The Experience of Using Cultural Dialogue in Diplomacy in Vietnamese History

Abstract

The experience of using cultural dialogue in diplomacy by the Vietnamese people in the medival time is profound. This article focuses its analysis and discussion on the following famous events:

- Composing and exchanging poems with the Chinese after having defeated the latter's invasion in the Pre-Lê dynasty in the late tenth century;

- Arguments and dialogues with the Chinese court to reclaim the lost territories in the border during the Lý dynasty (1010-1225);

- Using the cultural dialogue in their diplomatic activities with the Mongolian Yuan dynasty, the Tran emperors in the thirteenth century could delay the peaceful time in order to prepare well for the upcoming fierce battles which contributed greatly to their glorious victories;

- Using the "power of word" to discourage the invaders in order to end the Chinese Ming's invasion and occupation of Vietnam during the Early Lê dynasty in the early fifteenth century;

- "Using words to set swords aside" helped the Vietnamese Tay Son dynasty to rebuild the diplomatic with the Chinese Qing court in the late eighteenth century.