Vietnamese Rebels: The Trưng Sisters and Triệu Thị Trinh
The Trưng Sisters and Triệu Thị Trinh are emblematic figures in Vietnamese history, representing the struggle for independence against Chinese rule during the early centuries of the Common Era. The Trưng sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, are celebrated for leading a successful rebellion against the Han dynasty after the execution of Trưng Trắc's husband, Thi Sách. Their leadership inspired a predominantly female army that temporarily expelled the Chinese forces and established a brief period of independence before being ultimately defeated. Following their deaths, their legacy evolved into a powerful legend within Vietnamese culture.
Triệu Thị Trinh, who emerged centuries later, is similarly depicted as a fierce warrior who also sought to resist Chinese domination. Known for her formidable presence, she led an army into battle, but ultimately faced defeat through a cunning tactic employed by the Chinese army. Despite their failures, both women's stories became intertwined with national mythology, symbolizing resilience and the fight for cultural autonomy. Temples were erected in their honor, and their tales continue to inspire discussions surrounding gender roles and the importance of female leadership in Vietnam's fight for independence. Their stories reflect not only the historical context of resistance but also the complex relationship between gender, power, and cultural identity in Vietnamese society.
On this Page
Vietnamese Rebels: The Trưng Sisters and Triệu Thị Trinh
Author: Traditional
Time Period: 501 CE–1000 CE
Country or Culture: Vietnam
Genre: Myth
Overview
Near the beginning of the Common Era, Vietnam was a state ruled by conflicting sources of power. Several forms of government and unified culture existed within the borders of what is today called Vietnam, with the northern Dong-Son culture being perhaps the most powerful. In 111 BCE, however, an invading army and accompanying government from the Han dynasty of China took control of that region. The Han dynasty brought with it a steady influence of Chinese culture and political ideas, sometimes strictly enforcing those cultural attitudes and Confucian beliefs. As the Han rulers increased taxation and amplified their efforts to convert the Vietnamese people to Chinese cultural traditions, however, the Vietnamese still maintained control over local governments, even if regional officials were also reporting to the Chinese government.
Within this context of political struggle arose two powerful stories of women rebelling and claiming their cultural autonomy. Around 40 CE, the Trưng sisters gathered an army of women and drove the Chinese forces first out of their home villages and then out of Vietnam all together. The sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, were born into a military family and trained in the martial arts from a young age. Their rebellion was sparked when Thi Sách, the husband of Trưng Trắc, was executed by a powerful Chinese official. The sisters ruled as queens of Vietnam for two years until the Chinese army returned, more powerful than ever, and conquered the state once again. Their story remained popular, however, and two centuries later, it served as inspiration for the myth of Triệu Thị Trinh (sometimes called Triệu Ấu, or Lady Triệu). A rebellious and powerful woman, Triệu Thị Trinh likewise gathered an army and attacked the Chinese directly, charging into battle on the back of a war elephant. Her rebellion also failed, however, and the Chinese army is said to have entered the battlefield naked in order to disgust Triệu Thị Trinh and shame her into defeat.
The stories of the Trưng sisters and of Triệu Thị Trinh are both historical realities, their rebellions documented in Vietnamese and Chinese history. Following their deaths, however, the stories entered into the realm of mythology. Villagers built temples to the Trưng sisters and carried on the names of the fierce women warriors, praying to them in times of need. The mythology of Triệu Thị Trinh also grew over time, and centuries later, poems described her as a gigantic and gorgeous leader who haunted the Chinese army in their dreams and cursed them with plagues after her death. Both mythologies served as powerful examples of the fight for Vietnamese independence through the centuries. They also came to reflect the conflicted relationship many Vietnamese men had with the idea of powerful women, regardless of the important roles those women held in their country’s independence.
Summary
For several hundred years, Vietnam has existed under Chinese rule, with Chinese officials often exercising oppressive power over the Vietnamese citizens. The Trưng sisters, named Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, are born in a rural area. Their family teaches them the military arts throughout their childhood and expects them to carry on the military tradition of their father. One day, Trưng Trắc meets and falls in love with a young man named Thi Sách, who is visiting from a nearby village. As the Chinese rulers increasingly try to force their culture onto the Vietnamese people, Thi Sách take a defiant and public stand against them, for which he is ultimately executed. This death so moves the Trưng sisters that they decide to lead a revolution for Vietnamese independence, vowing that such a death will never happen again.
The Trưng sisters begin by forcing the Chinese rulers out of their village. Following their success, they drive the Chinese government out of more and more villages, eventually gathering an army that consists primarily of women. This female army manages to win a succession of important battles until at last the Trưng sisters rule an independent Vietnam as its queens. After only a few years, however, the Chinese generals gather a massive army and descend upon Vietnam to reclaim control over their former province. The Vietnamese women defend themselves bravely, but when defeat appears inevitable, the Trưng sisters decide to drown themselves rather than face the shame of conquest. With the sisters dead, the Chinese reclaim power over Vietnam.
Although the Trưng sisters are gone, their legend remains and inspires the story of Triệu Thị Trinh several centuries later. Triệu Thị Trinh is portrayed as a powerful woman who stands over nine feet tall and is said to have gigantic breasts. As strong as she is beautiful, she is able to travel great distances while surviving on very little food. One day she gets in a fight with her evil sister-in-law, killing her in battle and then exiling herself to the woods. There, she gathers a small army of women and men intent on forcing the Chinese rulers out of their homeland. The army hides in the wilderness as they gather supplies and recruit more warriors. Triệu Thị Trinh’s brother begs her to behave in a way that is more fitting for a woman, although she declares that she only wishes to be free and to help her people. Her brother is so moved by her words that he decides to join her army.
Riding atop a gigantic war elephant, Triệu Thị Trinh leads her army into battle, and the very sight of her causes the Chinese soldiers to tremble in fear. Her breasts slung over her shoulders and her war clothes glistening, she appears superhuman, her frightening image reminding some of the legend of the Trưng sisters before her. The Chinese army takes refuge inside their defensive walls, and Triệu Thị Trinh’s untrained army grows impatient during the siege. Finally, the Chinese army emerges, charging into battle naked and kicking up dirt. They know that Triệu Thị Trinh is offended by anything filthy, and on the sight of the dirty and naked men, she turns and leaves the field in disgust, which causes her army to lose the battle. Furious with their commander, the Vietnamese army surrounds Triệu Thị Trinh and forces her to commit suicide rather than live on as a defeated commander.
“I only want to ride the wind and walk the waves, slay the big whale of the Eastern sea, clean up frontiers, and save the people from drowning. Why should I imitate others, bow my head, stoop over and be a slave? Why resign myself to menial housework?”“The Question of Women”
Even in death, however, Triệu Thị Trinh does not give up. Through dreams, she continues to haunt and terrorize the Chinese commander who defeated her on the battlefield, even creating a plague that devastates his army. In an attempt to end this curse, the commander orders his soldiers to carve penises out of wood and to hang them outside their homes, warding off the easily offended Triệu Thị Trinh.
Triệu Thị Trinh recurs throughout Vietnamese history, and as the Chinese continue their rule over Vietnam, she comes to Vietnamese warriors in their dreams, inspiring them to fight for independence. Likewise, villagers throughout Vietnam build temples to her and to the Trưng sisters, continuing their stories and passing on the names of their generals. While the Chinese maintain rule for hundreds of years, and while many male Vietnamese rulers attempt to quiet the stories of women acting in ways that are culturally inappropriate, the legends of the Trưng sisters and of Triệu Thị Trinh continue, to inspire women and men alike for centuries more.
Bibliography
Dong, Lan, ed. Transnationalism and the Asian American Heroine: Essays on Literature, Film, Myth and Media. Jefferson: McFarland, 2010. Print.
Hayslip, Ly Le. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. New York: Plume, 1993. Print.
Hood, Steven J. Dragons Entailed: Indochina and theChina-Vietnam War. New York: East Gate, 1992. Print.
Lockard, Craig. Southeast Asia in World History. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. Print.
Marr, David G. “The Question of Women.” Vietnamese Traditions on Trial, 1920–1945. Berkeley: U of California P, 1981. 190–251. Print.
Taylor, Keith Weller. The Birth of Vietnam. Berkeley: U of California P, 1983. Print.