Trần Thái Tông
Encyclopedia
Trần Thái Tông, born name: Trần Cảnh (陳煚), July 17, 1218-May 4, 1277) was the first emperor of the Trần Dynasty, seated on the throne for 33 years (1226–1258), being Grand Emperor for 19 years.
. Trần Thủ Độ, his uncle, prepared the ground for his marriage to Queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng
, the last queen of the Lý Dynasty
, who later abdicated to make him the founder of the Trần Dynasty in 1226.
His steps to the throne in particular and the replacement of the Trần Dynasty over the Lý Dynasty in general were mostly thanks to the efforts of Trần Thủ Độ, Trần Cảnh’s uncle. At that time, Trần Thủ Độ was the front commander of citadels of the Lý Dynasty. Trần Cảnh's father, Trần Thừa
, was also an official under the Lý Dynasty, like Trần Thủ Độ. He had been "Nội thị khán thủ," one of the most important officials in the Lý Dynasty.
During the time when he was seated on throne, Trần Thái Tông used three era names: Kiến Trung (1225–1232), Thiên Ứng Chính Bình (1232–1250) and Nguyên Phong (1251–1258).
He commanded the armies but failed to protect his capital from the first Mongol invasion
of Vietnam
in 1257. He agreed to send tribute every 3 years to the court of the Mongol Empire
.
Learned in both Confucianism
and Buddhism
, he ruled the country wisely and authored several profound works on Buddhism, the most famous of which is Khoa Hu Luc (Instructions on Emptiness), a Zen
manual. A prodigious writer, he left behind a substantial number of works; however, only a small number survive.
Trần Thái Tông led the Đại Việt people to victory against the first invasion of the Nguyên Mông army. Then he gave up the throne to his son, crown prince Trần Hoảng (Trần Thánh Tông
).
, Trần Nhật Vĩnh, Chiêu Quốc Vương Trần Ích Tắc
, Chiêu Văn Vương Trần Nhật Duật
, Chiêu Đạo Vương Trần Quang Xưởng, princesses Thiên Thành (wife of Hưng đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn), Thiều Dương, Thuỵ Bảo, An Tư
.
was Trần Thái Tông's elder brother. In 1237, Trần Thái Tông and Chiêu Thành empress still did not have any son to maintain the continuity of his king family, due to Trần Trịnh's premature death.
At that time, Princess Thuận Thiên, Trần Liễu’s wife, had been pregnant Quốc Khang for 3 months. Trần Thủ Độ and princess Thiên Cực (his wife) advised the emperor to arrogate that pregnancy to himself to maintain the continuity of the king family. Taking that advice, the emperor gave injunction to make princess Thuận Thiên empress Thuận Thiên, and make Chiêu Hoàng down to princess. Because of this, Trần Liễu took his army to Cai River to rebel. This incident embarrassed Trần Thái Tông and he left the capital for Yên Tử mountain. Only after taking advices of Trần Thủ Độ and Phù Vân Buddhist priest, he came back to the capital. Two weeks later, Trần Liễu surrendered. Trần Thủ Độ intended to behead him, but Trần Thái Tông covered him by his body, so that Trần Thủ Độ could not do anything. After that, he gave him his territory, consisting of Yên Phụ, Yên Dưỡng, Yên Sinh, Yên Hưng, Yên Bang. Due to the name of his territory, Liễu is also called Yên Sinh Vương.
Biography
Trần Thái Tông’s given name was “Trần Cảnh” (陳煚). He was born in 1218 at the end of the Lý DynastyLý Dynasty
The Lý Dynasty , sometimes known as the Later Lý Dynasty , was a Vietnamese dynasty that began in 1009 when Lý Thái Tổ overthrew the Prior Lê Dynasty and ended in 1225 when the queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her husband, Trần Cảnh. They ruled Vietnam for a...
. Trần Thủ Độ, his uncle, prepared the ground for his marriage to Queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng
Lý Chiêu Hoàng
Lý Chiêu Hoàng was the eighth and last sovereign of the Lý Dynasty from 1224 to 1225 and the only empress regnant in the history of Vietnam. Chosen by the Emperor Lý Huệ Tông as his successor at the age of only six, Lý Chiêu Hoàng ruled the country under the total influence of Trần Thủ Độ and the...
, the last queen of the Lý Dynasty
Lý Dynasty
The Lý Dynasty , sometimes known as the Later Lý Dynasty , was a Vietnamese dynasty that began in 1009 when Lý Thái Tổ overthrew the Prior Lê Dynasty and ended in 1225 when the queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her husband, Trần Cảnh. They ruled Vietnam for a...
, who later abdicated to make him the founder of the Trần Dynasty in 1226.
His steps to the throne in particular and the replacement of the Trần Dynasty over the Lý Dynasty in general were mostly thanks to the efforts of Trần Thủ Độ, Trần Cảnh’s uncle. At that time, Trần Thủ Độ was the front commander of citadels of the Lý Dynasty. Trần Cảnh's father, Trần Thừa
Trần Thừa
Trần Thừa was the head of the Trần clan and a high-ranking mandarin during the reign of Lý Huệ Tông and Lý Chiêu Hoàng. After the overthrow of the Lý Dynasty by Trần Thủ Độ, Trần Thừa's second son Trần Cảnh was enthroned as Trần Thái Tông, the first emperor of the Trần Dynasty...
, was also an official under the Lý Dynasty, like Trần Thủ Độ. He had been "Nội thị khán thủ," one of the most important officials in the Lý Dynasty.
During the time when he was seated on throne, Trần Thái Tông used three era names: Kiến Trung (1225–1232), Thiên Ứng Chính Bình (1232–1250) and Nguyên Phong (1251–1258).
He commanded the armies but failed to protect his capital from the first Mongol invasion
Mongol invasions of Vietnam
Mongol invasions of Vietnam or Mongol-Vietnamese War refer to the three times that the Mongol Empire and its chief khanate the Yuan Dynasty invaded Đại Việt during the Trần Dynasty and the Kingdom of Champa: in 1257–1258, 1284–1285, and 1287–1288. The Mongols were defeated by Đại...
of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 1257. He agreed to send tribute every 3 years to the court of the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
.
Learned in both Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, he ruled the country wisely and authored several profound works on Buddhism, the most famous of which is Khoa Hu Luc (Instructions on Emptiness), a Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
manual. A prodigious writer, he left behind a substantial number of works; however, only a small number survive.
Trần Thái Tông led the Đại Việt people to victory against the first invasion of the Nguyên Mông army. Then he gave up the throne to his son, crown prince Trần Hoảng (Trần Thánh Tông
Tran Thanh Tong
Trần Thánh Tông , given name Trần Hoảng , was the second emperor of the Trần Dynasty, reigning over Đại Việt from 1258 to 1278. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Nhân Tông, Thánh Tông held the title Thái thượng hoàng from 1279 to his death in 1290...
).
Progeny
There is nothing that gives reference to exactly how many children he had, but it is know that he had children by the name of Trần Trịnh (died prematurely), Tĩnh Quốc Vương Trần Quốc Khang, Trần Hoảng, Chiêu Minh Vương Trần Quang KhảiTrần Quang Khải
Prince Chiêu Minh Trần Quang Khải was the third son of Trần Thái Tông, first emperor of the Trần Dynasty. Being younger brother of the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông and holding the position of grand chancellor of the Trần Dynasty for many years, Trần Quang Khải was one of the most important figures of...
, Trần Nhật Vĩnh, Chiêu Quốc Vương Trần Ích Tắc
Trần Ích Tắc
Trần Ích Tắc , title before defection Prince Chiêu Quốc was the fifth prince of Trần Thái Tông, first emperor of the Trần Dynasty, and the younger brother of the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông and grand chancellor Trần Quang Khải...
, Chiêu Văn Vương Trần Nhật Duật
Trần Nhật Duật
Prince Chiêu Văn Trần Nhật Duật was the sixth prince of Trần Thái Tông, first emperor of Trần Dynasty. Being younger brother of the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông, Trần Nhật Duật was one of the most important figures of Trần family and royal court during the reigns of four successive emperors Thánh Tông,...
, Chiêu Đạo Vương Trần Quang Xưởng, princesses Thiên Thành (wife of Hưng đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn), Thiều Dương, Thuỵ Bảo, An Tư
An Tu princess
An Tư was a princess during the Trần Dynasty , the youngest offspring of emperor Trần Thái Tông. Today, nobody knows exactly her birth and death year...
.
Relation with Trần Liễu
Trần LiễuTrần Liễu
Prince Yên Sinh Trần Liễu was the elder brother of the Trần Thái Tông, the first emperor of Trần Dynasty. Initially, Trần Liễu was honoured by his younger brother with the title King Hiển but he was downgraded to Prince Yên Sinh after the short-lived revolt in fury of losing his pregnant wife,...
was Trần Thái Tông's elder brother. In 1237, Trần Thái Tông and Chiêu Thành empress still did not have any son to maintain the continuity of his king family, due to Trần Trịnh's premature death.
At that time, Princess Thuận Thiên, Trần Liễu’s wife, had been pregnant Quốc Khang for 3 months. Trần Thủ Độ and princess Thiên Cực (his wife) advised the emperor to arrogate that pregnancy to himself to maintain the continuity of the king family. Taking that advice, the emperor gave injunction to make princess Thuận Thiên empress Thuận Thiên, and make Chiêu Hoàng down to princess. Because of this, Trần Liễu took his army to Cai River to rebel. This incident embarrassed Trần Thái Tông and he left the capital for Yên Tử mountain. Only after taking advices of Trần Thủ Độ and Phù Vân Buddhist priest, he came back to the capital. Two weeks later, Trần Liễu surrendered. Trần Thủ Độ intended to behead him, but Trần Thái Tông covered him by his body, so that Trần Thủ Độ could not do anything. After that, he gave him his territory, consisting of Yên Phụ, Yên Dưỡng, Yên Sinh, Yên Hưng, Yên Bang. Due to the name of his territory, Liễu is also called Yên Sinh Vương.