Khúc Hạo
Encyclopedia
Khúc Hạo was the Vietnamese
Jiedushi
of Tĩnh Hải quân
from 907 to 917 succeeding his father Khúc Thừa Dụ
. During his reign, Khúc Hạo made several important social and administrative reforms including a new system of administrative division, the levelling of cultivated land tax and the abolishment of corvée
. Besides, Khúc Hạo maintained a discreet policy towards Chinese authorities and thus brought a period of stability and prosperity to his country. Khúc Hạo deceased in 917 and was succeeded by his son Khúc Thừa Mỹ who failed to keep the autonomy of Tĩnh Hải quân when he was defeated by the army of the kingdom of Southern Han
in 923. However, Khúc Hạo's ruling is still considered a foundation for the administration of Vietnam in the early independent time afterwards.
which was a powerful clan with long history and tradition in Hồng Châu, Cúc Bồ (now Ninh Giang
, Hải Dương
, Vietnam
). In early 10th century, the head of Khúc family Khúc Thừa Dụ
succeeded in taking over the control of Tĩnh Hải quân (now the northern part of Vietnam) and became the first Jiedushi
of native origin that marked the beginning of the independence of Vietnam, because while the country still nominally belonged to the Tang Dynasty
, it had now a status of autonomy with a native ruler who could decide matters without any interference from China.
or Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, it was Khúc Hạo, instead of Khúc Thừa Dụ, who was mentioned as the first member of the Khúc family holding the position Jiedushi, according to Đại Việt sử lược, he succeeded this title from the Chinese Jiedushi named Độc Cô Tồn while in Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, Khúc Hạo self-entitled him Jiedushi after rising a revolt that took control over Tĩnh Hải quân. After Keith Weller Taylor, since the power was smoothly transferred from Khúc Thừa Dụ to his son Khúc Hạo and there is no indication of struggle or political conflict in the period from 880 to 906, one can reason that the Khúc family was actually in control of the country throughout these years.
In the position of ruler of Tĩnh Hải quân, Khúc Hạo made several important social and administrative reforms. He decided to changed the basic administrative unit from hương (township
), which was established during the Tang Dynasty, to giáp. For each giáp, Khúc Hạo appointed a quản giáp (supervisor of giáp) and a phó tri giáp (deputy-supervisor of giáp) to keep the control, a system of family register
(sổ hộ) was also created in order to collect an accurate statistics of population and manpower of the country. Another important social changes initiated by Khúc Hạo were the levelling of cultivated land tax (thuế ruộng) and the abolishment of corvée
(lực dịch). The reign of Khúc Hạo was praised for its tolerance and simplicity towards common people, hence Tĩnh Hải quân had a period of stability and prosperity. In regard to relation with Chinese authorities, Khúc Hạo maintained a discreet policy towards the new Later Liang Dynasty
which continued to accept the autonomous reign of the Khúc family by giving Khúc Hạo the title Jiedushi of the Protectorate General to Pacify the South (An Nam đô hộ sung Tiết độ sứ) in the ninth month of 907. He assigned his own son Khúc Thừa Mỹ to the position of ambassador in Guangzhou
with the mission of not only keeping a good relation with the northern country but also studying the real situation in China at the time.
Khúc Hạo deceased in 917 and was succeeded by his son Khúc Thừa Mỹ who failed to keep the autonomy of Tĩnh Hải quân when he refused to acknowledge allegiance to the newly-established kingdom of Southern Han
and afterwards was defeated by the army of this kingdom in 923 or 930. Nevertheless, Dương Đình Nghệ, who was a subordinate of the Khúc family, quickly restored the indigenous control of the country in 931. In the Đại Việt sử lược, Khúc Thừa Mỹ was recorded as younger brother, not son, of Khúc Hạo but from the Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư in the Lê Dynasty
, Ngô Sĩ Liên
wrote that Khúc Hạo was Khúc Thừa Mỹ's father.
and other places are named in honour of Khúc Hạo.
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
of Tĩnh Hải quân
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
from 907 to 917 succeeding his father Khúc Thừa Dụ
Khúc Thừa Dụ
Khúc Thừa Dụ or Khúc Tiên was a Vietnamese Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải quân in early 10th century. Khúc Thừa Dụ was the head of the Khúc family in Hải Dương and was well-known by people in the region for his wealth and benevolence...
. During his reign, Khúc Hạo made several important social and administrative reforms including a new system of administrative division, the levelling of cultivated land tax and the abolishment of corvée
Corvée
Corvée is unfree labour, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or a superior . The corvée was the earliest and most widespread form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization...
. Besides, Khúc Hạo maintained a discreet policy towards Chinese authorities and thus brought a period of stability and prosperity to his country. Khúc Hạo deceased in 917 and was succeeded by his son Khúc Thừa Mỹ who failed to keep the autonomy of Tĩnh Hải quân when he was defeated by the army of the kingdom of Southern Han
Southern Han
Southern Han was a kingdom that existed during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period along China’s southern coast from 917 to 971. The Kingdom greatly expanded her capital city Hing Wong Fu , namely present-day Guangzhou...
in 923. However, Khúc Hạo's ruling is still considered a foundation for the administration of Vietnam in the early independent time afterwards.
Background
The date of birth of Khúc Hạo was unknown but he came from the Khúc familyKhúc family
The Khúc clan was a succession of leaders who challenged Tang rule over Vietnam. The Tang took control of the northern Vietnamese region of Giao Châu after 618 and established twelve provinces and 59 districts under the Commonwealth of Annam...
which was a powerful clan with long history and tradition in Hồng Châu, Cúc Bồ (now Ninh Giang
Ninh Giang
Ninh Giang is a district of Hai Duong Province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam....
, Hải Dương
Hai Duong
Hải Dương is a city in Vietnam. It is the capital of Hai Duong province. Its name is Sino-Vietnamese for "ocean" .- Geography :Hai Duong city is bordered to the northeast by the Nam Sách District and Thanh Hà District...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
). In early 10th century, the head of Khúc family Khúc Thừa Dụ
Khúc Thừa Dụ
Khúc Thừa Dụ or Khúc Tiên was a Vietnamese Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải quân in early 10th century. Khúc Thừa Dụ was the head of the Khúc family in Hải Dương and was well-known by people in the region for his wealth and benevolence...
succeeded in taking over the control of Tĩnh Hải quân (now the northern part of Vietnam) and became the first Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
of native origin that marked the beginning of the independence of Vietnam, because while the country still nominally belonged to the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, it had now a status of autonomy with a native ruler who could decide matters without any interference from China.
History
As the son of Khúc Thừa Dụ, Khúc Hạo began to hold the position Jiedushi in 907 after his father's death and continue to consolidate the autonomy of the country. On the other hand, in old historical books such as the Đại Việt sử lượcĐại Việt sử lược
The Đại Việt sử lược or Việt sử lược is an historical text that was compiled during the Trần Dynasty. The 3-volume book was finished around 1377 and covered the history of Vietnam from the reign of Triệu Đà to the collapse of the Lý Dynasty...
or Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, it was Khúc Hạo, instead of Khúc Thừa Dụ, who was mentioned as the first member of the Khúc family holding the position Jiedushi, according to Đại Việt sử lược, he succeeded this title from the Chinese Jiedushi named Độc Cô Tồn while in Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, Khúc Hạo self-entitled him Jiedushi after rising a revolt that took control over Tĩnh Hải quân. After Keith Weller Taylor, since the power was smoothly transferred from Khúc Thừa Dụ to his son Khúc Hạo and there is no indication of struggle or political conflict in the period from 880 to 906, one can reason that the Khúc family was actually in control of the country throughout these years.
In the position of ruler of Tĩnh Hải quân, Khúc Hạo made several important social and administrative reforms. He decided to changed the basic administrative unit from hương (township
Township (China)
Township may refer to:* Townships of the People's Republic of China* Township...
), which was established during the Tang Dynasty, to giáp. For each giáp, Khúc Hạo appointed a quản giáp (supervisor of giáp) and a phó tri giáp (deputy-supervisor of giáp) to keep the control, a system of family register
Family register
A family register is a registry used in many countries to track information of a genealogical or legal interest.Often, official recognition of certain events or status may only be granted when such event or status is registered in the...
(sổ hộ) was also created in order to collect an accurate statistics of population and manpower of the country. Another important social changes initiated by Khúc Hạo were the levelling of cultivated land tax (thuế ruộng) and the abolishment of corvée
Corvée
Corvée is unfree labour, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or a superior . The corvée was the earliest and most widespread form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization...
(lực dịch). The reign of Khúc Hạo was praised for its tolerance and simplicity towards common people, hence Tĩnh Hải quân had a period of stability and prosperity. In regard to relation with Chinese authorities, Khúc Hạo maintained a discreet policy towards the new Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
which continued to accept the autonomous reign of the Khúc family by giving Khúc Hạo the title Jiedushi of the Protectorate General to Pacify the South (An Nam đô hộ sung Tiết độ sứ) in the ninth month of 907. He assigned his own son Khúc Thừa Mỹ to the position of ambassador in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
with the mission of not only keeping a good relation with the northern country but also studying the real situation in China at the time.
Khúc Hạo deceased in 917 and was succeeded by his son Khúc Thừa Mỹ who failed to keep the autonomy of Tĩnh Hải quân when he refused to acknowledge allegiance to the newly-established kingdom of Southern Han
Southern Han
Southern Han was a kingdom that existed during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period along China’s southern coast from 917 to 971. The Kingdom greatly expanded her capital city Hing Wong Fu , namely present-day Guangzhou...
and afterwards was defeated by the army of this kingdom in 923 or 930. Nevertheless, Dương Đình Nghệ, who was a subordinate of the Khúc family, quickly restored the indigenous control of the country in 931. In the Đại Việt sử lược, Khúc Thừa Mỹ was recorded as younger brother, not son, of Khúc Hạo but from the Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư in the Lê Dynasty
Lê Dynasty
The Later Lê Dynasty , sometimes referred to as the Lê Dynasty was the longest-ruling dynasty of Vietnam, ruling the country from 1428 to 1788, with a brief interruption....
, Ngô Sĩ Liên
Ngô Sĩ Liên
Ngô Sĩ Liên was an historian of the Lê Dynasty. He is best known for being the principal compiler of the Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, a comprehensive chronicle of the history of Vietnam and the oldest official historical record of a Vietnamese dynasty that remains today...
wrote that Khúc Hạo was Khúc Thừa Mỹ's father.
Legacy
Today Khúc Hạo is still regarded as one of the first rulers of an independent Vietnam, a street in HanoiHanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and other places are named in honour of Khúc Hạo.