A local history of vietnamese sinology in early-twentieth century annam-the case of the bulletin du học báo

Abstract

Totalitarian but crumbling regimes have always to face a common dilemma. They want to send their young elite abroad, hoping that the intellectual youth will come back well equipped with new knowledge to re-solidify the foundation of their in-peril regime. On the other hand, they undoubtedly feel the threat that those young people will also bring back with them revolutionary thoughts after having been exposed to and enlightened by a whole new world. Founded on Confucianism, early twentieth century Hue Court of Vietnam must defend its limited autonomy, ironically allowed by French colonialism, within their kingdom. Recognizing its own weakness, the court wanted to send its newly growing intellectuals overseas, having them trained in French educational system to better handle the intimidation of “Western civilization” toward intellectual tradition known as Hán học (Sinology). Aware of “dangerous temptations” from France as a country of liberty, the court organized a “Society for the Encouragement of Western Studies," and published a periodical called Du Học Báo (Bulletin for Overseas Studies) to keep their perspective and ongoing students in track with Sinological tradition. Despite its strong intentions, things were gradually going out of track and far beyond the imagination and control of the court. Conflicts in Vietnamese Sinology in the early twentieth century were thus reflected through the bulletin, and this chapter will analyze the tradition in trial through the stories reported in this publication.