FIELD-LAND SITUATION OF TONG NONG THUONG, CHAU BACH THONG (THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE) IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY THROUGH STUDYING CADASTRAL REGISTERS OF MINH MENH DYNASTY 21 (1840)

Abstract

With the use of historical and logical methods, combined with analytical and synthetic methods, this study aims to restore the full picture of field-land situation of Tong Nong Thuong, Chau Bach Thong (Thai Nguyen province) in the first half of the 19th century through studying cadastral registers of Minh Menh dynasty 21 (1980). The studying cadastral registers collected are all those established in the Nguyen Dynasty in the reign of Minh Menh 21 (1840) with a total of 6 geographical units. The research results show that Tong Nong Thuong had a very large private field-land area. Besides, the area left untouched was still quite large, accounting for 17.16% of the total land area. The study also shows that Nong Thuong had a small land ownership scale; the situation of land ownership among the clans was not uniform; the land  mainly belonged to a few large clans. In addition, the dignitaries’ possession of land in Nong Thuong was not high. This study is expected to be an important history lesson, providing scientific evidence for planning the current land management policy of Thai Nguyen province.