History about the Trung sisters
Trung Trac and Trung Nhi are twin sisters, daughters of the official general of Me Linh (the former Son Tay region and present day Vinh Phuc province), belonging to the Hung Vuong lineage. Her mother is Mrs. Man Thien, born in the village of Nam Nguyen – nowadays Son Tay district-level town, Hanoi. Her husband died early, Ms. Man Thien raised the Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, alone. She taught her children how to grow mulberries and raise silkworms; educate them patriotism, health training and martial arts.
Trung sisters art in Dong Ho style – Source: Dam Sen
Trung Trac is a capable, brave and wise woman. Her husband is Thi Sach, son of the official Lac general of Chu Dien district (Hanoi). Thi Sach’s family is a patriotic and influential family in Chu Dien.
The Trung sisters were trusted by the people of Me Linh. For a long time, the two sisters still hated the tyrannical life of the prefect of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Su Ding. His tyrannical policy is actually the oppressive and exploitative policy of the Eastern Han Dynasty with all Vietnamese people.
The Trung sisters’s rebellion
The marriage between Trung Trac and Thi Sach made her influence – the force opposed to the Eastern Han government represented by Su Ding – even more powerful. In order to deprive the Trung Trac family of influence that had spread throughout Vinh Phuc, Su Ding sought to kill Thi Sach. This action did not weaken Trung Trac’s heart, but on the contrary made her more determined to carry out an uprising to overthrow the domination and oppressive government of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and restore independence for the country. It is called “pay for the country’s debt, avenge the house’s feud”.
In February of the year 40, the Trung sisters launched an uprising at the estuary of the Hat River (Phuc Tho district, Hanoi). Patriots from all over the world rushed to gather in Me Linh. From Me Linh, the insurgent army moved forward and attacked Luy Lau (Thuan Thanh – Bac Ninh) – the capital of the Eastern Han government in Giao Chi (the ancient Vietnam). The oppressive regime of the Han Dynasty was overthrown, and Luy Lau was liberated.
Hai Ba Trung temple’s festival – Source: Do Hoang Y
Supported by people everywhere, wherever the Trung sisters’ insurgent army came, the government and army of the Eastern Han Dynasty broke up. The Man and Ly ethnic groups in Cuu Chan, Nhat Nam, and Hop Pho (now in Guangdong) all responded. Su Ding and his cliques saw the insurgent army emerging like a storm, panicked and fled to China together.
In just a short time, the Trung sisters had liberated 65 districts, that was the entire territory of Vietnam at that time. The uprising was successful, the country was completely independent. Trung Trac was honored as King (Truong Vuong), and the capital city was set in Me Linh.
The Trung sisters’ death
This news found a way to reach the ears of the King Quang Vu of Han dynasty in China. He prepared a counterattack. Hearing that the Han invaders led by Ma Vien entered Lang Bac, the Trung sisters and his sibling Trung Nhi brought troops from Me Linh to attack Ma Vien. Here a fierce battle took place between their army and the invaders. Trung Vuong’s army fought bravely, but because of their weakness, they lost and had to retreat to Cam Khe (Yen Lac district, Vinh Phuc province). Ma Yuan sent his army to chase. After nearly a year of heroically fighting, finally, due to inferiority, the Trung sisters’ army broke down. They returned to Hat Mon (Phuc Tho – Hanoi) and then threw themselves into the river of Hat to commit suicide. The Trung sisters’ death was a big regret of the whole Vietnamese people.
The uprising of the two women was the first uprising in the history of Vietnam led by women. It broke out and shook the whole country. Although the Trung sisters’s rebellion only brought independence to the country for nearly 3 years, the historical significance of that uprising was extremely great.
