Hai Bà Trưng – biểu tượng Anh thư nước Việt

Hai Bà Trưng là tên gọi chung cho hai chị em Trưng Trắc và Trưng Nhị. Theo Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư, hai Bà thuộc dòng dõi của Lạc tướng huyện Mê Linh. Vào thời điểm này, Việt nam đang bị cai trị bởi nhà Hán. Đất nước còn phân chia thành các châu, quận và huyện. Tất cả bị đặt dưới quyền kiểm soát cay nghiệt của một vị quan Thái thú người Hán tên là Tô Định. Trưng Trắc thành hôn cùng Thi Sách, một Lạc tướng huyện Chu Diên. Cuộc hôn nhân còn hàm chứa việc liên kết giữa hai huyện, ngầm tạo sức mạnh để chờ thời cơ đánh đuổi nhà Hán. Tô Định nhìn ra điểm này nên đã sát hại Thi Sách và tưởng rằng sẽ dập tắt được ý tưởng vùng lên của người Việt. Nhưng vào năm 40 A.D. Trưng Trắc đã cùng em, Trưng Nhị khởi binh nổi dậy. Bất bình trước sự đô hộ dã man của nhà Hán cuộc khởi nghĩa giành độc lập của hai Bà đã được mau chóng hưởng ứng rộng rãi. Đặc biệt, hai Bà đã qui tụ một số đông nữ hào kiệt khắp nơi về tương trợ như các bà: Thánh Thiên, Bát Nàn, Lê Chân, Lê thị Hoa, Thiều Hoa, Phùng thị Chính. Khi xông trận, hai Bà cỡi voi đi đầu. Hình tượng ấy đã trở thành biểu tượng riêng khi kể về Hai Bà Trưng. Sau khi đánh bại Tô Định, hai Bà đã lập kinh đô tại Mê Linh và tự phong là Trưng Nữ Vương. Năm 43 A.D., nhà Hán cử Mã Viện sang đánh. Trước thế giặc mạnh, Hai Bà Trưng đã thất bại nhưng kiên quyết không đầu hàng. Hai Bà cùng nhảy xuống sông Hát tuẫn tiết vào ngày mồng 6 tháng 2 âm lịch. Đối với người Việt nam, Hai Bà Trưng không chỉ là anh hùng dân tộc mà còn là biểu tượng cho người phụ nữ Việt nam kiêu hùng đúng như câu “Giặc đến nhà đàn bà cũng đánh!”

Hai Bà Trưng – a national symbol of Vietnamese heroines

The Trưng Sisters (Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị) came from a military family and were well-trained in warfare and martial arts. Trưng Trắc married Thị Sách. During this period, the Chinese Han Dynasty Governor Tô Định ruled Vietnam with an iron fist and attempted to erase the Vietnamese identity and assimilate Vietnam into China. Thị Sách opposed this effort and was executed by Tô Định as an example to others. In 40 A.D., Trưng Trắc along her sister, Trưng Nhị, rose against To Dinh. They mobilized the Vietnamese people and were able to capture the capital and 65 other cities. They established the capital at Mê Linh. Tô Đinh fled back to China. Trưng Trắc proclaimed herself to be Queen and ruled the country. In 43 A.D., China sent a large army to crush the Trưng Sisters suprising. Ultimately, the Trưng Sisters were defeated by the Chinese general Mã Viện. But instead of surrendering, the Trưng sisters drowned themselves in the Hát River in February 43 A.D. To the Vietnamese people, the Trưng Sisters are revered for their bravery and courage for leading the first uprising against the Chinese occupation after almost 250 years of domination. The Trưng Sisters were assisted by a number of talented and courageous women in their uprising against the Chinese. According to one legend, a Vietnamese noblewoman by the name of Phùng Thị Chính fought alongside the Trưng Sisters. She was pregnant at the time; and after she gave birth, she carried her newborn in one arm and a sword in the other as she fought the enemy soldiers. When the Trưng Sisters were defeated and committed suicide, Phùng Thị Chính also committed suicide with them. The Trung Sisters are a national symbol of the strong, courageous Vietnamese women and an annual holiday in February to commemorate their deaths is observed by many Vietnamese.

Ngô Quyền and the Struggle for Independence

Ngô Quyền and the Struggle for Independence

10th Century (897-944)General Ngô Quyền was the man to successfully end the Chinese occupation of Vietnam once and for all. This monumental victory took place at the River of Bạch Đằng in 938A.D., where thousands of Chinese soldiers lost their lives while many others fled. With the destruction of the Tang Dynasty in China and numerous uprisings among the Vietnamese population, the region of southern China known as Annam (Vietnam) was beginning to break away from the stranglehold of the Chinese Empire. After being dominated by the northern invaders for more than 1000 years, the people of Vietnam were ready for one final struggle against the Southern Han.

 The Life of Ngô Quyền

Before he accepted the leadership role in the fight for independence, Ngô Quyền was still a government official of the Red River Valley. He served under Dương Đình Nghệ, a Vietnamese administrator who would prove to be one of the most important people in Quyền’s life. As Ngô Quyền’s mentor, Dương Đình Nghệ saw the potential of his talented protege. In the year 931A.D., he promoted Ngô Quyền to the rank of General, gave him the power to preside over Ái Châu province, and his daughter’s hand in marriage.
As he rose through the ranks of the military with the support his wife and the blessing of his great mentor, the future was bright for General Quyền. Sadly, in 938A.D., his mentor and father-in-law was murdered by a rival rebel leader by the name of Kiều Công Tiễn. Though he was hurt by this tragedy, Ngô Quyền was still prepared to take the leadership position and avenge the man who guided him.
His first order of business as the successor to Dương Đình Nghệ was to capture his teacher’s killer. In the same year of succeeding Dương’s post, General Ngô Quyền defeated the forces of Kiều Công Tiễn, ending with the execution of the man himself. With his mission successful, Ngô Quyền was now ready to face the Southern Han, who were now preparing to launch an attack on the people of Vietnam and crush the rebellion.
The Battle at Bạch Đằng Bay

Before Ngô Quyền’s rise, his mentor Dương Đình Nghệ had been controlling Vietnam semi-autonomously, though technically still under the control of the Southern Han. The news of Nghệ’s death came as an opportunity for the Chinese to recapture the southern region. Ngô Quyền had already anticipated their invasion, so he decided to plant a trap for the Han army.
The Chinese planned to launch their attack from the River of Bạch Đằng, a vulnerable location where the most damage can be made. Having foreseen this strategy beforehand, General Ngô Quyền had his soldiers install a myriad of large, sharp poles into the river, concealed by the waves and currents.
On the day of the battle, the Chinese engaged the Vietnamese forces, unaware of the traps that lay ahead. Under General Quyền’s orders, the Vietnamese forces feigned defeat, luring the unsuspecting enemy into the ingeniously hidden ambush. The overconfident forces of the Southern Han pursued the retreating ships, still oblivious to Ngô Quyền’s plan. At the perfect moment, the wooden traps emerged from beneath the waves, capturing the warships of the Southern Han.
The time was right for General Ngô Quyền to deliver the finishing blow. On his command, General Ngô Quyền’s forces unloaded everything they had on the Chinese ships, obliterating the forces of the Southern Han. Thousands of Chinese soldiers met their end at Bach Bạch Đằng, including the commander, Liu Hung-tsao.
This momentous victory over the Chinese came to be known as the Battle of Bạch Đằng of 938. After 1000 years of Chinese occupation, an independent Vietnam was finally born again. As the man who made history, Ngô Quyền proclaimed himself the new king of Nam-Việt, carrying on the ancient traditions of the people of Lạc Việt. From then on, the people of Vietnam would always defend their nation. Future Chinese dynasties would try to invade, but never again will the invaders succeed.