Ethnographic Knowledge On Northwest Vietnam Through Phạm Thận Duật’s Work “Hưng Hóa Ký Lược

Abstract

Based on an analysis of the documentary value of the work "Hưng Hóa Ký Lược", the paper contributes to a further understanding of Pham Than Duat's role in the accumulation of ethnographic knowledge in Vietnam. He was one of the few local technocrats under the Nguyen dynasty who diligently researched, recorded, and truthfully provided information about the culture, languages, and ethnic groups in his jurisdiction, contributing to the advancement of socio-economic knowledge for the local government. He also pioneered in the application of ethnographic methodologies, ahead of his time, to generate new knowledge about the ethnic groups in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. For professional ethnologists today, his knowledge of the ethnic groups, languages, and customs of the Northwest region recorded in "Hưng Hóa Ký Lược" remains a valuable legacy that needs to be further explored and employed.