Nguyen Thiep’s behavior before the times and the evaluations of posterity

Abstract

The history of Dai Viet (Great Viet) in the 18th century can be considered a “multi-colour picture” with many “colours” of light and dark interwoven, in which the dark “colours” are somewhat dominant with the situation of division between Dang Trong (The South) and Dang Ngoai (The North), the simultaneous existence of many clans competing for power, the crisis of Confucian ethics, the uncontrolled rebellion of arrogant warriors, the outbreak of uprisings in the face of crop failure and famine,...
In the adversity of such times, Confucian intellectuals will have many different ways of behaving; some will sacrifice their lives to preserve righteousness in the spirit of “loyal subjects do not worship two kings”, some will submit to the new owner following the path of “one must take things as they come”, some who choose to stay hidden, away from the world...
As a famous scholar, La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep chose to behave with many titles at different times. At first, he stayed hidden, refusing to collaborate with the Tay Son army. He decided to help Quang Trung, resolutely returned the salary, and resigned from Mandarin to return to the mountain. Nguyen Thiep’s actions were praised and criticized by later generations from many different perspectives. However, his candidacy, “not completely hidden, not visible”, shows that he practised his religion according to the times, not time-serving, flattery, and not wholly extreme in turning away from the times. In another aspect, that is also a vivid testament to the flexible and creative absorption of Confucian ethics and morality by Confucian intellectuals in Vietnam.