From regional identity to national designation: Gia Long and The naming of Việt Nam

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive examination of the naming of Việt Nam during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1804, the Nguyễn dynasty (1802–1945) adopted Việt Nam as the state name, not through international law or any formal legal framework, but as a result of conventions and negotiations between Nguyễn Vietnam and Qing China. This study delves into the complex implications of state names within traditional Vietnam and China. It investigates the motivations behind the Nguyễn's initial proposal to adopt the name Nam Việt, and their rejection of the name An Nam. It also explores the reasons for the Qing's refusal to grant the Nguyễn domain the name Nam Việt and its preference for An Nam. It also provides how the Qing and the Nguyễn interpreted the name Việt Nam as they compromised on this name. The findings illustrate how state names reflected a dynasty’s political identity, encompassing its geographical roots, territorial expansions, and claims to legitimacy.