Studies of Land Tenure in the Journal of Historical Studies (1954-2015)

Abstract

This article surveys studies of land tenure published in the Văn-Sử-Địa Review and the Journal of Historical Studies between 1954 and 2015, thereby tracing the development of research on the history of landholding in Vietnam. Based on a statistical review of 137 published articles, the author classifies the studies by historical period, covering the pre-Nguyễn era, the Nguyễn dynasty, and the French colonial period, and identifies major themes such as systems of land ownership, communal and private land, land reclamation, agrarian policies, cadastral registers, plantations, and the relationship between land issues and peasant movements. The findings show that studies of the Nguyễn dynasty constitute the largest group, with 69 articles, followed by research on the Lý–Trần period and other historical eras. The article also highlights the Journal’s important contribution to the identification, exploitation, and publication of valuable historical sources, including cadastral registers, inscriptions, genealogies, and village conventions. These materials have helped clarify the history of Vietnam’s land tenure system while providing an evidentiary and methodological foundation for the compilation of general histories, textbooks, and specialised studies.