Story 11: King Nhan Tong Ly

His mother was a beautiful woman but Crown Prince Can Duc seemed not to inherit her beauty. People described that he had protruding eyes, a convex forehead and especially, his hands could reach over his knees as he stood straight. Though, people said that was shape of person who had rare talents. They might be right because Crown Prince matured sooner than children who had same age with him. When he was six, his father died, he had no choice but becoming the next king. Sat on the throne with Empress Dowager Linh Nhan staying in a veil behind him, he (now was King Nhan Tong Ly) solved national’s problems clearly front of mandarins and generals though his voice was still thin and weak. He used to have good ideas which none could think about.

When he was 9 years old, he felt that his teacher could not teach him anymore. Though his mother had broad knowledge, couldn’t meet his learning desire. Therefore, he thought about competitions which used to find out the people who could teach him and besides, the people could help the country develop. Empress Dowager Linh Nhan thought that was exactly good idea, she called powerful mandarins coming and discussing. Later, each person was responsible for a part of the work. Some were responsible for extending Temple of Literature, some were responsible for compiling rules and tests, some were appointed to be examiners…

In 1075, the first contest in history was opened which attracted many people who came to participate in, see and talk about it, the strange thing they had never seen or known. The contest had three exams and difficulty level was increased. Though people who participated in the contest were crowded but it was very difficult to have a point. Therefore, only ten people got pass the contest and Van Thinh Le was person who had the highest score (later, people who passed contests as the contest were given titles; Trang Nguyen for the people who had highest score, Bang Nhan for the second and Tham Hoa for the third.). Van Thinh immediately was appointmented to be the teacher of King Nhan Tong Ly. That moment, Imperial Academy was building so that one teacher taught a student in Temple of Literature. The contest was also a precedent which later dynasties used to find out talents who devoted for the development of the country later.

The next year, 1076, Imperial Academy was built inside Temple of Literature. They, now, were called Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy. The young king was the first person who studied at the place.

Indition to needing people who helped the young king to solve national problems, the country also needed people who participated in management apparatus at province level, district level and lower level. Therefore, 1077 February on lunar calendar, the king one more time organized another contest to find people who would participate in management apparatus at all levels. This contest was rather comprehensive with exams about math, literature and law.

King Nhan Tong Ly himself was also an example of hard learning he reached broad knowledge and understanding deeply dogmas. He was also a person who established “Bi thu cac”, the large national library. Besides, he ordered servants to come to China (that moment, it was Tong) and collected rare books and brought them back the country to help people in learning.

In there years, the country also tried its best to fight against Tong. General Thuong Kiet Ly was leader of soldiers who was in battlefield. In the end of 1076, soldiers of Tong went to the country. Because, people had preparation in advance, their enemies was attacked everywhere, they felt in dilemma and later, they were rounded in the shore of River Nhu Nguyet. Then, they were not supplied food and drinks and many of them had diseases. General Thuong Kiet Ly launched an overall attack at the time the enemies became weakest. Therefore, invaders were broken. Though, the king and generals gave them their kindness that they let alive invaders came back their country in peace.

Though they had won, losses of the war were serious. Immediately, the king had to mobilize people to rebuild the country. Especially, Nhu Nguyet shore where the battle took place. They repaired and rebuilt the shore. Further, King Nhan Tong Ly ordered people to built others shore to avoid the flood which used to engulf the capital whenever flood season came. In 1108, King Nhan Tong Ly ordered people to build Co Xa dike which was the first dike along River Hong. Agriculture is the thing King Nhan Tong Ly was most interested in. He had many policies to support people expanding agricultural land. Therefore, wild lands around Thang Long capital were reclaimed to be agricultural lands which supplied copious food source for people.

Peace was a important condition to develop cultural. In the time King Nhan Tong Ly reigned, many cultural events were organized and many types of art were developed as art of puppet-showing, Vietnamese popular opera (hát Chèo), boat racing…

King Nhan Tong Ly had never given birth to any child though he had three wives and 36 concubines. He chose Duong Hoan, a son of his brother, who was only enough 1 years old that time, to be crown prince.

In 1127, King Nhan Tong Ly died when he was 61 years old and had reigned the country for 55 years old, the longest time in the history of Vietnam.

In the time King Nhan Tong Ly reigned, the country reached to pinnacle of prosperity because of king’s insight. We were also undeniable merits of people as Empress Dowager Linh Nhan, powerful mandarin Dao Thanh Ly and General Thuong Kiet Ly who had helped him complete his historic mission.

THE END

"Translated by Hung Nguyen"

Read more:

Historical stories

Story 9: Royal Concubine Y Lan

Story 10: Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy

Story 11: King Nhan Tong Ly

Story 12: General Thuong Kiet Ly

Story 13: Van Thinh Le

Story 14: King Than Tong Ly

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Truyện cổ tích Việt Nam

Vietnamese fairy tales

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