| Title |
On the Introduction of Vauban Fortification in the Nguyen Dynasty's Cities of Vietnam |
| Keywords |
Vietnam ; Nguyen ; Dynasty ; City ; Vauban ; Fortification ; Bastion ; Introduction ; France ; Saigon ; Ho Chi Minh City ; Hue ; Hanoi ; Eclecticism ; Planning |
| Abstract |
After unifying Vietnam, the Nguyen Dynasty adopted Vauban Fortification in constructing all walled cities of the whole country again in the 19th century. The Vauban Fortification, which was a construction style that a French artillery officer innovated in the late 17th century in consideration of the range of artillery, prevailed in Europe. Behind the adoption of Vauban Fortification in Vietnam, there were the French powers that involved in the establishment of the Nguyen Dynasty. The Vietnamese traditional city planning had applied the Chinese Ward System (坊制), and the Nguyen Dynasty's central and local administration systems mostly imitated the Qing's systems. As such, the Nguyen Dynasty created a dual-structured city which adopted the Chinese Ward System internally and the French Vauban Fortification externally. The purpose of this study is to examine the process in which the Nguyen Dynasty's cities accepted Vauban Fortification. Thus, it can be said that the eclecticism shown in the Nguyen Dynasty's urban planning has something to do with “Old Foundation, New Participation” (Gubon sincham, 舊本新參), “Eastern Way, Western Technology” (Dongdo seogi 東道西器), “Japanese Soul, Western Skill” (Hwahon yangjae, 和魂洋才), and “Chinese Body, Western Use” (Jungche seoyong, 中體西用), which are catch phrases describing the modernization of the East Asia's each countries. With the Vietnam's urban planning, I expect to be able to look over an aspect of the modernization of the East Asia. |