Adopted son from Nghe An, Japan
(Baonghean.vn) - Cultural researcher Thai Huy Bich once shared information that in the early 17th century, in the Cua Hoi area, a Japanese merchant ship sank, the authorities at that time rescued more than 100 people; among them was a woman who was adopted by the locals...
Special trade relationship
As a land with a long history, Nghe An has always been an important land. From the 15th century to the early 19th century, whenNghe An townLocated at the foot of Lam Thanh mountain, next to Lam river and right on the national highway at that time, it attracted many foreign merchant ships, including merchant ships from Japan. Both Vietnamese and Japanese historical sources recorded that from the beginning of the 17th century, Japanese merchant ships came to Phuc Le commune (Hung Nguyen) to trade.
According to researcher Thai Huy Bich, Phuc Le is a commune in Hung Nguyen district, located at the foot of Lam Thanh mountain, which has now been eroded into Lam river. In particular, the Trieu Khau area of Phuc Le commune has Trang market, associated with Nghe An provincial capital, so there is an open trade relationship. Opposite Phuc Le is Phu Thach wharf area located in the south of Lam river, on Vinh Dai village land, now Quang Vinh commune (Duc Tho, Ha Tinh). The period when Trang and Phu Thach markets were most prosperous, becoming bustling ports of Nghe An was the years 1593 - 1616. This area was bustling both on land and on the river. Here, there is still a folk song "Trang market in the twenty-seventh month / Those who walk, just walk, those who go by boat, just go". On the map of our country at that time, the Japanese used a red pen to circle the place name of Hung Nguyen district. They sold us the most important goods, weapons and copper, then bought agricultural and forestry products to bring back to the country...
In 2013, the Kyushu National Museum in Saifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, found the oldest letter from the Kingdom of Annam to Japan. The letter was written in 1591, under the reign of King Le The Tong, and the content of the letter aimed to connect diplomatic relations between the two countries. This was also the time when Japan opened the "Red Seal Ship" period (1592), when the Japanese government at that time issued "Red Seal Status" - a paper issued to merchant ships to trade all over the world, with a vermilion seal, for thousands of merchant ships to trade at Pho Hien port (Hung Yen) and especially Phuc Le in Nghe An.
At that time, Lord Trinh also instructed the governor of Nghe An to investigate clearly before arriving at Phuc Le, which district and commune the Japanese merchant ship had stayed in; to question the identity of the captain and the merchants on board; the goods and items carried; if there were any mistakes, they would be handled according to the national law. The strict inspection of Japanese merchant ships could be understood as a precaution from Lord Trinh, because at this time, Japanese merchant ships were still doing business with both Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai.
In the early 17th century, trade relations were increasingly strengthened. One notable event was in June 1610, when a Japanese merchant ship came to Nghe An to trade in the Lam River area. After purchasing many goods, it returned home. However, when passing through Chu Nhai estuary (Hoi Thong - Cua Hoi), due to big waves and strong winds, the ship sank, 6 people on board died, the local authorities rescued 105 people. After that, these people were taken care of and had boats built for them to return.
By the mid-17th century, for about 5 years (from 1655 to 1660), due to the fierce Trinh - Nguyen war, Lam River became the border between Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai, both banks were fierce battlefields. Not to mention the fact that Phuc Le land gradually eroded into the river, forcing the Japanese to leave Hung Nguyen for Pho Hien (Hung Yen) to do business and trade. Phuc Le and Phu Thach ports also gradually faded into the past.
The adopted son from the land of the rising sun
In Ha Tinh, we had access to ancient letters from the Kingdom of An Nam to Japan, which were donated by the Japan Restoration Society to the Ha Tinh Museum in 2018. Of the 5 donated letters, most were written from 1591 under King Le The Tong to 1611 under King Le Kinh Tong.
In particular, the letter dated February 25, 1611 mentioned the event of a Japanese merchant ship sinking a year earlier: “...it is known that on a certain day in June of last year, the exchange of currency with Annam had been completed. Now, when arriving at the Dan Nhai port at sea, suddenly a wave arose and scattered, causing 105 natives to live a drifting life...”.
According to Mr. Dau Khoa Toan - Director of Ha Tinh Museum: At that time, the people who took care of the Japanese group included Van Ly Marquis Tran Tinh, a native of Mat village, Nguyet Ao commune, La Son district, Nghe An province (now Mat Thiet village, Kim Song Truong commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province), who was working as a mandarin at the Do Duong, Nha Mon stationed in Hoa Vien commune, Hung Nguyen district. When the Japanese merchant ship sank, Tran Tinh took care of 29 people, brought them to his home, and fed them for a year, before Lord Trinh Tung built a boat for them to return home. Because Tran Tinh had no children, he adopted a Japanese woman and gave her full name, Tran Thi Duong Nuong.
When she reached marriageable age, Tran Thi Duong Nuong was married by Van Ly Marquis Tran Tinh to the Ministry of Justice Lang Trung Nguyen Nhu Thach (1579-1662), a 6th generation official of the Nguyen Huy family in Truong Luu village, La Son district (now also in Kim Song Truong commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province).
Visiting Truong Luu village, we were fortunate to meet Professor, Doctor of Science, Academician Nguyen Huy My, the 16th generation descendant of the Nguyen Huy family in Truong Luu village. He gave us more information about the adopted son from Japan. In the “Phuong Duong Nguyen Tong The Pha” of the Nguyen family, there is a passage that says: “The second wife of Japanese origin, the adopted daughter of the Tran family, “Tran Thi Duong Nuong”, commonly known as the Japanese lady. Quan Liem Quan Cong from Nguyet Ao commune picked her up and brought her back to be adopted and married to Mr. Nhu Thach during his time at the court and served him. Now, the descendants of District Governor Nguyen Cong Chat continue to celebrate the death anniversary.”
According to Professor Nguyen Huy My, the genealogy does not mention whether Mrs. Ba had any children with Mr. Nguyen Nhu Thach or not. After her death, she was buried at Mac Mountain, then reburied at Phuong Mountain, Truong Luu village...
