Đại Việt sử lược (大越史略, literally "Abridged History of Đại Việt") is the oldest extant historical chronicle of Vietnam. Compiled during the Trần dynasty (1225–1400), it covers the history of Vietnam from its legendary origins up to the end of the Lý dynasty in 1225, with some accounts extending into the early Trần period. Although the original Vietnamese manuscript is lost, the work was preserved in China under the name Việt sử lược (越史略, "Abridged History of Việt").
Authorship and Dating
The exact authorship and date of compilation for Đại Việt sử lược are subjects of scholarly debate. Traditionally, it was attributed to Trần Bá Tông (陳伯宗), a scholar and official during the Trần dynasty. Other theories suggest an author named An Tiêm, or that it was a collective work. Most modern scholars agree that it was compiled in the early to mid-Trần dynasty, likely between the mid-13th century and the early 14th century, making it significantly older than Ngô Sĩ Liên's Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư. The text itself refers to the country as "Đại Việt," a name first adopted by King Lý Thánh Tông in 1054, confirming its compilation occurred after this date.
Content and Scope
The Đại Việt sử lược is structured chronologically, following an annalistic format. It is divided into three quyển (volumes or chapters):
- Quyển 1: Covers the mythical and legendary periods, starting with the Hồng Bàng dynasty, through the period of Chinese domination, up to the establishment of independent Vietnamese dynasties, including the Ngô, Đinh, and Early Lê dynasties.
- Quyển 2: Focuses on the Lý dynasty (1009–1225), providing detailed accounts of emperors, major events, administrative reforms, and foreign relations. This section is particularly valuable as a primary source for understanding the Lý dynasty.
- Quyển 3: Continues the narrative through the end of the Lý dynasty, including the transfer of power to the Trần dynasty, and briefly covers the early years of the Trần era. This volume also contains valuable information on geographical features, administrative divisions, and social customs of the time.
Historical Significance
Đại Việt sử lược holds immense historical significance for several reasons:
- Oldest Extant Chronicle: It is the earliest surviving comprehensive history of Vietnam, predating Ngô Sĩ Liên's more famous Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư by over a century and a half. This makes it an indispensable primary source for early Vietnamese history.
- Unique Perspective: As a product of the early Trần dynasty, it offers a contemporary or near-contemporary perspective on the Lý dynasty and earlier periods, which can sometimes differ from later historical accounts.
- Source Material: It served as a crucial source for later historians, including Ngô Sĩ Liên, who likely drew upon it when compiling Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư. Understanding Đại Việt sử lược is thus essential for analyzing the historiographical traditions of Vietnam.
- Cultural Preservation: Its survival in Chinese collections is a testament to its value and contributes to the broader understanding of historical exchanges and intellectual traditions in East Asia.
Transmission and Editions
The original Vietnamese manuscript of Đại Việt sử lược was lost. However, it was preserved in China, notably appearing in the comprehensive imperial collection Siku Quanshu (四庫全書, "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries") compiled in the 18th century. In this collection, the title was altered to Việt sử lược (越史略), with the character "Đại" (大, meaning "great") removed, possibly due to Chinese imperial conventions which sometimes omitted the "Great" prefix from tributary state names.
The Chinese preserved version became the basis for later translations and studies. Modern Vietnamese scholars have translated the Chinese text back into modern Vietnamese, making it accessible for contemporary research and the general public.
See Also
- Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư
- History of Vietnam
- Lý dynasty
- Trần dynasty