Nguyễn Trường Tộ và bi kịch của những nhà cải cách thế kỷ 19

Key Concepts

• Nguyễn Trường Tộ: A 19th-century Vietnamese reformer who advocated for modernization and learning from the West.
• Tế cấp bát điều: Eight proposals submitted by Nguyễn Trường Tộ to King Tự Đức, outlining reforms for Vietnam.
• Minh Trị Restoration (Duy tân Minh Trị): A period of rapid modernization and westernization in Japan during the late 19th century.
• Confucianism (Nho giáo): The dominant philosophical and ethical system in Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty, which hindered acceptance of new ideas.
• Industrial Revolution (Cách mạng công nghiệp): The period of major technological advancement that Nguyễn Trường Tộ recognized as transformative.

The Rejection of Nguyễn Trường Tộ: A Tragedy of Vietnamese Reform

The video explores the reasons why Nguyễn Trường Tộ, a 19th-century Vietnamese reformer, was dismissed as a fantasist by the Nguyễn dynasty. It frames this rejection as a tragic illustration of the difficulties faced by Vietnamese reformers during a period of significant global change. Nguyễn Trường Tộ keenly understood the profound impact of the Industrial Revolution on the world stage. Recognizing the need for Vietnam to adapt, he presented King Tự Đức with the Tế cấp bát điều – eight detailed proposals aimed at modernizing the country. These proposals centered on the crucial need to open Vietnam to learning Western science and technology.

The Tế cấp bát điều and the Court’s Response

The Tế cấp bát điều weren’t simply vague suggestions; they were concrete plans for reform. However, the court’s reaction was not one of consideration, but of skepticism and ridicule. A well-known anecdote illustrates this perfectly: when Nguyễn Trường Tộ described the concept of an electric light bulb, a Western invention, court officials reportedly laughed and dismissed it as a “lamp hanging upside down.” Their reasoning, rooted in traditional understanding, was that oil must flow down to fuel a lamp, making an “upside-down” lamp impossible. This example highlights the fundamental disconnect between Nguyễn Trường Tộ’s forward-thinking ideas and the deeply ingrained, traditional worldview of the court. They considered his knowledge of machinery, law, and foreign affairs to be insignificant compared to the established principles of Confucianism.

A Contrast with Japan: Fukuawa Yukichi and the Minh Trị Restoration

The video draws a stark contrast between the fate of Nguyễn Trường Tộ and that of Fukuawa Yukichi in Japan. Fukuawa Yukichi, a Japanese reformer, was listened to by his nation and played a pivotal role in the successful Duy tân Minh Trị – the Meiji Restoration. This period saw Japan rapidly modernize and become a major world power. While Fukuawa Yukichi was embraced, Nguyễn Trường Tộ was left isolated and branded a storyteller, a “person of the West.” This comparison underscores the differing responses to modernization in Vietnam and Japan.

The Root of the Problem: A Stagnant Ideology

The core of the problem, the video argues, lay in the Nguyễn dynasty’s rigid and outdated ideology. The court was unable to comprehend or accept the sweeping changes occurring globally. This ideological inflexibility created a barrier to progress and ultimately contributed to Vietnam’s vulnerability. The tragedy of Nguyễn Trường Tộ, therefore, isn’t simply a personal one; it represents a broader national failure to confront reality.

A Warning for the Future

The video concludes with a powerful statement: “Khi chúng ta cười nhạo những thứ mình không hiểu, chúng ta đã vô tình đóng sập cánh cửa cứu lấy chính mình.” (“When we ridicule what we do not understand, we inadvertently close the door to our own salvation.”) This serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness and a willingness to embrace new knowledge, even when it challenges existing beliefs. The rejection of Nguyễn Trường Tộ serves as a historical lesson about the dangers of intellectual stagnation and the necessity of adapting to a changing world.