The Development of Confucianism in Vietnam in the First Half of the 20th Century: The Case of Ngô Tất Tố

Abstract

Among the cultural and intellectual figures of the first half of the 20th century, Ngô Tất Tố is regarded as one who received a fundamental training in the classical Chinese educational system, a system that had shaped knowledge and learning in Vietnamese society for more than a thousand years. In the context of the decline of classical Chinese studies, Ngô Tất Tố rose above the limits of that tradition to become not only one of the leading representatives of the Confucian literati in the era of modern journalism but also a writer who quickly adapted and firmly established his position among the progressive authors of his time. His career extended across diverse genres, ranging from journalism to philosophy, and he produced significant works that contributed to both the shaping of his intellectual identity and the modernisation of Vietnamese Confucianism. The objective of this study is to clarify the academic value and contributions of Ngô Tất Tố to the research, application, and development of Confucianism in the context of Vietnam through his literary works and books on cultural and artistic criticism. The contribution of this study is: i) a comprehensive assessment of Ngô Tất Tố’s thoughts and academic values on the research and development of Confucianism in Vietnam; ii) opening up a direction for in-depth research on similar scholars who have made discoveries and conducted research applying the ideas of major religions and philosophies of the world to the Vietnamese context.

Highlights

We found out that: 1) Ngô Tất Tố was an outstanding Confucian scholar but also a prestigious Vietnamese  intellectual, influenced Western education in the first half of the 20th century; 2) His academic career had an impact and influence on contemporary Vietnamese science and society; 3) His thoughts and contributions continue to have an influence on Vietnamese society to this day; 4) These important findings are based on interdisciplinary approach between philosophy and history, philosophy and cultural studies, philosophy and art studies to highlight his talent and important contributions in the context of Vietnam.