Nguyen Truong Toand inspiration for innovation
Over 160 years ago, the reformer Nguyen Truong To had innovative ideas, demonstrating a vision ahead of his time and a profound patriotic spirit. Although these ideas were not implemented by the Nguyen dynasty, they have become a source of inspiration for subsequent generations.
Great intellectual
From Vinh city, we followed the bustling Highway 542E, passing through peaceful Catholic villages, to reach Bui Chu village (Hung Trung commune, Hung Nguyen district), the birthplace of the national reformer Nguyen Truong To. In the spring air, we felt a new vitality spreading, between the land and the sky, and in every transformation of our homeland and country.
We met Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bang, born in 1945, the great-granddaughter of Mr. Nguyen Truong To. In the quiet atmosphere of her simple little house, the story of her great-grandfather seemed to bring Mrs. Bang to a standstill.
Nguyen Truong To was born in 1828 (some sources say 1830) into a Catholic family in Bui Chu village. Naturally intelligent, he was taught Chinese characters by his father from a young age. Later, he studied with renowned teachers in the region. He possessed extraordinary intelligence, remembering everything he learned, earning him the nickname "Trang To" (meaning "Scholar To").
Nguyen Truong To forged his own path in learning. He disregarded status and wealth. His primary goal was to become a useful person, to use his talents and intellect to help the people and the country escape poverty and backwardness; to foster unity between the Buddhist and Catholic communities, working together to build a strong and prosperous nation.
Having acquired a profound knowledge of classical Chinese, comparable to that of accomplished scholars, he returned to his hometown to open a school. In 1855, he was invited by the French missionary Gauthier (Ngô Gia Hậu) to teach classical Chinese at the Xã Đoài Monastery. There, he not only disseminated traditional knowledge but also received instruction in French and general science from Bishop Gauthier.
Thanks to the help of Bishop Gauthier, from 1859 onwards, Nguyen Truong To had the opportunity to travel to many countries around the world, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and several European countries. During this time, he diligently studied and absorbed knowledge in areas such as philosophy, politics, economics, culture, and national defense, while also making practical connections to apply this knowledge to our country.
After Nguyen Truong To returned to Saigon in 1861 – by which time the French colonialists had occupied Gia Dinh – in his role as an interpreter between the Hue court and the French, he aspired to use his knowledge to help the court, initiate new reforms, make the people prosperous and the country strong, and maintain independence.
Cultural researcher Thai Huy Bich
In particular, during his time as a translator of Chinese characters for the French, he advised the court to temporarily make peace with the French to conserve troops and consolidate forces. Unfortunately, the Nguyen dynasty hesitated, neither making peace nor daring to fight. The French colonialists took advantage of the situation to expand their occupied territories. Faced with this predicament, in early 1862 Nguyen Truong To resigned from his translation job and devoted himself to writing petitions and offering strategic advice to the court.
Aspiration for reform
From early 1861 to late 1871, Nguyen Truong To submitted approximately 60 petitions and memorials to the Hue court, presenting numerous strategic proposals aimed at modernizing the country and making it strong and prosperous. Among these were three famous memorials: "Treatise on Emergency Relief," "Treatise on Education," and "Treatise on the Great Trends of the World's Division and Unification," all written in 1863. These presented important reform proposals concerning politics, internal affairs, economic development, educational reform, the application of science and technology, and the construction of a modern military defense system.
Nguyen Truong To clearly understood that, in order to escape being dominated by Western countries, Vietnam needed to quickly modernize, become self-reliant, and strengthen itself. He proposed that the court streamline the government apparatus to reduce the waste of public funds and clearly define the functions and responsibilities of each type of official so that there would not be many people receiving salaries without knowing what to do.
Economically, he proposed revitalizing agriculture, industry, and commerce to make the people wealthy and the country prosperous, through concrete actions such as: organizing land reclamation, protecting forests, establishing fleets to transport agricultural products for sale, sending people to explore resources and exploit mines, establishing technological production facilities and training skilled workers… He advised the court to expand international trade, encourage industry, reform administration, and put into use advanced scientific and technological achievements. He also proposed sending outstanding students abroad to study so that they could return to serve the country later.
In terms of diplomacy, Nguyen Truong To advocated a flexible relationship with France, but without being subservient to the French. And not only France, but also diplomacy with many other countries such as England, Spain, etc. He believed in exploiting conflicts between these countries to his advantage. He also stressed the importance of training skilled interpreters proficient in both their work and foreign languages.
Regarding national defense, Nguyen Truong To, on the one hand, advised the court to temporarily make peace and concessions to France; on the other hand, he proposed urgently reforming the military, producing and purchasing weapons, compiling new military treatises, and training in modern fighting methods, establishing forts and besieging cities to protect the country...
Nguyen Truong To's reform ideas were progressive and heartfelt, but they were not accepted by the Nguyen dynasty and Emperor Tu Duc. Conservatism and fear of losing power were the main reasons his proposals were rejected. The Hue court still maintained traditional thinking, unwilling to confront the major changes that Nguyen Truong To proposed.
Nguyen Truong To repeatedly expressed his disappointment at the indifference of the imperial court. He believed that if Vietnam did not promptly implement reforms, the country would lose its sovereignty and become dependent on colonial powers. Sadly, these warnings became a reality when Vietnam was gradually and completely colonized by the French.
According to researcher Thai Huy Bich, the desire for reform gave him an intense will and extraordinary patience. His heartfelt petitions went unanswered, yet he continued to write one after another.
Besides submitting reform proposals, Nguyen Truong To also participated in the construction of major projects and was considered a talented architect, even though he had no architectural degree. In September 1862, he helped build the St. Paul's Monastery in Saigon. During his return to his hometown in early 1866, he assisted the Governor-General of Nghe An, Hoang Ta Viem, in designing and supervising the construction of the Iron Canal connecting Dien Chau and Nghi Loc districts. He also participated in the design and construction of the Xa Doai communal house, an important religious building in his hometown.
Nguyen Truong To died suddenly in 1871 in his hometown. Although his life was short, his reformist ideas and example left a profound impact on Vietnamese history.
More than 150 years have passed since the death of Nguyen Truong To, yet his posthumous writings have left posterity with profound lessons on nurturing and utilizing talent. He is also considered the initiator of the reform movement and national awakening during the turbulent late 19th century. Although unsuccessful in persuading the imperial court, his ideas and vision continue to be cherished and highly valued by subsequent generations.
