Research On The Neighborhood Policy Of Nguyen Dynasty During Its Independence Period (1802-1858)

The Nguyen Dynasty is the last dynasty in Vietnam history. During its independence period (1802-1858), the comprehensive strength of Vietnam reached its peak in the imperial time. In the early period after the foundation of the Nguyen Dynasty, it accepted Chinese tributary system. It comforted China which was a powerful state with very low price. After that, it paied more attention to the southern area. Through the elaboration of Nguyen’s monarchs, the territory of Vietnam has extended doubled southward, which enriched the Vietnam’s diplomatic objects. Vietnam began to intervene in the issues of Khmer and Laos diffusely; meanwhile, it also competed with Siam in order to take over the hegemony in the Indochinese Peninsula over a long period of time. The Nguyen invested the great effort in these affairs, which finally caused the southward transfer of the center of diplomatic strategy, thus means China was no longer the only vital diplomatic object of Vietnam, and this specialty never existed before. Simultaneously, for the sake of testifying the legality of its sovereignty over Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam, which influenced by the Confucianism civilization, took the example by Chinese tributary system to establish its own "neighborhood order" theory. This article will state the mode of operation of "neighborhood order" theory by analyzing the China-Vietnam relations, the Vietnam-Siam relations and Vietnam’s vassal state policy during this period. In the use of materials, the thesis also makes copious references to the common historical data and files in China as well as the materials from Vien Nghien cuu Han Nom and Trung tam Luu tru Quoc gia 1. Meanwhile, the thesis also reviews the study of Vietnamese academia. The thesis tries to surpass the perspective "observe China from the surrounding country", and use the perspective "observe the surrounding country from the surrounding country" to survey the tributary system between China and Viet Nam in the complex international situation of Indochinese Peninsula.