THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPT OF POWER OF THE HIGH RULER IN VIETNAM AND THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING (XVI-XIX c.) o V Novakova T h e s tu d y o f th is p r o b le m is c ru c ia lly i m p o r ta n t d u e to th e fa c t th at in today's post-industrial world not only the study o f specific events or facts takes on axial character, but also the study o f ideology This problem is closely related to the problem o f integration and assimilation o f foreign, especially Chinese cultiral experience, on the ideological basis o f Vietnam ese society, the beginning o f which dates back to the I m illennium AD This is clearly evident in the perception o f imperial religion (imperial ideology), characteristic for the whole area o f the Far Eastern civilization V ietnam has undergone the most profound impact o f Chinese culturc durirg a period o f «northern dependence" when the main elements o f Chinese naiure philosophy were "transplanted" on ihe V ietnam ese soil The idea o f an eternal, nor anyone else created nature was typical woridv ew o f the ancient Chinese civilization - "the world consists o f 10,000 things." Philosophically, the essence o f this vision was in the understanding and perception o f the law o f evolution as a universal law The emergence o f any kind o f idea 'out o f nothing", without form er phases o f development, is unimaginable for the m nd, sharing a b e lie f in the universal law o f evolution From this perspective, the Christian doctrine in the context o f China's philosophical views could only be a certain time elem ent in the evolution o f some general idea The concept o f supreme pow er is associated with statehood o f the East The suprem e pow er is an ideological and philosophical political framework o f the stite The concept o f sovereignty is a set o f religious and mythological ideas about pow er and the personality o f a monarch cultivated and used as an ideological justification for the public order and creates certain system * PhD T i k h o m i r o v L A R e l i g i o u s a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l f o u n d a t i o n s o f h i s t o r y M o s c o w , 1998 p 32 B a n d i l e n k o G G T h e c o n c e p t o f m o n a r c h y a s t h e o b j e c t o f s y s t e m a t i c d e s c r i p t i o n / / T h re e q u a r t e r s o f a c e n t u r y T o D e o p i k D v - f r i e n d s a n d d i s c i p l e s M o s c o w , 0 p 538 THE T R A D IT IO N A L C O N C E P T OF PO W ER OF THE HIGH RULER IN VIETNAM Developed in C hina in the V-IV c BC political doctrine and the concept o f sovereignty subsequently becam e the official ideology o f the imperial Chinese society, where the cult o f the ruler was the leading element, which contained the archetypal model o f sovereignty1 Their emergence is associated with the ancient Chinese concept o f unity and controllability o f social-space processes and tieht f o c u s o f w o r ld s p a c e , w h i c h r e q u i r e d th e p r e s e n c e o f a s in g le f ig u r e o f th e ruler In this concept, the figure o f the ruler stands in the center o f understanding o f the supreme power, so the ruler cult is crucial Since Zhou era (XI-III c BC) the description o f the suprem e ruler in China became perceived later in Vietnam "Son o f H e a v e n " ( V i e t n a m e s e - T h i ê n tử ) T h is d e s ig n a t io n is th e e s s e n c e o f th e s a c re d f u n c tio n s o f th e ruler T h e o r ig i n o f th e s u p r e m e r u le r - d iv in e A t th e s a m e tim e the supreme ruler acts as a person w ho stands in the center o f socio-cosmic universe Through his powers, and moral dignity governor had a world building influence on the Cosmos, including hum an and nature, ie, the supreme ruler maintains world harm ony2 The organization o f space by performing certain rituals is the main duty o f the ruler The H eavens could either approve or disapprove the governor I f The H eavens were angry, then droughts, floods and other disasters set in Therefore, the governor had to be perfect But these functions o f the ruler had no direct relation to Confucian ethics The doctrine o f the Son o f H eaven takes the m ain place in the state ideology o f China, also known as the imperial religion The w hole model o f the state is identified with the universal space, orderly and centralized space, this model is based on the idea o f the spiritual and political integration o f the territory in the space o f a m o n arch ical g o v e rn m e n t This teaching o f the Son o f Heaven was perceived in Vietnam, where it has already been known from the X century, that is, from the first steps o f an independent state The most complete model and culture o f the Chinese empire was taken by Vietnam in the XV century under the badge o f Zhu Xi's teaching4, and then in the X I X c e n tu ry , e s p e c ia lly th e p o litic a l institu tio n s o f th e Q i n g E m p ir e T h e fu rth e r the K r a v t s o v M.E The history o f Chinese c u l t u r e Saint-Petersburg, 1999 p 140 M a r t y n o v A s S t a t e a n d e t h i c a l in i m p e r i a l C h i n a / / E t h i c s a n d ritu a l in t r a d i t i o n a l C h i n a M o s c o w , 9 P B a n d i l e n k o G G T h e c o n c e p t o f m o n a r c h y a s t h e o b j e c t o f s y s t e m a t i c d e s c r i p t i o n / / T h r e e q u arters o f a ce n tu ry T o D e o p ik D v - friends an d disciples M o sc o w , 07 p 70-78 'N e o - C o n f u c i a n i s m , s y s t e m a t i z e r a n d c h i e f i d e o l o g i s t o f w h i c h w a s Z h u X i ( 1 - 0 ) , b e c a m e t h e d o m i n a n t t r e n d o f C h i n e s e t h o u g h t at th e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e X I V c e n t u r y It N i k i t i n A V U n iv ersa l c h a c te ristic s o f trad itio n al V ie tn a m e s e th o u g h t / / U n iv ersa ls E astern cu ltu res M o s c o w , 0 p 539 VIỆT NAM HỌC - KỶ YÉU HỘI THẢO QUỐC TÉ LẰN THỨ TU V i e tn a m e s e s o c ie ty w a s r e m o v e d in tim e fro m th e p e rio d o f " C h in e s e dependency," th e m o r e it b o r r o w e d th e C h in e s e m o d e l o f a d m in is tra tio n , c rim in a l la w a n d he id e o lo g ic a l ju s t i f i c a t io n o f p o w e r T h is a p o g e e o f C h in e s e c u ltu l in flu e n c e vas larg e ly a s s o c i a te d w ith th e c re a tio n o f th e e m p ire D a in a m in th e X I X c e n tu ry , vith the u n ific a tio n o f the c o u n try T h u s im p u ls e s b e e n set in th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f he E m p ir e F o r S o u th -E a s t A s i a th e c re a tio n o f su c h a large state in t e r m s o f territcry, like V i e tn a m in th e e a rly X I X c e n tu ry , w a s th e g e o p o litic a l n e w s N e v e r b e b re V ie tn a m , a s a state, did n o t e x is t in su c h a large scale It is i m p o r ta n t to n o te th a t s in c e V i e tn a m g a in e d i n d e p e n d e n c e in X c., he g r o w i n g i n f l u e n c e o f C h i n e s e c u ltu r e b e g a n to b e d e te r m i n e d b y th e in te r n a l ne:ds o f th e V i e t n a m e s e c o m m u n it y T h e e m e r g e n c e a n d c o n s o li d a ti o n o f th e In stitu te o f th e c u lt o f t h e ru le r as he s u p r e m e r u le r in V i e t n a m w e r e la rg e ly c o n d itio n e d b y e c o n o m i c f a c to rs - lim ie d la n d r e s o u r c e s , w h i c h p r o m p t e d ru le rs to s e e k a fte r a p p r o p r i a t io n o f e x c lu s i v e rights to o w n e r s h i p o f la n d a n d th e c o n c e n tr a tio n o f p o w e r in th e h a n d s o f o n e m a n as w e ll as a n c ie n t id ea s o f u n ity an d o r d e r in th e s o c i o - c o s m i c p r o c e s s e s w h c h a s s u m e d to h a v e a s in g le fig u r e c o o r d i n a to r o f th e s e p r o c e s s e s In th e c o n c e p t o f s u p r e m e p o w e r th e m o s t lik e ly i m a g e o f t h e p r ie s t B u t u n lik e o r ig in o f th e r u le r is f b m th e a n c ie n t w o r ld , in C h i n a a n d in th e F a r Eastern c iv iliz a tio n t h e p r ie s tly c la s s ( w h o w e r e i n te r m e d ia r ie s b e t w e e n th e p e o p le and the H e a v e n s ) h a s n o t b e e n f o rm e d yet e q u a lly v e s t e d in T h a t is w h y in th is r e g i o n th e r u le r vas th e t e m p o r a l a n d s a c r e d p o w e r , c o m b i n i n g in h is p e r s o n the s e c u l a r a n d t h e s p iritu a l le a d e r o f th e c o u n tr y , e n d o w e d w i t h m a g i c a l p o v e rs ( V i e t n a m e s e - Đ c ) a n d th e d iv in e orig in In m y th o l o g y a n c e s t o r s tu r n e d in to rubrs In th is w a y th e V i e t n a m e s e m o n a r c h w a s th e e le c t o f th e H e a v e n s , w h o g o v e n e d C h i n a o n b e h a l f o f a s p e cia l h e a v e n ly d e c r e e T h e m o t i f o f " m ir a c u lo u s c o n c e p tio n " is n e c e s s a r i ly p r e s e n t in th e storie; o f le g e n d a r y a n d s e m i - h i s to r ic a l c h a r a c te r s - ru le rs o f a n tiq u ity , as w e ll as in the b i o g r a p h i e s o f th e f o u n d e r s o f d y n a s ti e s 1* H i s t o r y o f A s i a a n d A f r i c a in m o d e r n ti m e s P a r t I M o s c o w , 1989 p l 12 K r a v t s o v a M E T h e h i s t o r y o f C h i n e s e c u l t u r e S a i n t - P e t e r s b u r g , 9 p T h e s e q u e n c e o f g o v e r n a n c e o f t h e l e g e n d a r y H u n g d y n a s t y is b e in g b u ilt by V ietn an ese h i s t o r i o g r a p h y t h r o u g h a d e i t y o f a g r i c u l t u r e S h e n - n u n g - o n e o f t h e " f iv e d i v i n e ruler:" o f C h i n e s e m i f o l o g i c a l s to r ie s H e is t h e p a t r o n o f t h e fire a n d t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e Wirld T h a t is w h y t h e V i e t n a m e s e r u l e r s , r e a l i z i n g t h e m s e l v e s a s t h e i r d e s c e n d a n t s , " o w r t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y o f t h e w o r l d , " t h e y a r e t h e same " E m p e r o r s " , a s t h e C h i n e s e rulers - N k i t i n A V U n i v e r s a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t r a d i t i o n a l V i e t n a m e s e t h o u g h t / / U n i v e r s a l s E a.tern cu ltu res M o sc o w , 200 p -2 4 K r a v t s o v a M E T h e h i s t o r y o f C h i n e s e c u l t u r e S a i n t - P e t e r s b u r g , 9 p - 540 TH E T R A D IT IO N A L C O N C E P T OF PO W ER OF THE HIGH RULER IN V IE T N A M T h e s e m o tiv e s o f " m ira c u lo u s co n c ep tio n " has o n c e a g a in c o n firm e d the th o u g h t that the idea o f a s u p re m e d iv in e p o w e r fro m o u tsid e o f the c re a te d w o r ld w a s co m p le te ly alien to th in k in g o f repre sen ta tiv e s o f the cu ltu re o f the F a r E a ste rn civilization T h is th in k in g w a s fo c u s e d only on the act o f birth, b u t since it w a s the birth o f an e x tra o rd in a ry c h a c te r - the su p re m e ruler, th e m o t i f is re p e a te d e v e ry w h e r e e x traordinary, m ira c u lo u s c o n c e p tio n , w h ic h c o n firm s th e leg itim ac y o f the ruler It is a r o u n d th e c u lt o f th e ruler, n o t th e w o r s h ip o f the d iv in e c h a r a c te r c o n c e n tr a te s o r ig in a l r e lig io u s tra d itio n s o f C h in a , f o ll o w e d by V i e tn a m , a n d th is cult up to a c e rta in t im e e x h a u s t s an o ffic ia l id e o lo g ic a l s y s te m o f tr a d itio n a l F a r E a s te rn s o c i e t y T h e c u lt o f th e r u le r did n o t h a v e its o w n so c ia l o r g a n iz a tio n , d iffe re n t f ro m R o v e r n m e n t a g e n c ie s T h is m e a n s th a t all th e s a c r e d f u n c t i o n s w e r e e n tr u s te d to t h e kina, a n d th e a d m i n is t r a t iv e o f fic e s in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h th e i r r a n k : the o ffic ia ls w e r e in c h a r g e o f th e o r g a n iz a tio n a n d c o n d u c t o f w o r s h ip , ritu a l an d social e ti q u e tt e o f c o u r t c e r e m o n i e s E v e n a s tr o lo g y - ty p ic a lly p r ie s tly a re a for m a n y o t h e r r e g io n s o f t h e A s i a n w o r l d - w a s in C h i n a a n d V i e tn a m in th e c o n d u c t o f s p e c ia l o f fic ia ls co m b in ed th e d u tie s o f th e c h ro n ic le r s , h i s t o r io g r a p h e r s s c ie n tists a n d a s t r o n o m e r s T h u s , th e s p e c if ic s it u a ti o n w a s c re a te d w h e n th e S ta te in th e p e r s o n o f th e s u p r e m e r u le r h a d a n a u th o r i ty in r e lig io u s m a tte rs T h e s a c r e d s u f f i c i e n c y o f tra d itio n a l s ta te a ll o w e d h i m to tre a t all not r e la te d to th e im p e ria l re lig io n , a s an a d d itio n a l m e a n s o f th e m a in f u n c t i o n o f th e s u p r e m e r u le r - "to t r a n s f o r m " ( h u a ) s o c ie ty t h r o u g h n o n - v i o l e n t " te a c h in g s " T h e r e f o r e , all r e lig io u s s y s te m s , i f th e y w e r e a d m i tt e d in th e e m p i r e , w e r e tre a te d as " a u x ilia ry t e a c h in g " Imperial power religion and folk beliefs T h e b a s is o f th e im p e ria l re lig io n b e c a m e th e C h in e s e p h i lo s o p h y o f nature, w h o s e p u r p o s e w a s to find p a tte rn s o f f u n c tio n in g o f h u m a n s in n a tu re , the d e v e lo p m e n t o f the c o n c e p t s o f H e a v e n an d M a n N a tu l p h ilo s o p h y a n d im p e ria l relig io n t o o k in C h i n e s e c u ltu r e a p h ilo s o p h ic a l o u tlo o k W o rld w a s p r e s e n te d in the form o f one large o r g a n is m , w here all o f th e p a rts w e r e h ie r a rc h ic a lly and fun ctio n ally re la te d a n d s u b o rd in a te d T h a t tra n s fe r o r tra n s p la n t o f the m a i n e le m e n ts o f C h in e s e p h i lo s o p h y o f n a tu re , b u t n o t the s p re a d o f C o n f u c ia n is m , T a o i s m a n d C h in e s e B u d d h i s m b e c a m e th e e s s e n c e o f C h in e s e in flu e n c e in V i e t n a m T k a c h e n k o G A C h i n e s e c u l t u r e M o s c o w , 9 p - K r a v t s o v a M E T h e h i s t o r y o f C h i n e s e c u l t u r e S a i n t - P e t e r s b u r g , 9 p 147 'N ik itin A V U n i v e r s a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t r a d i t i o n a l V i e t n a m e s e t h o u g h t / / U n i v e r s a l s E a s te r n c u l t u r e s M o s c o w , 0 p 541 VIỆT NAM HỌC - KỶ YÉƯ HỘI THẢO QUÓC TÉ LẦN TH Ứ TƯ T h e g o v e r n m e n t in C h i n a a n d in F a r E a s t c o u n tr ie s w a s b a s e d o n t h e s y s te m o f p e o p le 's b e lie fs a n d th e r e f o r e h a d its o w n s a c r e d f u n c tio n s , a n d th e p o w e r was a c tu a lly a s y n th e s is o f r e lig io n a n d p o litic s , a k in d o f ritual a n d p o litic a l u n b n , p e r s o n if ie d by th e f ig u r e o f th e ruler I n te r a c tio n b e t w e e n g o v e r n m e n t a n d th e folk b e lie fs w a s o f a n a c tiv e n a tu r e a n d w a s d ire c te d f ro m th e t o p d o w n : t h e religious s y s te m o f th e c o u n tr y d i d n 't j u s t r e p r e s e n t a c h a o s o f p e o p l e 's b e lie f, but a wello r g a n i z e d s y s te m o f r e lig io u s a c tiv ity th at o b ta in e d s u c h a c o n s is t e n t l o o k u n d e r he u n d o u b t e d in flu e n c e o f th e a u th o r i ti e s ' T h e u p p e r flo o r o f th e s tr u c tu r e r e p r e s e n t e d a c tu a lly p o w e r , s ta te c u lt tn d politic a l d o c tr in e th a t e x p la i n e d th e s y n th e s is o f ritu a l a n d p o litic s State cult c o n s is te d o f th re e e le m e n ts : th e c u lt o f H e a v e n , o f th e im p e r ia l a n c e s t o r s a n d the sa c rific e s at th e a lta r - she (fe rtility c u lt ) It w a s the i n c lu s io n o f th e th i r d c o m p o n e n t in th e c o n c e p t o f s o v e re ig n ty w a s r e p r e s e n te d , in o u r v i e w , a s th e m ost im p o rta n t, s in c e it w a s b a s e d on th e m o s t a n c ie n t a n d p o w e r f u l p o p u l a r b e l i e f - the c u lt o f fertility, w h i c h c o u ld h a v e in flu e n c e d th e w e l f a r e and p r o s p e r ity , a n d often th e v e ry e x is t e n c e o f t h e n a tio n a n d th e s ta te c u lt iv a t in g irr ig a te d r ic e - o n e o f the m o s t la b o r - in te n s iv e ru l c u ltu re s Imperial ideology and “three teachings” (tam giáo) A s p e c if ic s itu a tio n w h e n th e state h a d an a u th o r ity in r e l i g io u s q u e s tio n s led to th e fact th at in th e c o u n tr i e s o f th e F a r E a s t th e s p r e a d i n g o f w o r l d r e lig io n s , sach as C h r is tia n ity a n d B u d d h i s m w e n t g r a d u a lly , p e n e tr a t i n g in to d i f f e r e n t sphere!; o f life, b u t w i th o u t b r i n g i n g into b e l i e f the p o p u la tio n T h e e x is te n c e o f “ o r g a n i z e d ” r e lig io n s (so c a lle d p rin c ip le o f “ c o m p lim e n ta r itv ” o f th re e r e lig io n s ) a n d a g r e a t n u m b e r o f o th e r b e lie fs c a u s e d an o r ig in a l r e l i g n u s a n d id eo lo g ic a l s tr u c tu r e , a c c o r d in g to w h ic h b e l i e f a n d u n b e l i e f w e r e p e rm a n e n t p r in c ip le s A n d th a t e x p la i n s th e q u e s tio n o f s u c c e s s f u l s p r e a d i n g o f C h ristian ity in V ie tn a m A d o m in a ti n g p o s it i o n o f th e state in a r e lig io u s s p h e re a n d its in s e p a b le c o n n e c t io n w ith n a ti o n a l b e lie fs e x p la in s u n q u e s ti o n a b le p r io r ity o f C o n f u c ia n is m M a r t y n o v A s S t a t e a n d R e l i g i o n in th e F a r E a st / / B u d d h i s m a n d t h e s ta te in t h e F a r E a s t M , 1987 p In f a c t, so d o e s G A T k a c h e n k o w h o b e l i e v e d t h a t f o l k r e l i g i o n is a n a d a p t a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l p h i l o s o p h y , w h i c h s e r v e s a s t h e b a s i s o f t h e im p e r ia l r e li g io n / / T k a c h e n k o G A C u l t u r e o f C h i n a M , 9 p 90 N i k i t i n A V U n i v e r s a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t r a d i t i o n a l V i e t n a m e s e t h o u g h t / / U n i v e n a l s E astern cultures M o s c o w , 0 p 265 T h e t e r m i n t r o d u c e d b y A v N i k i t i n 542 THE TR A D IT IO N A L C O N C E P T OF PO W ER OF THE HIGH RULER IN VIE TN A M I t ' s b e c a u s e C o n f u c ia n i s m w a s c lo s e to state id e o lo g y a n d p c tic a l n a tu re o f this t e a c h in g A n d o t h e r tra d itio n a l r e lig io n s in V i e tn a m s u c h as B u d d h i s m , D a o is m a n d , later, C h r is tia n ity w e r e d e c la r e d to b e th e “ o d d p r in c i p le s ’"1, w h i c h m e a n s th at th e y w ere secondary T h e m ain criterion w a s im p o rta n c e o f im perial ideology, utility to the state, w hich in c lu d e d a set o f ideas o f a S u p re m e ruler A n y o f these « o d d principles)) and any re ligion c o u ld be e x c lu d e d fro m the unity o f the three religions - B u d d h is m , D a o is m a n d C o n fu c ia n is m T h e e x c e p tio n w a s C o n fu c ia n is m (a n d s o m e tim e s D a o is m ) as b e lo n g i n g to the East, u n lik e B u d d h is m and C hristianity that c a m e fro m the W est A d o m in a n t p o s itio n o f o n e o r a n o th e r “t e a c h i n g ” in th e h isto ry o f V i e tn a m e s e i d e o l o g y is th e re s u lt o f a sta te p a tr o n a g e , a n d a c h a n g e o f a r e lig io n is j u s t a c h a n g e off a n o b je c t o f p a t r o n a g e C o n f u c ia n c ritic is m h a s a lw a y s q u a lifie d B u d d h i s m as a n “ o d d p r in c ip le ” e x c l u d i n g it f ro m a n u m b e r o f “ t r u e ” te a c h in g s B u t th e y c ritic iz e d n o t th e d o c trin a l si d e o f B u d d h i s m b u t th e i n e f f e c tiv e n e s s o f this t e a c h in g in state a d m in is tra tio n In C h ris tia n ity V i e t n a m e s e m o n a r c h y a n d s c h o la r s ( s ĩ p h u ) c o u ld see th e “ o d d n e s s ” in n o n - r e c o g n i o t i o n o f s u c h n o tio n s as th e “ f a th e r ” a n d th e “ ru le r » th a t is a n c e s to r cult o n f a m ily a n d s ta te lev e l C a t h o li c is m d e s tr o y e d a c o o r d i n a te d s y s te m th a t h a d b e e n f u n c t i o n i n g f o r c e n tu r ie s in V ie tn a m A tra d itio n a l p a rt o f p o p u l a t io n c o n s id e r e d it to> b e a b l a s p h e m y S o w e c a n c le a rly u n d e r s ta n d th e p o i n t o f v i e w V i e tn a m e s e ru lin g e lite w h o c r itic iz e d C h r is tia n ity Imperial ideology and Christianity In th e m id d l e o f th e X I X c e n tu r y , w h e n th e r e w a s a real d a n g e r o f E u r o p e a n im vasion, V i e tn a m e s e r u le r s b e g a n to r e a liz e th a t C h r i s t i a n i ty c o u ld b e a p o w e r fu l W'eapon fo r u n d e r m i n i n g state a n d C o n f u c ia n s y s te m w i t h in th e c o u n try A c c o r d in g to th e tex t o f the official c h ronicles D a i N a m T h u c L u c (Đại N a m thực ỉụic, h e re in after refe rre d to as D N T L ) , f a m o u s for p e rs e c u tin g V ie tn a m e s e C hristians thie e m p e r o r T h a n h - to w a s c o n v in c e d th at it is n e c e ssa ry to e d u c a te the p e o p le in the s p ir it o f C o n f u c ia n tea c h in g , so th at th ey w o u ld live a c c o r d in g to the m a in ideas o f the G o n f u c ia n tea c h in g W ith this p u rp o se th e E m p e ro r d e c id e d to s p re a d the C o n fu c ia n t e a c h in g m o re actively a n d d e v e lo p e d his th eo ry o f “ the ten ru le s” N i k i t i n A V U n i v e r s a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t r a d i t i o n a l V i e t n a m e s e t h o u g h t / / U n i v e r s a l s E astern cultures M o sc o w , 0 p 275 N i k i t i n A V U n i v e r s a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t r a d i t i o n a l V i e t n a m e s e t h o u g h t / / U n i v e r s a l s E astern cu ltu res M o s c o w , 0 p 266 Đ N T L , t I X , tr 543 VIỆT NAM HỌC - KỶ YÉU HỘI THẢO QUỐC TÉ LÀN THÚ T H e o p p o s e d a c u lt to a cult, h o lid a y to a h o lid a y , th e C o n f u c i a n “ t e n r u le s ’ to th e C h r is tia n T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s T h a n h - to s h o w e d h i m s e l f a s a m a j o r C o n fu c ia n s c h o la r o f his tim e H e f o u g h t a g a in s t th e “ h a rm f u l t e a c h i n g ” , “ f a ls e r e lig ic n ” C h r is tia n ity f ro m i d e o lo g ic a l a n d th e o re tic a l p o in t o f v ie w , a n d h e d e c id e d to c o m b i n e m o r a l p o s tu l a te s o f C o n f u c ia n i s m w ith s o m e ru le s o f th e C h r i s t i a n C hurch T h e e m e r g e n c e o f “ th e ten r u le s ” is a u n iq u e a tt e m p t to o p p o s e in a p h ilo s o p h ic a l w a v th e e s s e n c e o f T h e C h r is tia n t e a c h in g (the T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s ) a n d th e ten ru le s r e p r o d u c i n g th e m a i n id e a s o f th e C o n f u c ia n te a c h in g A n o t h e r V i e tn a m e s e e m p e r o r D u e T o n (e n a m e M in h M a n s , - ) u;ed th e id e o lo g ic a l le g a c y o f e m p e r o r T h a n h -to In 1870 h e p e rs o n a lly tra n s la te d “ th e ten r u le s '’ fro m th e C la s sic a l C h in e s e into c h n ô m P c tic a lly “ t h e te n r u le s ” w a s an official c a te c h is m o f C o n f u c ia n m o lity It w a s w ritte n in 1834 a n d p u b lis h e d vqth c o m m e n ts b y D u e T o n several d e c a d e s later T h a t w a s a f u n d a m e n ta l d o c u m e n t for e d u c a tin g th e p e o p le in the sp irit o f C o n f u c ia n m o lity , b u t it a lso h a d a p o l it c a l n a t u r e B u t th e id e a s o f C h r is tia n ity , w h ich a re a b s o lu te ly d if f e r e n t fro m the V i e tn a m e s e b e lie fs , a c c u m u la t e d th o s e p o w e r lines, a r o u n d w h i c h t h e V ie tn a m e s e s o c ie ty s b e e n f o rm in g S o C h r is tia n ity b e c a m e a n o p p o s it i o n o f a V ie tn a m e s e s o c ie ty , u n d e r m i n i n g th e m a in s y s te m s o f state o r g a n iz a tio n B u t in th e e m e rg in g C h r is tia n c o m m u n ities V ietn am ese sp iritu a l tra d itio n s w ere not f o rg o 'te n c o m p le te ly T h e y w e r e c h a n g c d in th e d ire c tio n o f C h r i s t i a n i z a t i o n by m issio n a rie s, a n d th e y w e r e filled w i t h n e w c o n te n t a n d t o o k th e ir p l a c e in t h e e m e r g i n g C atholic c o m m u n it i e s B y a d o p ti n g C h r is tia n ity , V i e tn a m e s e C a t h o li c s felt c h o s e n a n d t ie y w e r e fre e f r o m th e o ld r u le s a n d o rd ers So, th e c o n d itio n s o f n e w c o flic ts v e r e c r e a te d a n d th e tr a d itio n a l s o c ie ty trie d to p r e v e n t th o se c o n f lic ts b y all m e a n s L a n g l e t P h P o i n t d e v u e s u r N g u y ễ n T r n g T ộ et le r e f o r m i s m e v i e t n a m i e n a u m lie u X l X - e s i è l e S a i g o n , p 195 ... e ruler In this concept, the figure o f the ruler stands in the center o f understanding o f the supreme power, so the ruler cult is crucial Since Zhou era (XI-III c BC) the description o f the. . .THE T R A D IT IO N A L C O N C E P T OF PO W ER OF THE HIGH RULER IN VIETNAM Developed in C hina in the V-IV c BC political doctrine and the concept o f sovereignty subsequently becam e the. .. the official ideology o f the imperial Chinese society, where the cult o f the ruler was the leading element, which contained the archetypal model o f sovereignty1 Their emergence is associated