In the 10th month of winter, during the cold season, King Ly Thanh Tong (1023 - 1072) told his attendants: "I am in the palace, warming myself with animal bone charcoal, wearing a mink coat and still feeling this cold. Thinking of the prisoners in jail, suffering from shackles, not knowing right from wrong, not having enough to eat, not wearing enough clothes, suffering from the cold wind, or some who died without merit, I feel very sorry. So I ordered the Right Office to issue blankets and mats, and provide two meals a day." (1)

Another time, "In the summer, the 4th month, the king was in Thien Khanh palace to judge a case. At that time, Princess Dong Thien was standing by his side. The king pointed at the princess and told the jailer: 'I love my child as much as I love my people's parents. People are ignorant and fall into the law, I feel very sorry, from now on, regardless of whether the crime is serious or minor, all will be pardoned'." (1)

In a safe and cozy place, suddenly feeling sad thinking of the hungry and cold people in prison; witnessing a trial with his daughter, he was moved with compassion for the criminals.

Both of the above cases, briefly recorded in Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu in the chronological style (2), are related to criminals and prisoners. It seems that history only records the king's concern for criminals and prisoners; but the king's heart for the people should be understood in the same way. That is, the king also places his love for the people as parents do for their children, like the concept of "dan chi phu mau" (parents of the people) (3) mentioned in the Book of Songs (4).

The concept of the king/officials as parents of the people, since the time of Mencius (372 - 289 BC), has changed, with the principle of "the people are the most precious, the country is the second, the king is the lightest." (5) In fact, Western and Eastern political philosophy and leadership have long considered the people as the masters of the country; kings/officials as servants of the people. Leaders exist to serve the masses, not to be served by the masses. However, this “democratic” idea, ironically, seems to have only been accepted in theory (and slogans) in Vietnam late in the 19th and 20th centuries. In reality, today’s officials, under the one-party regime, always condemn the corruption and dictatorship of the ancient monarchies, have openly recognized themselves as “parents of the people,” in the sense that they have the right to oppress the people and decide everything for the people’s lives. The Vietnamese people, up to this modern, civilized era—an era where the titles “freedom and democracy” are constantly mentioned on every signboard and administrative document—have never been respected or loved by “public servants” or “servants.” In that way, today’s leaders, when they are parents, are heartless and irresponsible parents to their children; and when they are servants, they are also treacherous and immoral servants.

How can a king who is respected by the whole country, standing above the world, in a golden palace, still feel compassion and think about prisoners and common people? Have today’s leaders ever taken a moment to look directly at the suffering reality of the people, instead of just worrying about finding ways to suppress and imprison people who have opinions contrary to theirs? Can today's leaders stop for a minute, talk less, discuss less, find less strategies to protect their party and throne, and listen to the honest voices and cries of pain of the people?

The reason why King Ly Thanh Tong was known as a benevolent king, successful in governing the country and bringing peace to the people, was thanks to his sincere compassion for his children, as well as for the people (6). Compassion is not a weak point of a regime or a political system. Compassion does not weaken or weaken the courage of a man; on the contrary, it can be the material to mend broken pieces and separations, creating the strength of harmony and unity among the entire people. The proof is that during his 18 years on the throne, the benevolent King Ly Thanh Tong defeated the Song and pacified the Champa, with such glorious feats that the Song army no longer dared to invade Dai Viet, and the Champa king had to surrender and pay tribute to all three provinces (Dia Ly, Ma Linh and Bo Chinh - today some districts of Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces).

What the ancients did was not difficult: parents must be parents, public servants must be public servants. To love the people as their own children, one must do everything for the people, for the people; not just love with words or slogans. For the family, parents, in addition to the responsibility of caring and nurturing, must also know how to listen, recognize the strengths, weaknesses, feelings, ideals and life views of their children; and above all, must love their children. Without love, parents are no longer parents.

Leaders probably do not need to learn any political tricks to pacify the people, but only need to raise and express the love of parents, sincerely for all people. Parents do not give birth to children to be served by their children, but to love and care for them with all their love and responsibility for their whole life. If you cannot be the parents of the people, then bow down to be public servants, be children and grandchildren, and wholeheartedly serve the people as if they were your own parents.

This idea is nothing new. But it is never out of date in protecting the country and its people, especially in times of national distress and danger.

NOTES

(1) Complete Annals of Dai Viet, Complete Annals, Volume 3.
(2) Briefly records events or incidents that occur each year, compiled into a chronicle of each decade, century, and millennium.
(3) The ancient Confucian concept considered the king as the parent of the people; high and low officials also followed that and placed themselves in the position of parents to care for and rule the people like parents care for their children. “The Book of Poetry says: 'How happy is the gentleman, the parent of the people.' Whatever the people like, he likes, whatever the people hate, he hates. This is called the parent of the people.” (Poetry. Xiaoya. Nanshan Youtai, chapter 2, verses 3-4).” Excerpted from the Great Learning, the Binh Thien Ha section, transmitted by Zeng Zi (ie Zeng Shen, 505 - 435 BC).
(4) The Book of Songs is one of the Five Classics, the five foundational classics of Confucianism (including the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals), said to have been compiled by Confucius.
(5) The people are the most precious, next is the country, and last is the king. Mencius (372 - 289 BC) is considered the successor to the doctrine of Confucius (551 - 479 BC).
(6) Read more comments by historian Ngo Si Lien about King Ly Thanh Tong: "Pitying the prisoners and being benevolent to the people is the first thing a king should do. Saint Tong was concerned about the prisoners in prison or the innocent who died of hunger and cold, so he provided them with blankets, food and drink to sustain them. He was concerned about the officials in charge of the prison or the poor who accepted bribes, so he provided them with salaries and food to make their families rich. He was concerned about the people's lack of food, so he issued an edict to encourage agriculture. When there was a great drought, he issued an order to help the poor. He was always sincere and sincere. Moreover, he respected the teachings of the Tao, clearly defined the system, and quickly implemented the civil and military affairs within the country. In the south, he pacified the Cham; in the north, he defeated the Song; his military power was displayed and glorified abroad." (Complete Annals of Dai Viet, Volume 3)