Born: 226
Biography:
Lady Triệu, also known as Triệu Thị Trinh, was a fierce warrior and leader in 3rd century Vietnam who played a significant role in resisting the rule of the Chinese Eastern Wu dynasty. Born in 226, Lady Triệu’s actual given name is unknown, but she is often referred to as Triệu Ẩu. She is remembered for her courageous efforts to reclaim her country’s independence and freedom from foreign domination.
Lady Triệu’s uprising is part of the broader narrative of Vietnam’s long struggle for independence. She vowed, I’d like to ride storms, kill orcas in the open sea, drive out the aggressors, reconquer the country, undo the ties of serfdom, and never bend my back to be the concubine of whatever man. Her resolute determination to fight for her people captured the imaginations of the Vietnamese, especially women, and inspired them to resist foreign oppressors.
The background against which Lady Triệu emerged was marked by the Second Era of Northern Domination. In 226, the Chinese ruler Sun Quan dispatched 3,000 troops to regain direct control over Jiaozhi and eliminate the influential Shi Xie family. The forces of Sun Quan captured and executed Shi Hui and his entire family, as well as launching a brutal campaign that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Jiuzhen. The conquest of Jiaozhi led to its division into two separate provinces, Jiaozhou and Guangzhou. This episode of Chinese aggression set the stage for Lady Triệu’s rebellion.
In 248, the people of Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen districts in Jiaozhou province rose up against the Wu Chinese who ruled over them. Lady Triệu, a local woman from Jiuzhen, courageously led the rebellion, gathering support from a hundred chieftains and mobilizing fifty thousand families to join her cause. The Eastern Wu dynasty responded by sending Lu Yin to suppress the uprising. After enduring several months of warfare, Lady Triệu was eventually captured and put to death.
Although Chinese records did not mention Lady Triệu, her legacy was documented by Le Tac, a 13th-century Vietnamese scholar who was exiled in Yuan China. Le Tac described her as a woman with a yard-long breast who rode into battle on an elephant. K. W. Taylor has argued that Lady Triệu’s resistance was perceived by the Chinese as stubborn barbarism and was therefore deemed unworthy of historical interest. However, Catherine Churchman disputes this assertion, pointing to the Jiaozhou ji by Liu Xinqi as the oldest and most detailed source of information about Lady Triệu. Churchman highlights that this account was quoted in the Taiping Yulan, a text from around 980 that served as the basis for subsequent narratives about Lady Triệu.
Lady Triệu’s bravery and unwavering commitment to her people have cemented her status as a symbol of resistance and national pride in Vietnamese history. Her story embodies the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people who have fought for their independence throughout the ages. Lady Triệu’s legacy continues to inspire women, reminding them of the power they possess to challenge oppression and fight for justice.