Question

Who are some of your favorite Vietnamese female historical figures?

Answer 1

In the last years of the Qin Dynasty, the Zhending people in Hebei / Qin Jiang Zhao Tuo seized Lingnan and established Guangzhou as the center of the South Vietnam country, which was independent of the Central Plains. The ruling area included the two counties of Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen in northern Vietnam, and was later destroyed by Han Wu. His descendants spread throughout Lingnan, and many outstanding figures emerged, such as:

Zhao's wife, Zhao Shizhen, and her brother, Zhao Guoda, are two powerful leaders in Jun'an County, Jiuzhen County (now Nashan District, Zhaoshan County, Qinghua Province, Vietnam).

（Vợ của Zhao, Zhao Shizhen, và anh trai của cô, Zhao Guoda, là hai nhà lãnh đạo quyền lực ở quận Jun'an, huyện Cửu Trại Câu (nay là huyện Nashan, huyện Zhao Sơn, tỉnh Qinghua, Việt Nam).）

In 248 AD, a large-scale uprising led by Mrs. Zhao broke out in Vietnam, opposing Wu rule during the Three Kingdoms period. Soochow's famous general Lu Yin made a history of Jiaozhou, and led the army to suppress it. Mrs. Zhao died in Songshan (in the area of Futian, Houlu County, Qinghua Province). The Vietnamese people built Mrs. Zhao's tomb and temple on Songshan and called it "female" emperor".

Answer 2

The two Queens Hai Ba Trung, Ba Trieu, Queen Dowager Duong Van Nga, Linh Tu Quoc Mau (Madame Mother-in-law of the Emperor) Tran Thi Dung, Princess Huyen Tran, Scholar Nguyen Thi Lo, Tuyen Phi (Madame Princess Consort of Lord Trinh Sam) Dang Thi Hue, Poetess Ho Xuan Huong, Poetess Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Dang Thi Nhu the warrior wife of De Tham, Empress Tu Du, Empress Nam Phuong, Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu (Tran Le Xuan), heroine Vo Thi Thang, chanteuse Thai Thanh, Khanh Ly etc.

Answer 3

I would say ‘Trưng sisters’ since they were the first females who fought for our independence. I like Ỷ Lan Nguyên Phi as well since she rose from a farmer girl to a queen dowager who got so much power and influence in Ly dynasty. The other three are Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Nguyễn Phúc Ngọc Vạn and An Tư Công Chúa, who sacrificed their lives and youth for the fight against foreingers and expansion of Vietnam.

Answer 4

The one that stood out to me is Nguyễn Thị Duệ 阮氏叡 (1574–1654), perhaps the only Vietnamese woman to pass the imperial examinations. In case I die and am reborn a woman, I believe I would be similar to her.

She was born in 1574 at Kiệt Đặc village near Bằng Châu, Dương Kinh (modern-day Chí Linh district, Hải Dương). This was a time when the Mặc dynasty was fighting the Trịnh lords who were attempting to restore the Lê dynasty. At some point the Trịnh lords were able to push the Mặc back further north, with the areas around Cao Bằng province the only safe zones left for the Mặc dynasty. While growing up, Nguyễn Thị Duệ was apparently described as beautiful and intelligent, though only interested in her studies. Her family soon fled to Cao Bằng.

In 1594 (age 20), she disguised herself as a man with the pseudonym Nguyễn Thị Du to take the imperial examination, and became the first and only woman to pass that exam (obviously without the court knowing her real identity). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Mạc Kính Cung discovered her true identity. He was so impressed, he had her become an imperial consort, and join and teach the other women in his harem, and earning the title Lady Tinh Bay 星飛 “Soaring Star”.

In 1625 (age 51), Emperor Mạc Kính Cung would soon be defeated by the Trịnh lords, ending the Mạc dynasty. Nguyễn Thị Duệ was then taken captive back to the restored Lê dynasty court, presided over by Emperor Lê Thần Tông. But instead of executing her, they installed her as Imperial Tutor out of admiration for her brilliant intellect. She became the consort with the title, Officer Nghi Ái 儀愛官 (“Ceremonious Love”? “Treasured Gift”?).

You can pay respects to her at a temple in her birthplace, Chí Linh.

References

Nguyễn Thị Duệ - Wikipedia