Sources of Vietnamese Tradition by Unknown [Columbia University Press, 2012] (Paperback) [Paperback]

by Unknown

Sources of Vietnamese Tradition by Unknown [Columbia University Press, 2012] ...

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Asia

Paperback

First published April 24, 2012

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".

Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.

Reviews

[Thomas Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because of a trip to Vietnam. It helped me get a sense of the rich cultural traditions in Vietnam. So much of my knowledge about Vietnam was shaped by the media accounts of the Vietnam war (e.g. Hanoi was a place where the enemy was located, where we attempted to negotiate peace, where Jane Fonda went and sat on a tank etc.). It was a delight to learn about the different dynasties, the tension between south and north going back a thousand years, the tensions with the dynasties of mainland China, the role of Buddhism, and so much more. It provided me with some background that was invaluable for me when I took a one-day tour of Hanoi, and visited a Buddhist pagoda, a Confucian university (how many Americans know that it predates the Sorbonne?), a Taoist temple, the Ho Chi Minh memorial grounds, and the French architecture. I have now totally altered my sense of what ''North Vietnam'' was all about. My trip to Saigon was very fast, so the only thing I really absorbed was the heat, the coffee, and the government headquarters. I only read the first 100 pages, so I will keep this for future reference in case I go back (I hope) to Vietnam for other experiences of their culture.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very informative and helpful in trying to better understand the unique trajectory of the entire Vietnamese national tradition. Certainly the entire story cannot be told in one volume, but this book is a damn good introduction to it. I now feel confident to dive into any book that deals with a more specific era or topic in Vietnamese history. This book - the most recent in Columbia University's series of Introductions to Asian Civilizations - features primary sources from mostly Vietnamese authors who experienced, witnessed, and actively participated in the shaping of Vietnamese culture, politics, economics, and society. The reader is introduced to some of Vietnam's most eminent scholars, vociferous political ideologues, contemplative religious thinkers, and passionate poets through their own words. Lofty imperial edicts are presented alongside the humble musings of a local official on traditional peasant festivals. Communist revolutionaries, powerful emperors, Catholic bishops, and Buddhist monks all get their say in the pages of this book. After reading this book, when asked by someone else "What is Vietnamese culture like?", one should be able to confidently say that, like any culture, it is a deeply complicated, constantly debated, and multi-polar one. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in understanding Vietnam better.