TALENT SELECTION IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM DURING THE KING GIA LONG AND KING MINH MANG PERIOD (1802-1840)

Abstract

Southern Vietnam is the central region of the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802-1945), occupying an important position in national defense and foreign affairs. The region has huge economic potential and can create a breakthrough for Vietnam’s economic development. However, due to the special geo-historical conditions, political upheaval was tremendously popular during the late feudal period. Besides, the economic factors of international trade and the development of commodity production were high above the national standard. As a result, the central government had to use a special method of selecting and using officials. The selected must be good in "handling the statecraft" (經邦濟世), who could understand and had a process of living and working in the South.

As two eminent political kings, Gia Long (嘉隆) and Minh Mạng (明命) applied flexible measures, not taking the aristocratic nature of candidates very seriously. Both kings completely removed the "hereditary" regime, not following the Confucian model as in other regions in building the local government apparatus. This policy helped the Nguyễn Dynasty build a dedicated, competent service bureau in the region. The policy is an exception in the history of recruiting mandarins under the Confucian perspective in Vietnam, and to a certain extent, it has successfully promoted local socio-economic development. This paper aims to argue that it is difficult to apply a unified but rigid policy in Vietnam on issues related to the locality and that Southern Vietnam always demands more special attention in state policies.