Religion and Policy of Catholic Prohibition under the Nguyen Dynasty: Analysis of Ritualistic Considerations

Abstract

This article examines the religious landscape of the Nguyen Dynasty, focusing on the significance of Confucianism and conflicts with Catholicism. The analysis draws from a range of sources, including edicts, historical chronicles, reports, treaties, and studies by Vietnamese and foreign scholars. The period studied spans from the Nguyen Dynasty’s establishment under Gia Long to its surrender to French colonialism in 1884. Central to this examination is the scrutiny of the religious panorama prevalent during the Nguyen Dynasty. It disentangles the disparities between Catholicism and Confucianism, laying bare their fundamental divergences in beliefs and practices. It chronicles Gia Long's confrontational stance towards Catholicism, unraveling the subsequent religious discord it engendered. Moreover, the research delves into Minh Mang's policy of religious prohibition, unveiling the ritualistic conundrums that ensued due to the prohibitive edicts issued by Thieu Tri and Tu Duc. The study concludes that the Nguyen Dynasty’s prohibition policy on Catholicism had significant consequences for the Vietnamese society in the 19th century. The policy exacerbated the differences between Catholics and non-Catholics due to conflicts between traditional Vietnamese culture and Catholicism's divergent views on rituals, customs, and social values. Ultimately, the prohibition policy not only failed to curb the spread of Catholicism but also provided a pretext for French colonialists to invade Vietnam, leading to its gradual transformation into a French colony, and their goal of evangelization in the region. Overall, the research highlights the impact of religion on political power and the dynamics of cultural conflict in Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty.