The Ethnic Chinese In Southern Vietnam And Cultural Exchanges And Integration Between China And Vietnam During The 17-19th Centuries

This thesis chooses "The Ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam and cultural exchanges and integration between China and Vietnam during the 17-19th centuries" as the research subject.By examining systematically the historical background,causes of the Chinese migration to southern Vietnam during the 17th-19th centuries,as well as the composition of the ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam,the migration route,the situation that Chinese migrants integrated into the local society of southern Vietnam,the situation and characteristics of Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration,this thesis elaborates the importance and the significant role of the ethnic Chinese in Vietnam to the local economic,political,social development and historical process of southern Vietnam,and probes into the roots of a comprehensive,in-depth exchange and integration history between China and Vietnam.It is hoped that the findings of this thesis could expand the mutual understanding,promote cultural exchanges and provide more historical literature for further strengthening the traditional good-neighborly relations between the two countries.At the same time,it is expected that the findings could provide more historical experience and guidance to help overseas Chinese play a better role in spreading Chinese culture in the country of residence,and to enhance the role of culture as soft power in establishing Chinese image.The introduction part introduces the significance and the scope of the study and summarizes previous studies both at home and abroad related to the thesis.On that basis,this part also explains the definition and usage of concepts involved in the thesis,the rationale,the research methods and the structure.The main part consists of six chapters:The first chapter gives a brief review of the history of Chinese migration to Vietnam before the 17th century,summarizes the composition of Chinese migrants to Vietnam in this period,and analyzes the causes of migration.Geographical advantages,political,economic and cultural factors had contributed to making Vietnam one of the most important destinations for Chinese migrants before the 17th century.And this southward migration of Chinese existed throughout history,no matter Vietnam was in Chinese domination or independent era.Therefore,historical inertia was a reason lied behind the Chinese migration to southern Vietnam during the 17-19th centuries.Chapter 2 situated the Chinese migration to southern Vietnam during the 17-19th centuries in a broader context of Southeast Asia,China and Vietnam in order to analyze the historical background and causes.From the 17th to the mid-19th centuries,the Western colonial invasion pushed Vietnam into an increasingly interwoven global trade system,but the main reason for Chinese migrants moving to southern Vietnam related closely with the complexities of China and Vietnam's own domestic societies.Due to the replacement of Ming Dynasty by Qing Dynasty,the ban on maritime trade and its lift in Ming and Qing Dynasties and the severe attitude of Qing government to returning overseas Chinese in China,as well as the social unrest caused by Trinh-Nguyen war,the "southward movement"by Nguyen Cochinchina with the consequent development in southern Vietnam and a relatively tolerant,flexible policy towards Chinese migrants of Nguyen Cochinchina in Vietnam,a large number of Chinese migrants moved to southern Vietnam in this period.Chapter 3 analyzes the composition of the ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam during the 17-19th centuries from the perspective of motives and causes of migration.In this period,the ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam included Ming loyalists and refugees seeking for asylum in the south—known as Minh Huong people,Chinese merchants engaging in trade activities because of economic interests,the poor people looking for better living conditions and Chinese monks going to Vietnam due to religious causes etc.This chapter also summarizes the characteristics of different types of the ethnic Chinese.Chapter 4 discusses the route and distribution of Chinese migrants moving to southern Vietnam during the 17-19th centuries and summarizes the distribution characteristics of Sino-indigene communities.During this period,the Chinese were mostly from Guangdong,Fujian provinces on the southeast coast of China.They went by boat,followed the maritime traffic routes opened up by early Chinese businessmen.They came to Vietnam and gradually became widely distributed in the south,a territory under the control of Nguyen Lords.Their communities located mainly in major coastal ports of southern Vietnam at first and gradually expanded to inland riverside transportation hubs.Chapter 5 discusses the integration process of the ethnic Chinese in Vietnam during the 17-19tj centuries,analyzes their influences on the politics,economy,society of southern Vietnam and explores the conditions that paved the way for their final integration into the Vietnamese society.There were many aspects that contributed to the comprehensive,profound integration of the ethnic Chinese into the political,economic and social conditions of the Nguyen Cochinchina and Nguyen Dynasty,the special historical context,Nguyen Lords' own needs and their preferential and naturalization policies towards the ethnic Chinese.Apart from that,the characteristics and advantages of the Minh Huong community,as well as their self-consciousness and motivation to integration were also closely linked to the process.Chapter 6 sorts out the situation and characteristics of Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration during 17-19th centuries,discusses the intermediary role that the ethnic Chinese played,and analyzes the roots of a comprehensive,in-depth cultural exchanges and integration history between China and Vietnam.The ethnic Chinese greatly helped spread Chinese culture.In addition,there are several other important reasons that influenced Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration:First,Vietnam lies in the Chinese cultural circle.Local Vietnamese people admired the more advanced Chinese culture and thus could accept the influence of Chinese culture naturally.Second,for the purpose of consolidating their own rule,the monarchs in southern Vietnam institutionally supported and protected the Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration in some aspects.Third,the Vietnamese nation was open to accept foreign culture,specifically the Chinese culture.They took the initiative to accept,absorb,selectively modify and utilize,so that some elements in traditional Chinese culture gradually integrated into their indigenous culture and further became an important part of their own culture.Fourth,the ethnic Chinese,especially the Minh Huong people consciously and actively integrated into the local Vietnamese culture.Proceeding the analysis and studies of the ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam and the Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration during I7-19th centuries,the following conclusions can be drawn from this thesis:1.The ethnic Chinese in southern Vietnam fully and thoroughly integrated into the indigenous political,economic and social life.They played a vital role in Sino-Vietnamese cultural exchanges and integration process.2.Different types of ethnic Chinese groups integrated into political,economic and social areas in different forms and degrees,but the Minh Huong people integrated the most comprehensively and thoroughly.3.The formation,development and evolution process of refugee groups from the Ming Empire,namely the Minh Huang group afterwards,reflected the integration process of the ethnic Chinese into the southern Vietnamese society during the 17-19th centuries.4.The locals in southern Vietnam took a selective attitude towards Chinese culture.