Phan Chau Trinh and His Political Writings

by Phan Chau Trinh, Vinh Sinh (Editor)

Overview

Phan Chau Trinh (1872-1926) was the earliest proponent of democracy and popular rights in Vietnam. Throughout his life, he favored a moderate approach to political change and advised the country's leaders to seek gradual progress for Vietnam within the French colonial system. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he did not favor anti-French military alliances or insurgent military resistance, arguing that "to depend on foreign help is foolish and to resort to violence is self-destructive." As a result of his exposure to Chinese reformist literature, Phan Chau Trinh assigned top priority to promoting democracy and human rights and to improving Vietnamese people's lives. He believed that true independence could only be achieved by changing the Vietnamese political culture, and he articulated penetrating criticism of the corruption and superficiality of Vietnam's officials. His emphasis on changing the fundamental values governing the ruling class's behavior, as well as his skepticism regarding anticolonial resistance, set Phan Chau Trinh apart from his contemporaries and mark him as a true revolutionary. Vinh Sinh's masterly introduction to Phan Chau Trinh's essays illuminate both this turbulent era and the courageous intelligence of the author.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501719417
Publisher:	Southeast Asia Program Publications
Publication date:	05/31/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	152
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Names and Abbreviations ix

Photographs xi

Biographical Chronology xiii

Introduction: Phan Chau Trinh and His Political Writings 1

"A New Vietnam Following the Franco-Vietnamese Alliance" (Phap Viet lien hop hau chi Tan Viet Nam). Translation from literary Chinese 57

"Letter to Emperor Khai Dinh" ("Viet Nam quoc dan Phan Chau Trinh ky thu u Viet Nam duong kim Hoang de"; or "Thu that dieu," literally, "The Letter of Seven Clauses," as it was often identified). Translation from literary Chinese. 87

"Morality and Ethics in the Orient and the Occident" ("Dao duc va luan ly Dong Tay"). Translation from Romanized quoc ngu script 103

"Monarchy and Democracy" ("Quan tri chu nghia va Dan tri chu nghia"). Translation from Romanized quoc ngu script. 125

About the Editor, Translator 141