taxes, Chen Ching Ho said that the personal tax in Minh Huong commune is 25% higher than in other localities. Part V is about temples and assembly halls in Hoi An. In this part, Cheng Ching Ho only introduces some major relics such as Quan Cong temple, Quan Am temple, Cam Ha and Hai Binh Nhi palaces, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Lai Vien bridge, Quang Trieu, Trieu Chau, Hai Nam, Duong Thuong Assembly Halls... Although not complete, the history of these relics is presented quite clearly, providing a lot of valuable information.

Cheng Ching Ho's monograph is considered the "most elaborate, serious and complete" research work on this issue to date, which is of great significance to the study of Hoi An Ancient Town, a World Cultural Heritage. "Vietnam scholar" Chen Ching Ho Chen Ching Ho (Tran Kinh Hoa), alias Manh Nghi, was born on September 28, 1917 in Taichung, Taiwan. He lived in Japan since childhood and graduated with a BA in History from Khanh Ung University in Tokyo. This is a prestigious university in Japan founded by the enlightened educator Phuc Trach Du Cat (Fukuzawa Yukichi). He not only knew many Chinese dialects such as Beijing, Cantonese, Fujian... but was also fluent in many foreign languages such as Vietnamese, Japanese, English, and French. After graduating with a BA (1942), he went to intern at the Far Eastern School of Archaeology in Hanoi and married a Vietnamese woman (Mrs. Dang Thi Hoa). He worked here until 1946. From 1946 onwards, he was a professor teaching at many universities in many Asian and European countries such as Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, England, France, the United States, etc. From 1958 to 1965, he was sent by the Yen Kinh Institute of Harvard University to assist Hue University as Chairman of the Historical Translation Committee. He also taught at Hue University of Literature, Saigon University of Literature, Van Hanh University and collaborated with many famous magazines such as Dai Hoc (Hue), History and Geography magazine, Van Hoa monthly magazine, Archaeology (Saigon). Many of his research works on Vietnamese history published in domestic and foreign journals were highly appreciated, typically: Compiling the chronology, documents and copies of An Nam chi luoc printed in An Nam chi luoc (Dai Hoc, Hue - 1961); Research article on Overseas Chronicles printed in Overseas Chronicles (University, Hue - 1963); Translation and annotation of Thanh Tri Chronicle in Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chronicle (University - Hue); Local Chronicle of Vietnam Dong Kinh with the special title "Ke" (University of Literature, History and Philosophy Newspaper, Taiwan, 1950); The Five Dynasties and Song Dynasty, Vietnam - China - Vietnam Culture (Taipei, 1956); Can Trai Trinh Hoai Duc, Strange People's Stories; Tran Thi Genealogy of Thua Thien Minh Huong Commune (Southeast Asia Research Special Journal, Hong Kong, 1964); Ha Tien Town, Hiep Town, Mac Thi Genealogy with Notes (Literature, History and Philosophy Newspaper, Taiwan, 1956); Streets and Commerce of Chinese People in Hoi An in the 18th Century (New Asia Studies Newspaper, Hong Kong, 1960); Research on the author and content of the book National History Di Bien (Chinese Literature, Tan A University, Hong Kong, 1965)... In 1966, he received his PhD in History from Khanh Ung University with a thesis on the work An Nam Dich Ngu. When researching Vietnamese history, Chen Ching Ho always stood on the objective point of view of a true historian who respected historical truth and rejected the "great power" ideology in terms of politics and culture. Chen Ching Ho was evaluated as "an Orientalist, an excellent Vietnamologist who left many historical research works of great value to Vietnamese history, especially to researchers of ancient Vietnamese history and ancient Southeast Asian history" (Nguyen Van Dang, On the activities of Orientalist Tran Kinh Hoa 1917 - 1995. Research and Development Journal, No. 1/2012). He passed away on November 19, 1995. Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/mot-chuyen-khao-ve-hoi-an-3129134.html