Vision of Modernisation

1. The Dilemma

Some intellectuals felt that Vietnamese traditions had to be strengthened to resist the domination of the west

Others felt that Vietnam had to learn from the west while opposing the French

2. Phan Boi Chau

Phan Boi Chau was a Confucian scholar activist who led anti French resistance

He formed the Revolutionary party in 1903 with Prince Cuong De as the head

Phan Boi Chau met the Chinese reformer Liang Qichao

Under the strong influence of Qichao, he wrote the book "The History of the Loss of Vietnam"

It became a bestseller in China and Vietnam and was made into a play

The book focuses on two themes - 1. the loss of sovereignty (independence) and 2. the breaking of ties with China, ties that bound the elites of the two countries with a shared culture

3. Phan Chu Trinh

He strongly opposed monarchy and was in favour of a democratic republic

He was attracted to the democratic ideals of the West

He liked the French idea of liberty and accused the French of not following it

He wanted the French to set up legal and educational institutions and develop agriculture and industries in Vietnam

3. Becoming Modern: Japan & China

Vietnamese nationalists had a close relationship with China & Japan

  1. It was a location where a wider network of revolutionaries could be established
  1. It was a place of refuge for those trying to escape the French police

4. Go East Movement to Japan

Their aim was to (1) drive out the French from Vietnam, (2) overthrow the puppet emperor and (3) reestablish Nguyen dynasty

In 1907 - 1908, around 300 students went to Japan to get a modern education

They appealed to Japan for arms and help as fellow Asians

Japan was a modern country that had resisted colonization

Its victory over Russia proved its military strength

Vietnamese students established a branch of the Restoration Society in Tokyo

But after 1908, the Japanese Government clamped down on Vietnamese students

Many leaders including Phan Boi Chau were deported & they were forced to seek refuge in China

5. Inspiration from China

Developments in China also inspired Vietnamese nationalists

In 1911, monarchy was overthrown in China by a resistance movement under Sun Yat-sen and China became a republic

Inspired by this, the Vietnamese students organised "Association for the Restoration of Vietnam"

The nature of the anti-French resistance movement changed

The aim was no longer to set up a constitutional monarchy but a democratic republic

Phan laments on (cries about) this double loss like the other traditional elite reformers

  1. Japan & China provided models for those looking for change