The “Other China” Identity of Imperial Vietnam (1400–1884)

What is it about?

Most historians depict Vietnamese imperial dynasties as having a distinct "national" identity based on a unique Vietnamese culture. Although these dynasties frequently used names for China to refer to themselves, historians interpret these terms as an attempt to depict Vietnam literally as a superior "Middle Kingdom". Analyzing the court records of Vietnamese dynasties, we argue that Imperial Vietnam saw itself as "another China", a twin of the other "China" to its north. Vietnamese courts claimed a share of China's identity for itself. We also suggest that Vietnamese claims on China's identity is based on cultural attitudes common during periods when China was divided between multiple regimes.

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