Edict on the Transfer of the Capital

Edict on the Transfer of the Capital (, , ) is an edict written at the behest of emperor LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡i TÃ¡Â»Â and issued in the fall of 1010 to transfer the capital of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i CÃ¡Â»Â ViÃ¡Â»Ât from Hoa LÃÂ° to ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La.

History

In 968, Vietnam was unified by emperor ÃÂinh BÃ¡Â»Â LÃÂ©nh, ending the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords period. He placed the imperial capital in the mountainous Hoa LÃÂ°, located in modern-day Ninh BÃÂ¬nh province of Vietnam, and Hoa LÃÂ° stayed being the capital for about 42 years and developed into a major cultural centre of Vietnam.

In 1005, ruling emperor LÃÂª HoÃÂ n of the Early LÃÂª dynasty died, resulting in a succession dispute between the princes, LÃÂª Long ÃÂÃÂ©nh, LÃÂª Long TÃÂch, LÃÂª Long KÃÂnh and crown prince LÃÂª Long ViÃ¡Â»Ât, preventing a government to take control over the entire country for eight months. Eventually, LÃÂª Long ÃÂÃÂ©nh won control of the throne, became the new emperor. As a result of the emperor's poor health, according to some sources, most power was actually controlled by one of the members of the LÃÂ½ family LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n. LÃÂª Long ÃÂÃÂ©nh's reign only lasted for four years and he died in 1009. After LÃÂª Long ÃÂÃÂ©nh died, the court agreed to enthrone the high-rank mandarin and aristocrat LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n as the new emperor under pressure from the public and from the Buddhist monks, thus ending the Early LÃÂª dynasty.

Realising the difficulty of having the capital in a mountainous region, LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡i TÃ¡Â»Â (LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n) and the royal court decided to relocate from Hoa LÃÂ° to the site of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La (modern-day Hanoi) in the next year, 1010. ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La was known as the city that the Tang general Gao Pian had built in the 860s after the ravages of the Nanzhao War. In 1010, LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n published the edict explaining why he move his capital to Dai La. LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n chose the site because it had been an earlier capital in the rich Red River Delta. He saw ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La as a place "between Heaven and Earth where the coiling dragon and the crouching tiger lie, and his capital would last 10,000 years". When LÃÂ½ CÃÂ´ng UÃ¡ÂºÂ©n's boat docked at the new capital, a dragon, symbol of sovereign authority, reportedly soared above his head; he accordingly renamed the place ThÃÂng Long, the "ascending dragon".

Documents

The Edict on the Transfer of the Capital is of great meaning in many respects. The work has been researched in terms of history, politics, literature, geography, philosophy and so on. The edict was first compiled into the book "the Complete Annals of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât" (ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât sÃ¡Â»Â kÃÂ½ toÃÂ n thÃÂ°) by historian NgÃÂ´ SÃÂ© LiÃÂªn in the 15th century.

Classical Chinese original

Sino-Vietnamese transliteration

<blockquote>TÃÂch ThÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng gia chÃÂ BÃÂ n Canh ngÃÂ© thiÃÂªn, Chu thÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t ÃÂÃÂ£i ThÃÂ nh VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng tam tÃ¡Â»Â. KhÃ¡Â»Âi Tam ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i chi sÃ¡Â»Â quÃÂ¢n tuÃ¡ÂºÂ«n vu kÃ¡Â»Â· tÃÂ°, vÃ¡Â»Âng tÃ¡Â»Â± thiÃÂªn tÃ¡Â»Â. DÃÂ© kÃ¡Â»Â³ ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i trÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch trung, vi Ã¡Â»Â©c vÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ tÃ¡Â»Â tÃÂ´n chi kÃ¡ÂºÂ¿; thÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng cÃ¡ÂºÂ©n thiÃÂªn mÃ¡Â»Ânh, hÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ nhÃÂ¢n dÃÂ¢n chÃÂ, cÃ¡ÂºÂ©u hÃ¡Â»Â¯u tiÃ¡Â»Ân triÃ¡ÂºÂ¿p cÃ¡ÂºÂ£i. CÃ¡Â»Â quÃ¡Â»Âc tÃ¡Â»Â diÃÂªn trÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng, phong tÃ¡Â»Â¥c phÃÂº phÃ¡Â»Â¥. Nhi ÃÂinh LÃÂª nhÃ¡Â»Â gia, nÃÂ£i tuÃ¡ÂºÂ«n kÃ¡Â»Â· tÃÂ°, hÃ¡Â»Ât thiÃÂªn mÃ¡Â»Ânh, vÃÂµng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng Chu chi tÃÂch, thÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng an quyÃ¡ÂºÂ¿t Ã¡ÂºÂ¥p vu tÃÂ°, trÃÂ thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i phÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t trÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng, toÃÂ¡n sÃ¡Â»Â ÃÂoÃ¡ÂºÂ£n xÃÂºc, bÃÂ¡ch tÃÂnh hao tÃ¡Â»Ân, vÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n vÃ¡ÂºÂt thÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t nghi. TrÃ¡ÂºÂ«m thÃ¡ÂºÂm thÃ¡Â»Âng chi, bÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c bÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t tÃ¡Â»Â.

HuÃ¡Â»Âng Cao VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng cÃ¡Â»Â ÃÂÃÂ´ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La thÃÂ nh, trÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch thiÃÂªn ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa khu vÃ¡Â»Â±c chi trung; ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c long bÃÂ n hÃ¡Â»Â cÃ¡Â»Â© chi thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿. ChÃÂnh Nam BÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c ÃÂÃÂ´ng TÃÂ¢y chi vÃ¡Â»Â; tiÃ¡Â»Ân giang sÃÂ¡n hÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng bÃ¡Â»Âi chi nghi. KÃ¡Â»Â³ ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa quÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng nhi thÃ¡ÂºÂ£n bÃÂ¬nh, quyÃ¡ÂºÂ¿t thÃ¡Â»Â cao nhi sÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng khÃ¡ÂºÂ£i. DÃÂ¢n cÃÂ° miÃ¡Â»Ât hÃÂ´n ÃÂiÃ¡ÂºÂ¿m chi khÃ¡Â»Ân; vÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n vÃ¡ÂºÂt cÃ¡Â»Â±c phÃ¡Â»Ân phÃ¡Â»Â¥ chi phong. BiÃ¡ÂºÂ¿n lÃÂ£m ViÃ¡Â»Ât bang, tÃÂ° vi thÃ¡ÂºÂ¯ng ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa. ThÃÂ nh tÃ¡Â»Â© phÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng bÃ¡Â»Â©c thÃ¡ÂºÂ¥u chi yÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u hÃ¡Â»Âi; vi vÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ vÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng chi thÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng ÃÂÃÂ´.

TrÃ¡ÂºÂ«m dÃ¡Â»Â¥c nhÃÂ¢n thÃ¡Â»Â ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa lÃ¡Â»Â£i dÃÂ© ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ânh quyÃ¡ÂºÂ¿t cÃÂ°, khanh ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ³ng nhÃÂ° hÃÂ ?</blockquote>

Vietnamese translation

<blockquote>XÃÂ°a nhÃÂ ThÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¿n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âi BÃÂ n Canh nÃÂm lÃ¡ÂºÂ§n dÃ¡Â»Âi ÃÂÃÂ´, nhÃÂ Chu ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¿n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âi ThÃÂ nh VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng ba lÃ¡ÂºÂ§n dÃ¡Â»Âi ÃÂÃÂ´. HÃÂ¡ phÃ¡ÂºÂ£i cÃÂ¡c vua thÃ¡Â»Âi Tam ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i Ã¡ÂºÂ¥y theo ÃÂ½ riÃÂªng tÃ¡Â»Â± tiÃ¡Â»Ân di dÃ¡Â»Âi. LÃÂ m nhÃÂ° thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ cÃ¡Â»Ât ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â mÃÂ°u nghiÃ¡Â»Âp lÃ¡Â»Ân, chÃ¡Â»Ân Ã¡Â»Â chÃ¡Â»Â giÃ¡Â»Â¯a, lÃÂ m kÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ cho con chÃÂ¡u muÃÂ´n vÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âi, trÃÂªn kÃÂnh mÃ¡Â»Ânh trÃ¡Â»Âi, dÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âi theo ÃÂ½ dÃÂ¢n, nÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u cÃÂ³ chÃ¡Â»Â tiÃ¡Â»Ân thÃÂ¬ dÃ¡Â»Âi ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âi, cho nÃÂªn vÃ¡ÂºÂn nÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc lÃÂ¢u dÃÂ i, phong tÃ¡Â»Â¥c giÃÂ u thÃ¡Â»Ânh. ThÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ mÃÂ hai nhÃÂ ÃÂinh, LÃÂª lÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i theo ÃÂ½ riÃÂªng, coi thÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng mÃ¡Â»Ânh trÃ¡Â»Âi, khÃÂ´ng noi theo viÃ¡Â»Âc cÃÂ© ThÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng Chu, cÃ¡Â»Â© chÃ¡Â»Âu yÃÂªn ÃÂÃÂ³ng ÃÂÃÂ´ nÃÂ¡i ÃÂÃÂ¢y, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¿n nÃ¡Â»Âi thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i khÃÂ´ng dÃÂ i, vÃ¡ÂºÂn sÃ¡Â»Â ngÃ¡ÂºÂ¯n ngÃ¡Â»Â§i, trÃÂm hÃ¡Â»Â tÃ¡Â»Ân hao, muÃÂ´n vÃ¡ÂºÂt khÃÂ´ng hÃ¡Â»Â£p. TrÃ¡ÂºÂ«m rÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t ÃÂau ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân, khÃÂ´ng thÃ¡Â»Â khÃÂ´ng dÃ¡Â»Âi.

HuÃ¡Â»Âng chi thÃÂ nh ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La, ÃÂÃÂ´ cÃÂ© cÃ¡Â»Â§a Cao VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng, Ã¡Â»Â giÃ¡Â»Â¯a khu vÃ¡Â»Â±c trÃ¡Â»Âi ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t, ÃÂÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£c thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ rÃ¡Â»Âng cuÃ¡Â»Ân hÃ¡Â»Â ngÃ¡Â»Âi, chÃÂnh giÃ¡Â»Â¯a nam bÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c ÃÂÃÂ´ng tÃÂ¢y, tiÃ¡Â»Ân nghi nÃÂºi sÃÂ´ng sau trÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc. VÃÂ¹ng nÃÂ y mÃ¡ÂºÂ·t ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t rÃ¡Â»Âng mÃÂ bÃ¡ÂºÂ±ng phÃ¡ÂºÂ³ng, thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t cao mÃÂ sÃÂ¡ng sÃ¡Â»Â§a, dÃÂ¢n cÃÂ° khÃÂ´ng khÃ¡Â»Â thÃ¡ÂºÂ¥p trÃÂ©ng tÃ¡Â»Âi tÃÂm, muÃÂ´n vÃ¡ÂºÂt hÃ¡ÂºÂ¿t sÃ¡Â»Â©c tÃÂ°ÃÂ¡i tÃ¡Â»Ât phÃ¡Â»Ân thÃ¡Â»Ânh. Xem khÃ¡ÂºÂ¯p nÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âc ViÃ¡Â»Ât ÃÂÃÂ³ lÃÂ nÃÂ¡i thÃ¡ÂºÂ¯ng ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa, thÃ¡Â»Â±c lÃÂ chÃ¡Â»Â tÃ¡Â»Â¥ hÃ¡Â»Âi quan yÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u cÃ¡Â»Â§a bÃ¡Â»Ân phÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng, ÃÂÃÂºng lÃÂ nÃÂ¡i thÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng ÃÂÃÂ´ kinh sÃÂ° mÃÂ£i muÃÂ´n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âi.

TrÃ¡ÂºÂ«m muÃ¡Â»Ân nhÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Âa lÃ¡Â»Â£i Ã¡ÂºÂ¥y mÃÂ ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ânh nÃÂ¡i Ã¡Â»Â, cÃÂ¡c khanh nghÃÂ© thÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ nÃÂ o?</blockquote>

English translation

<blockquote>Ã¢ÂÂThe Shang dynasty under Pan Geng moved its capital five times, and the Zhou dynasty under king Cheng moved three times. Did these kings of the Three Dynasties move their capitals for personal gain? No, they did so to establish great enterprises, to choose the most central and favorable location, ensuring prosperity for their descendants for ten thousand generations. They respected the Mandate of Heaven above and followed the desires of the people below. Whenever a location proved convenient, they relocated, thus ensuring the long-lasting stability of their dynasties, the prosperity of their lands, and the well-being of their people.

However, the ÃÂinh and LÃÂª dynasties acted differently. They followed their personal preferences, disregarded the will of Heaven, and ignored historical precedents. They remained content in a small, enclosed land, failing to secure long-term peace and prosperity. As a result, their reigns were short-lived, their influence limited, and their people suffered. This causes me great sorrow, and I cannot help but move the capital.

Furthermore, ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i La, the former capital of Cao BiÃ¡Â»Ân, is located in the heart of the nationÃ¢ÂÂs territory. It possesses the strategic position of a coiled dragon and crouching tiger, facing the cardinal directions in perfect alignment. The land is vast and flat, elevated and dry, free from flooding and natural disasters. The population is not subjected to hardship, and all living things flourish. Upon surveying the entire nation, no other place compares to this superior land. It is truly the central hub of the four directions, the ideal place for an everlasting imperial capital.

Therefore, I wish to take advantage of this great geographical blessing and establish the new capital here. What do you, my officials, think?Ã¢ÂÂ </blockquote>

References

Capital Transferring Edict in ceramic relief