CONTINUITY
IN FRENCH
INDOCHINA.
Continuity. There is always something that will last through and out of the time of New imperialism. Tradition is what makes French Indochina so unique and different from the rest of the world. What lies beneath the fascination of one, is ultimately the beauty of continuity that French Indochina has pulled though.
SOCIAL CONTINUITY
Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century by King Suryavaram II in honour of the Hindu god Vishnu and consists of a huge temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru. There are five inter-nested rectangular walls and moats that represent mountain ranges. Also, it is so precisely aligned with the stars so as to mirror the heavens and bring harmony to heaven and earth. Numerous devatas, guardian spirits, adorn its walls are sculpted to such great detail that you have to see it to believe it. Construction then was so advanced that they were confident of using sandstone rather than bricks to build this amazing temple.
Angkor wat is the remnants of a once prosperous metropolis and has attracted the young and the old because of religious pilgrimages or to admire its great beauty. It is a perfect example of the classical style of Khmer architecture and has impressed many to be compared to the likes of ancient Greece and Rome. That is why many around the world still constantly visit Angkor wat. Also, 37 years after King Suryavaram II’s death, the new King decided on converting the empire’s religion from Hindu to Buddhist. Due to the political corruption present then, the conversion went on without a hitch. Hence, Angkor wat was converted to Theravada Buddhist use and till this date, the faithful still pay their respects there occasionally.
Another temple you can visit would be the Pha That Luang (Great Stupa in Lao), a Buddhist stupa in Vientiane, Laos. The architecture of the building includes many references to Lao culture and identity, and it also represents many aspects of Buddhist scriptures.
Despite being introduced to Christianity during French colonization, majority of the people in Laos remained strong in their Buddhist faith.
Buddhism was the state religion of the Kingdom of Laos, and the organization of the Buddhist community of monks and novices, the clergy (sangha), paralleled the political hierarchy. The faith was introduced beginning in the eighth century by Mon Buddhist monks and was widespread by the fourteenth century. A number of Laotian kings were important patrons of Buddhism. Lao Buddhists belong to the Theravada tradition, based on the earliest teachings of the Buddha. Buddhism also coexisted with animism, the belief in spirits.
Confucius Temple is a temple devoted to the cult of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism. The influence of Confucianism on Vietnam was firm because it was rooted in the country's educational system even until now. (Education consisted of a study of the Confucian classics and ethics.) The temple's principal building was usually known as the "Hall of Great Achievement", where the Confucius Ancestral Tablet and those of other important masters and sages were kept and venerated. In front of the Hall were the Apricot Pavilion and the “Gate of Great Achievement”. The Shrine of the Great Wise Man honored the ancestors of Confucius.
Confucius temple is what made Confucianism so weighty. Do you know that in the past to be "educated" meant to be learned in the Confucian classics”? The social relations of imperial Vietnam (emperor and subject, father and son, etc.) were greatly shaped by Confucius education. The five cardinal virtues of Confucianism (humanity, loyalty, civility, wisdom and justice) were promoted in the society. Interestingly, different from western mode, the bureaucracy was recruited from graduates of the Confucian examination system in the past.
However, the old system is not suitable in the modern world. As the French arrived, they replace Confucius educational system with civilized western educational system. Confucianism declined. Fortunately, Some Confucius temple still remained and functioning today and still play an important role in Vietnam.
So now, hurry up and catch this opportunity and join us at French Indochina to visit and experience the Eastern culture! See how it is different from our church school and how it influences people’s life in French Indochina!
POLITICAL CONTINUITY
Hue, Vietnam was once the capital of Nguyen emperors and was modeled after Beijing’s own Forbidden City. Hue people take their pride in a long-lasting history. The city has gone through 7 centuries of establishment and development. In 1802, Hue became Vietnam’s capital when Emperor Gia Long, the first King of the Nguyen emperors (Nguyen dynasty), chose the location for the imperial city. Hue is one of the main cultural, religious and educational centers of Vietnam. So far, Hue remains to be the only originally historical vestiged city in Vietnam. Many of Hue’s attractions are found along the banks of the romantically named Perfume River with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 architectural works, which are the reflection of the life of Emperors and mandarins under Nguyen’s reign.
These temples so great that it has stood the test of time, war and colonial rule. Having been present since ancient time, continuity is present in French Indochina main tourist attraction physically as preservation works have recently. True to its original purpose, faithful Buddhists often go and pay respects to deities. But those who go for the sights and sounds account for more than half of the visitors annually.
Traces of continuity could be found in Luang Prabang through the Royal Palace, which was built by the French for King Sisavangvong between 1904 and 1909 to replace the former royal palace, which had been burned down in 1887. The building was intended to improve Franco-Lao relations and thus features a blend of French and Lao architectural styles.
Who would miss a chance to visit such a historic site and view the work of talent ages ahead of their time?
ECONOMIC CONTINUITY
In French Indochina some area was not as developed as its neighbours for example Laos, because the French colonial government in Laos had little money for infrastructural development such as advanced transportation.
Changes brought into Laos were the changes in the agricultural systems. Because of the French economic goals of trading and exporting, instead of subsistence farming, peasants in Laos were assigned to plant crops for trade and export. However, the crops remained the same, and one could experience the agriculture in Laos by visiting the wet rice fields, as well as tobacco fields, which were cash crops being traded during the colonial era.
