Top 6 Most Influential Figures in Vietnamese Culture

Sĩ Nhiếp (137 - 226) was a Vietnamese of Han descent who remarkably governed ancient Vietnam from 187 - 226. Due to his implementation of progressive policies, he was posthumously honored as the Founding Scholar of Nam Giao, and during the Tran dynasty, he received the accolade of Thien Cam Gia Ung Linh Vu Dai Vuong, and was highly praised by Ngo Sy Lien as Si Vuong.

His father, Si Tu, served as the district chief of Nhat Nam during the Han Hoan De era, sending Si Nhiếp abroad to study classics under Lu Tu Ky of Dinh Xuyen, specializing in the works of Ta Thi Xuan Thu. Si Nhiếp passed the imperial examination with distinction, appointed as Thượng thư lang, but due to his meritorious service being exempt from office, he returned home to mourn his father. Later, he passed the Mau Tai examination, appointed as the Vu Duong Prefect, and later changed to the Thái thú in Giao Chi district, bestowed with the title Long Độ Đình Hầu, establishing his residence in Lien Lau (now Long Bien).

From the beginning of the common era to the 10th century, Vietnam experienced Chinese feudal domination, with Han script and language imposed by the ruling class. According to Dao Duy Anh, Vietnam began Han studies when the Thái thú Sĩ Nhiếp (137 - 226) taught the Vietnamese people poetry. For over a thousand years, most inscriptions on stone steles were in Han characters.

He passed away in Binh Ngo, at the age of 90. His temple is located in Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh today.

Father Francisco de Pina (1585 - 1625) was a Portuguese Catholic clergyman of the Dominican Order, arriving in Macau for a year of study and then sent to Vietnam in 1617. He was the first priest fluent in Vietnamese, playing a crucial role in developing our national alphabet.

His missionary work spanned from Hoi An to Quy Nhon. Father Francisco de Pina tragically drowned in the waters off Da Nang on December 15, 1625, while attempting to rescue stranded passengers on a sinking boat.

Hàn Thuyên, born Nguyễn Thuyên, hailed from Lai Ha village, Thanh Lam district, Nam Sach province, along the Lang Giang river, now Lai Ha commune, Luong Tai district, Bac Ninh province. He attained his Doctorate in 1247 and held the position of Minister of Justice under the reign of King Tran Nhan Tong.

Hàn Thuyên excelled in Nom poetry and is recognized for developing and popularizing Nom script in Vietnam. He was the first to apply Tang poetry principles to Nom poetry, leading to the subsequent naming of Nom poetry following Tang principles as Han Law.

The innovations of Hàn Thuyên paved the way for positive exploration and creativity in the development of literature written in Nom script. With contributions that celebrated the national identity, Hàn Thuyên is remembered as a cultural luminary.