Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute)

Studies of Sino-Viet relations have traditionally focused on Chinese aggression and Vietnamese resistance, or have assumed out-of-date ideas about Sinicization and the tributary system. They have limited themselves to national historical traditions, doing little to reach beyond the border. Ming China and Vietnam, by contrast, relies on sources and viewpoints from both sides of the border, for a truly transnational history of Sino-Viet relations. Kathlene Baldanza offers a detailed examination of geopolitical and cultural relations between Ming China (1368–1644) and Dai Viet, the state that would go on to become Vietnam. She highlights the internal debates and external alliances that characterized their diplomatic and military relations in the pre-modern period, showing especially that Vietnamese patronage of East Asian classical culture posed an ideological threat to Chinese states. Baldanza presents an analysis of seven linked biographies of Chinese and Vietnamese border-crossers whose lives illustrate the entangled histories of those countries. Studies Of Sino-viet Relations Have Traditionally Focused On Chinese Aggression And Vietnamese Resistance, Or Have Assumed Out-of-date Ideas About Sinicization And The Tributary System. They Have Limited Themselves To National Historical Traditions, Doing Little To Reach Beyond The Border. Ming China And Vietnam, By Contrast, Relies On Sources And Viewpoints From Both Sides Of The Border, For A Truly Transnational History Of Sino-viet Relations. Kathlene Baldanza Offers A Detailed Examination Of Geopolitical And Cultural Relations Between Ming China (1368-1644) And Dai Viet, The State That Would Go On To Become Vietnam-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. I Southern Scholars In The North -- 1. Brief History Of Annan -- Displaced By The Mongol Wars -- From Jiao To Annan -- Customs Of The South -- History For The Yuan Court -- Afterlife Of A Brief History Of Annan -- 2. Record Of The Dreams Of An Old Southerner -- Establishment Of The Ming -- Bounded Ming -- Cultural Borders -- Expansive Ming -- Beginnings Of The Ho Dynasty -- Dai Viet Reenters The Map Of Empire -- Dreams Of Family, Loyalty, And Poetry -- 3. Northern Emperor And The Southern Emperor -- Unintended Consequences Of Empire -- Fall Of The Le And The Rise Of The Mac -- Jiajing Emperor's Dai Viet Problem -- Bounded China Or An Expansive Empire? -- Two Suns In The Sky -- De-civilizing Mission -- Clouded Mirror -- Pt. Ii Officials In The Borderlands -- 4. Official At Odds With The State -- Lin Xiyuan In Qinzhou -- Mac Dang Dung And The Dong -- Fall Of Lin Xiyuan -- Four Dong After Lin Xiyuan -- 5. Fearsome Panther -- Letter To Persuade The Emperor -- Surrender As Political Theater -- Fearsome Panther -- Battle Of Poems -- Frustrated Autocrat -- Pt. Iii Return Of The Le Dynasty -- 6. Ruler And Minister -- Internal Crisis -- Golden Man -- 7. Sparrow And The Bamboo -- Phung Khac Khoan's Embassy To Beijing -- Holding Rites And Music Dear -- Silver-tongued Ambassador -- Southern Mirror. Kathlene Baldanza. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Traditional studies of Sino-Viet relations focused on outmoded debates about Chinese aggression and Vietnamese resistance. In reality, their shared heritage led to surprising alliances and connections, and spurred internal debates. Kathlene Baldanza examines seven linked biographies of Chinese and Vietnamese border-crossers whose lives illustrate the entangled histories of those countries.