5 female heroes of Vietnamese history

(Baonghean.vn) - Although women's lives were full of hardships and struggles in the past, history still records the names of many women who rose above their "ordinary feminine circumstances" to shoulder the burdens of national affairs. On the occasion of March 8th, Baonghean.vn reviews the female heroes who left a deep mark on Vietnamese history.

1. Trưng Trắc, Trưng Nhị

The Trung Sisters' Uprising.

Born into the Hung Dynasty of Me Linh, and originally from a family of local generals, the two sisters' mother, Man Thien, also worked in agriculture and silkworm farming. Because of their family's mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, their mother named them Trung Chac and Trung Nhi (meaning "small and thin"), which is how we know them today as Trung Trac and Trung Nhi.

Growing up amidst the turbulent times and the rule of the Eastern Han dynasty, the two sisters refused to be confined to the women's quarters. They diligently practiced martial arts and honed their swordsmanship, becoming respected and admired women in their region.

The political alliance marriage between Thi Sách and Trưng Trắc was subsequently arranged. However, the eldest sister's husband, from Chu Diên (now in Hưng Yên province), was murdered by the tyrannical governor Tô Định. "Angry at the tyrannical man, they could not forget their husband's death," the two sisters rose up in rebellion.

The rebellion of the Trung Sisters quickly gained widespread support, with heroes from the surrounding areas joining their ranks. It became a unique rebellion, particularly notable for its leadership, which consisted mostly of renowned female generals such as Le Chan, Thieu Hoa, and Xuan Nuong…

The uprising was successful in the year Canh Ty (40). But, the unification and peace were "short-lived". After three years of peace and prosperity, the people enjoyed their work, and the Eastern Han dynasty sent Ma Vien to the South to suppress them. "That person (referring to Ma Vien - narrator) fought with those two women at Lang Bac Lake (now West Lake in Hanoi); the two sisters lost and retreated; when they reached Hat Mon commune, Phuc Loc district (now Phuc Tho, in Son Tay province), they were so angry that they jumped into the Hat Giang river mouth and committed suicide," that happened in the year Nham Dan (42).

2. Heroine Trieu Thi Trinh

Lady Trieu led the rebellion.

According to unofficial history, Lady Trieu was born on October 2nd, the year of Binh Ngo (226) in the Quan Yen mountain region (Nua mountain), in Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province today. Folklore also recounts that from a young age, the girl named Trieu showed herself to be decisive and upright, always expressing indignation at the brutal oppression and exploitation of our people by the Northern rulers.

That is also why she harbored the great ambition of "acting on behalf of Heaven," not confining herself to her chambers but diligently practicing martial arts, archery, and horsemanship, becoming as skilled as any valiant man. When asked about marriage and children, the young woman boldly expressed her aspirations: "I only want to ride the strong winds, trample the fierce waves, slay the whales in the East Sea, drive out the Wu army, reclaim the land, and break the yoke of slavery. How could I possibly bow down and become someone's concubine?"

In the year Mau Thin (248), Lady Trieu raised the banner of rebellion. The rebellion spread from the Nua mountain region to the entire Cuu Chan district and then to Giao Chi district. Wherever the rebel army fought, they won like splitting bamboo. The Ngo dynasty, fearing the rebellion, had to send 8,000 troops led by An Nam Captain and Governor of Giao Chau Luc Dan (grandson of the famous general Luc Ton of the Eastern Ngo dynasty) to suppress the rebellion.

Faced with the overwhelming momentum of the rebel army and the majestic young female general "wearing a short yellow dress, curved-toe shoes, and fighting on the head of an elephant" (according to Giao Chi Chi), the Wu army became terrified and demoralized. The Wu invaders admired Lady Trieu and called her Nhuy Kieu General (the graceful female general), and Le Hai Ba Vuong (the queen of the beautiful sea region).

3. Female Admiral Bui Thi Xuan

Admiral Bui Thi Xuan stood tall even when facing death.

Bui Thi Xuan (? – 1802) was born in Xuan Hao village, Phu Phong commune, Tuy Vien district, Quy Nhon prefecture, now Phu Xuan village, Binh Phu commune, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh province. She was a famous female general during the Tay Son dynasty, wife of the renowned general Tran Quang Dieu, and niece of Grand Tutor Bui Dac Tuyen.

Despite being a woman of humble origins, she not only possessed all the necessary qualities of a woman in feudal times, embodying the moral principles of "three obediences and four virtues," but also the intelligence, courage, and heroism of a valiant man. This made her one of the legendary female generals of the Tay Son dynasty, and indeed of Vietnamese history in its entirety.

In her childhood, instead of befriending needlework and embroidery or the melodious sound of the pipa, Bui Thi Xuan went to study martial arts with Master Ngo Manh in Thuan Truyen. Among the male and female students, Bui Thi Xuan's martial arts skills stood out; she learned quickly and was particularly skilled in dual swordsmanship, so her master appointed her as the head of the school. According to legend, besides being skilled in martial arts, Bui Thi Xuan was also beautiful, dexterous, and knowledgeable in classical Chinese literature, with beautiful handwriting.

Thanks to her martial arts skills, it is said that she and Tran Quang Dieu once killed a ferocious tiger that attacked them. It was from this encounter that they became husband and wife, sharing the same ideals of supporting the king and serving the country. The couple joined the Tay Son rebellion. From then on, her martial arts talent made Bui Thi Xuan a prominent female general under King Quang Trung.

Along with her husband, General Tran Quang Dieu, and other generals, Bui Thi Xuan participated in the Tay Son peasant movement, contributing to the defeat of 290,000 invading Qing troops in 1789 (Year of the Rooster) alongside King Quang Trung, and then engaging in war against Nguyen Anh. Her military prowess, skillful troop deployment, and courageous fighting spirit greatly contributed to the establishment of the Tay Son dynasty, for which she was appointed Admiral by Quang Trung.

4. Female General Nguyen Thi Dinh

General Nguyen Thi Dinh.

General Nguyen Thi Dinh was born on March 15, 1920, the youngest of ten siblings in a peasant family in Luong Hoa commune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province. Growing up, she became a beautiful young woman, and her family intended to marry her off to a wealthy man. However, enlightened by revolutionary ideals at the age of 16, she chose Mr. Bich – one of her brother's comrades.

After the revolution, Nguyen Thi Dinh was elected to the Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee. From then on, she, along with other local leaders, organized the resistance movement of the people of Ben Tre. After the Geneva Accords were signed in 1954, she decided to stay in the South to fight.

In early 1960, she was one of the leaders of the Ben Tre Uprising and directly supervised the first phase of the Uprising (January 17, 1960), with women as the core force. The uprising was successful, marking the beginning of the Uprising movement in the province and throughout Southern Vietnam later on.

The name of Nguyen Thi Dinh, whom her comrades and the people often called Sister Ba Dinh, is inextricably linked to the uprising that spread like a tidal wave throughout Southern Vietnam. Later, President Ho Chi Minh called Nguyen Thi Dinh's army the "army of long-haired women."

In the years that followed, Sister Ba Dinh was entrusted with new responsibilities. And she proved her talent in her role as a female general. She commanded cultural, propaganda, and guerrilla units from various agencies and organizations participating in fighting the enemy, repelling the Johnson City offensive – the largest offensive by the US-backed South Vietnamese forces in February 1967.

In 1965, President Ho Chi Minh said of Nguyen Thi Dinh: "Only our country in the whole world has such a female general. It is truly glorious for the South, and for our entire nation."

This seemed like a prophecy, as in 1974, Nguyen Thi Dinh was officially promoted to the rank of Major General. And in the spring of 1975, among the five columns of troops advancing to liberate Saigon, there was General Nguyen Thi Dinh in the role of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Army.

Peace

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