Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms: Volume 93

Southeast Oceans: Coastal Kingdoms

Therefore, the cannons they cast and the muskets they manufacture are no different from those of France During the 19th century, the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam actively adopted European military technology, particularly French artillery and Vauban-style fortifications. Their military officers are profoundly knowledgeable in strategy, and their warships are far superior to those of China. They patrol throughout the Five Indias Five Indias (Wǔ yìndù): a traditional Chinese term for the five historical regions of the Indian subcontinent and the various nations of the South Seas to broaden their experience. Their envoys frequently travel abroad to conduct business at their own discretion. However, whenever foreign vessels enter their ports, they implement strict defensive measures, being so vexatious and harsh that they effectively block the paths of foreign merchants.

Each year, there are some 300 Chinese ships of various sizes that arrive in Annam, while over 30 ships from Annam travel to Singapore original: 新嘉坡 (Xīnjiāpō). However, the sailors on these vessels are ethnic Chinese. Even the King’s own warships—one or two of them—carry miscellaneous goods to those ports for trade.

According to the Record of Imperial Military Victories Shengwu Ji (Shèngwǔ jì): a 19th-century military history of the Qing Dynasty written by Wei Yuan, who also helped compile this Gazetteer, the capital of Annam is called Tonkin Tonkin (Dōng jīng): literally "Eastern Capital," referring to the northern region centered on Hanoi. This was formerly the seat of the Jiaozhou Protectorate during the Tang Dynasty. Meanwhile, the two circuits of Quang Nam and Hue serve as the Western Capital original: 西京 (Xījīng), which consists of the ancient territories of Jiuzhen and Rinan. Separated by a sea mouth in the middle, these regions have for generations been...