Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị – Vietnamese warrior sisters
The Trưng sisters are Vietnamese national heroines who led a revolt to free their people during 1st century CE.
The sisters were born around 14 CE in a country under Chinese rule. The Han Chinese had indeed conquered the northern Vietnamese provinces in 111 BCE. Their father was a nobleman and military leader. Their mother reportedly trained them in the martial arts during their childhood.
In 36 CE, a new governor, To Dinh (or Su Ting in Chinese), arrived in their province and implemented oppressive measures such as new taxes on the peasants. Trưng Trắc, who was said to be of “brave and fearless disposition”, mobilized the local lords against the governor. Later Vietnamese historians told that the sisters rebelled because the governor had executed Trưng Trắc’s husband, Thi Sách. Historian Keith Taylor claims that this story was made up since the Chinese sources clearly state that Thi Sách was alive and followed his wife’s initiative. The Chinese sources are indeed the first recorded narrative of the sisters’ rebellion. This change could possibly have been made due to the patriarchal ideas of the later centuries, making it hard for historians to accept that a woman could have led a rebellion while her husband still lived.
The sisters’ example shows the elevated status of women in ancient Vietnam. Their mother’s tomb and spirit temple have, for instance, been preserved while nothing remains for their father. Female generals also played an important role in their uprising.
Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị raised an army of 80,000 soldiers, many of whom were women. In one province, 32 of the 69 generals of their army were women. Numerous heroines left their mark in history. One of them was general Le Chan. The daughter of a teacher and doctor, she caught the eye of the Chinese governor To Dinh, who wanted her to become his wife. Le Chan fled and her family was executed in reprisal. Determined to avenge them, Le Chan recruited soldiers, trained them and joined the sisters’ rebellion. Other important female generals of their army were Dieu Tien, Bao Chan, Nguyen Thai, Nguyet Do as well as the sister’s mother.
The sisters conquered 65 citadels, expelling the Chinese from Vietnam and became queens. Some historians claim that Thi Sách must have been dead at this point, but this is not necessarily true. The sisters abolished the taxes and ruled over their kingdom for two years. The Chinese emperor was determined to regain his control over the area and dispatched his senior general, Ma Yuan in 41 CE.
The sisters managed to defend their border for some time, but their enemy’s military and financial superiority caused their first defeat in 42 CE. Legend tells that pregnant noble lady Phung Thi Chinh commanded a group of soldiers that protected the central flank. It is said that she gave birth during the battle and kept fighting with her baby in one arm and her sword in the other. Le Chan led her troops against the Chinese, inflicting heavy damages, but also had to retreat.
The sisters fought their last battle in 43 CE and were defeated. Le Chan and Phung Thi Chinh, who took her newborn child with her, were said to have committed suicide by drowning. Chinese sources state that Ma Yuan had the sisters beheaded or that they died in battle. Vietnamese tradition have them drowning themselves in the river to avoid capture.
The Trưng sisters are nowadays celebrated as national heroines. Their exploits are commemorated each year. Temples were built in their honor and streets were named after them.
Bibliography:
Gilbert Marc Jason, “When Heroism is Not Enough: Three Women Warriors of Vietnam, Their Historians and World History”
Taylor Keith, The birth of Vietnam
Toler Pamela D., Women warriors, an unexpected history
Van Thanh Nguyen-Marshall, “Trung Trac and Trung Nhi”, in: Hingham Robin, Pennington Reina (ed.), Amazons to fighter pilots, biographical dictionary of military women, vol.2