Western Missionaries’ Overview on Religion in Tonkin (North of Vietnam) in the 18th Century

Abstract

The author compares the two rare books, one in Vietnamese and the other in Latin, namely “Tam giáo chư vọng” and “A Small Treatise”. The two books were both composed in great efforts of Italian missionaries at the order of Saint Augustine while they came to work in the North of Vietnam in the 18th century. Despite slight differences, the two books provide rich materials regarding religions and beliefs of the Vietnamese people. Although authors managed to classify religions and beliefs in the region, there are still limitations in their works due to lack of understanding of indigenous language, customs and culture.