Hello comrades, So a couple weeks ago, I came across this thread by Luna.
https://twitter.com/lunaoi_vn/status/1581473440342585344?s=46&t=uV2S2pQEgJMSeBKRH9gmxQ
It was interesting to me because I don’t know a lot about the specifics of LGBTQ “normalization” in ancient Vietnamese culture; all I do know is that it used to be normal and due to colonialism, that is gone now. What are some examples of LGBTQ people being normalized in Vietnamese culture historically, and where can I read more about this? Tldr- looking for information about gender-nonconforming traditions and basically the history of transgenderism(?) in Vietnam specifically.
During the rule of Lê Thánh Tông in the 15th century, there was a recorded case in the Emperor’s court of two women that had lived together and had an affair while the husband of one of the women was away. The transcripts of the court case and the judge’s notes did not criticize, admonish, or direct any sort of legal action towards the fact that the defendants were two women, only the fact that they had committed adultery. This court case and the notes/thoughts of the judge can be found in “Code of Hồng Đức” which has translations into other languages if you are interested.
For reference, in many other countries at the time, not only western, such an act would warrant execution or torture as a punishment, while the women were only given a light prison sentence and fine for adultery, this is used by Vietnamese historians to demonstrate the normalization of LGBT people in Vietnam prior to colonialism.
Is Code of Hong Duc a book? Is there a link where I can see the notes of the judge in this case? A case briefing perhaps? Thanks for the response!
Yes, the Hong Duc Main Book of Morality is a massive book of records of the legal proceedings in Vietnam during the rule of King Le Tong. Tong was attempting to modernize and standardize the judicial system in Vietnam which was outdated and relying on aging Confucian codes. The Hong Duc included the most noteworthy, or example cases for the record.
The case itself is extremely long and dry, as it was an academic legal document, so this is a link to a thesis from the Vietnamese scholar that discusses and explains the most important parts, including mentioning the fact that LGBT relations were accepted in feudal Vietnam. The summary can be found on page 16. Also for reference, in the same document, the author mentions that there was a law and clause that ordered that if a male servant engaged with sexual relations of a man of higher class, then both men were to be decapitated. However the same law notes that the action of sodomy or relations between men themselves is not illegal and is protected, and it would only be punished if social hierarchies were broken.
https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2443&context=theses1
I have tried for the past hour, but I am not able to find a pdf of the original document with an English translation. It is very easy to find references to this case in academic works, but I’m out of luck. You would probably have more luck if you were to get into contact with a Vietnamese speaking person, or a Vietnamese academic. Hopefully I have been of help, though I apologize that I was unable to track down the original Book of Morality itself.
I knew it.
