Hung Vuong
Encyclopedia
Hùng Vương is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Vietnam
ese rulers of the Hồng Bàng) period. In antiquity this title began to be used for the ruler who was the religious and political leader of united ancient Vietnam. They were king
s of Văn Lang
of the Lạc Việt.
Legend tells of the dragon
lord, Lạc Long Quân
and the mountain fairy, (sometimes a Chinese immortal
) Âu Cơ
who had 100 sons. As the parents belonged to different realms, they parted ways, each taking 50 of the 100 sons to their respective homes. The eldest son went to live by the coast, in the domain of dragons.
The eldest came to power in 2897 BC and became known as Hùng Vương, ruling an area covering what is now North Vietnam and part of southern China
. He founded the Hồng Bàng Dynasty, whose members ruled Vietnam until 258 BC
. The dynasty existed in Vietnamese prehistory, so much of the lore from this time is now lost to the ages. The descendants took the title of Hùng Vương after the first king, and many Vietnamese folktales include mention them. Stories tell of the heroics of eighteen different Hùng Vươngs (one explains the introduction of the watermelon
with the help of Hùng Vương X) but fail to account for the numerous unknown rulers of Vietnam during their two millennia
of sovereignty.
The Hồng Bàng Dynasty was overthrown by An Dương Vương
, but his regime fell first to Triệu Đà and later to the Han Dynasty
.
It is likely that the name Hùng Vương is a combination of the two Sino-Vietnamese words Hùng , which means "brave" and Vương, which means "king". The name Hùng Vương might have originally been a title bestowed on a chieftain
. The Hùng Vương would have been the head chieftain of Văn Lang which at the time was composed of feudal
communities of rice
farmers (similar to the way the Holy Roman Emperor
was elected to rule by fellow German
princes).
The Vietnamese government has recently announced that there will be a new public holiday
in Vietnam to celebrate the Hùng kings called Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương in Hùng temple
. It will be on the 10th day of the third lunar month which will next occur on 31 March 2012.
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese rulers of the Hồng Bàng) period. In antiquity this title began to be used for the ruler who was the religious and political leader of united ancient Vietnam. They were king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
s of Văn Lang
Van Lang
Văn Lang was, according to tradition, the first nation of the ancient Vietnamese people, founded in 2879 BC and existing until 258 BC. It was ruled by the Hùng Kings of the Hồng Bàng Dynasty. There is, however, little reliable historical information available...
of the Lạc Việt.
Legend tells of the dragon
Vietnamese dragon
Vietnamese dragons are symbolic creatures in the folklore and mythology of Vietnam. According to an ancient creation myth, the Vietnamese people are descended from a dragon and a fairy....
lord, Lạc Long Quân
Lac Long Quan
Lạc Long Quân , according to the creation myth of the Vietnamese people, was the father of the Vietnamese people, and their first true king. Lạc Long Quân was the son and sole successor of Kinh Dương Vương , who ruled over Xích Quỷ...
and the mountain fairy, (sometimes a Chinese immortal
Xian (Taoism)
Xian is a Chinese word for an enlightened person, translatable in English as:*"spiritually immortal; transcendent; super-human; celestial being"...
) Âu Cơ
Au Co
Âu Cơ , according to the creation myth of the Vietnamese people, was an immortal mountain fairy who married Lạc Long Quân , and bore an egg sac that hatched a hundred children known collectively as Baiyue, ancestors to the Vietnamese people...
who had 100 sons. As the parents belonged to different realms, they parted ways, each taking 50 of the 100 sons to their respective homes. The eldest son went to live by the coast, in the domain of dragons.
The eldest came to power in 2897 BC and became known as Hùng Vương, ruling an area covering what is now North Vietnam and part of southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He founded the Hồng Bàng Dynasty, whose members ruled Vietnam until 258 BC
258 BC
Year 258 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calatinus and Peterculus...
. The dynasty existed in Vietnamese prehistory, so much of the lore from this time is now lost to the ages. The descendants took the title of Hùng Vương after the first king, and many Vietnamese folktales include mention them. Stories tell of the heroics of eighteen different Hùng Vươngs (one explains the introduction of the watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
with the help of Hùng Vương X) but fail to account for the numerous unknown rulers of Vietnam during their two millennia
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
of sovereignty.
The Hồng Bàng Dynasty was overthrown by An Dương Vương
An Duong Vuong
An Dương Vương is the title of Thục Phán , who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Âu Lạc from 257 to 207 BCE, after defeating the state of Văn Lang and uniting the two tribes Âu Việt and Lạc Việt...
, but his regime fell first to Triệu Đà and later to the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
It is likely that the name Hùng Vương is a combination of the two Sino-Vietnamese words Hùng , which means "brave" and Vương, which means "king". The name Hùng Vương might have originally been a title bestowed on a chieftain
Chieftain
Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain, to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related.* Clan chief, the head of a Scottish clan....
. The Hùng Vương would have been the head chieftain of Văn Lang which at the time was composed of feudal
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
communities of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
farmers (similar to the way the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
was elected to rule by fellow German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
princes).
The Vietnamese government has recently announced that there will be a new public holiday
Public holiday
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year....
in Vietnam to celebrate the Hùng kings called Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương in Hùng temple
Hùng temple
Hùng temple, locating in Nghĩa Lĩnh mountain, Cổ Tích village, Hy Cương commune, Phong Châu district, Phú Thọ province, is the most sacred Vietnamese national historic and cultural complex site. Hùng temple's the place of worship Hùng Vương- the first King of Vietnam and the first son of Lạc Long...
. It will be on the 10th day of the third lunar month which will next occur on 31 March 2012.
External links
See also
- Hồng Bàng Dynasty