Two of the most legendary figures in Vietnamese history are the immortal Trung sisters, Trung Nhi and Trung Trac who ruled jointly as "she-kings" of Vietnam from 39-42 A.D. after revolting from the Chinese Han Dynasty. This was after more than one hundred years of unchallenged rule by China. The oppression hit home for the Trung sisters when a Chinese official murdered the husband of Trung Trac and raped her. Trac's husband was a Vietnamese noble who had voiced dissent with Chinese rule. The Trung sisters banded together and began organizing the tribal lords into a rebel army to fight the Chinese. Besides the Trung sisters themselves, their forces were also commanded by several female generals who grew to legendary status such as Hoang Thieu Hoa, a selfless patriot, Le Chan who led the sisters' naval forces, Princess Thanh Thien, and Phung Thi Chinh who gave birth during battle and fought on with her newborn tied to her back, along with many others male and female alike.
Trung Trac and Trung Nhi attacked the Chinese with a rage born out of oppression and desperation. They defeated their stunned enemies in battle after battle as they marched north, driving the Chinese before them. In the end their kingdom reached from southern China in the north to Hue City in the south. The Trung sisters ruled Vietnam as co-queens with remarkable fairness and wisdom. After a period of peace, prosperity and freedom, in 42 A.D. the Chinese sent another massive army to subdue Vietnam. This time the odds were so great that no amount of courage or sacrifice could save the country and the sisters were defeated. Refusing to accept foreign rule once again the Trung sisters killed themselves by leaping into the river. Temples built to honor the Trung sisters stand in Hanoi and Saigon where their memory is still venerated. The Trung women remain possibly the greatest and most familiar folk heroes of Vietnam. |
