The government structure of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–84): imitations and creations drawn from the institutions of Vietnam and China

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ABSTRACT The Nguyen dynasty was the final monarchy in Vietnamese history. This fact prompts researchers to ponder a series of questions: Is the structure of governance under the Nguyen dynasty a distinctive creation of this dynasty, merely an amalgamation of past customs, or perhaps borrowed elements from Vietnamese and Chinese models? Were the Nguyen dynasty’s decisions to restore the centralized institution in the new historical context driven by objective necessity or by the dynasty’s subjective will? Did these decisions usher in a new era of development, or did they mark the beginning of historical calamities for Vietnam? This research aims to elucidate the features of the governmental structure of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–84), highlighting its parallels and distinctions, as well as its inheritances and innovations, in comparison to the state institutions of the Later Le dynasty (1428–1527) in Vietnam and the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties in China. The research utilizes the ‘center and periphery’ theory to explore the strategies and scope by which the Vietnamese monarchy incorporated and mirrored foreign political structures. The study seeks to establish connections and derive insights applicable to contemporary global political challenges overall, with a particular focus on Vietnam.