What is feudalism?
Many people probably picture a king sitting on a throne, surrounded by officials and dukes, or scenes of battles on horseback wielding swords. But do feudal terms actually have a direct connection to royalty? The answer is not necessarily. "Feudalism" is a Sino-Vietnamese word formed from two characters: "phong" and "kien." "Phong" means to bestow or grant. Have you heard of imperial decrees or titles? That's when the king grants titles and land to someone. The word "phong" also appears in envelopes or seals, but in the feudal context, it primarily means to bestow. "Kien" here means to build, establish, and set up. This word appears in architecture, meaning building houses. "Kien nghi" means to propose ideas or to construct for the development of the country. So, when combined, "feudalism" means both bestowing and building. But bestowing what, and building what?
According to the Vietnamese dictionary by Le Van Duc, feudalism is essentially an abbreviation of "phong quan kien dien," where "quan" refers to officials working for the imperial court, and "dien" refers to land. Simply put, feudalism refers to the practice of the king granting titles and land to meritorious individuals to govern those lands, with taxes collected democratically. This was the core mechanism of the feudal system not only in Vietnam but also in China, Japan, and medieval Europe.
To illustrate, imagine this: The king is like the supreme ruler of an entire country, but because the country is vast, the king cannot manage everything, so he divides it into different regions. These regions are then governed by vassals or feudal lords. These individuals must be loyal to the king while also being responsible for governing and collecting taxes in their respective areas. This mechanism is similar to an ancient system of concessions. Now that we understand why it's called feudalism, let's explore the main characteristics of this system. Feudalism is not just about the king granting land; it is a very distinctive political and economic system.
Some major characteristics of the feudal system.
The first characteristic is the decentralization of power through land. At the core of feudalism was the distribution of land by rulers to vassals, officials, or meritorious individuals. These were called lords in the West or vassals in the East. They received land and governed it to collect taxes. For example, in medieval Europe, kings often bestowed titles upon knights or nobles. Those who received land were called vassals and had to swear allegiance to the king or higher-ranking lord. They were obligated to provide troops, pay taxes, or serve in the military. The granted land was not theirs forever and could only be used during their lifetime. If they failed to fulfill their duties, the land would be reclaimed. Similarly, if those above them died, the land had to be returned and re-granted.
A specific example is the Frankish kingdom, the predecessor of France, during the reign of Chancellor Sharler Memen in the eighth century. He organized a very strong system of land grants, requiring vassals to swear allegiance, kneel before their lord, and pledge military service. Failure to comply resulted in the loss of everything. In Vietnam, this system also appeared, particularly under the Ly and Tran dynasties. The king granted land, called fiefdoms, to princes, nobles, or meritorious generals. These individuals managed the land, collected taxes, and provided troops for the court. For example, during the Tran dynasty, princes were not only talented generals but also granted fiefdoms to govern vast territories. However, in Vietnam, the king's power was generally stronger, so vassals had fewer opportunities to rebel than in Europe.
The second characteristic of the feudal system is its close association with agriculture. Land was the most important asset, and the people were typically farmers working on the land of lords or vassals to produce rice and other crops. They paid taxes on their produce and worked for free for the lord. In Vietnam, farmers typically paid taxes in the form of "tô," "rung," and "điệu." "Tô" was a tax paid in agricultural products such as rice. "Rung" referred to public works such as building dikes and roads. "Điệu" was a tribute of local specialties or military service.
For example, during the early Le Dynasty, farmers had to pay rice tax to the court and perform public works such as goat farming. These obligations were sometimes very burdensome, causing farmers to fall into hardship. In Europe, peasants, also known as serfs, often worked on the estates of feudal lords, paying a portion of their harvest, usually 1/3 to 1/2 of the crop, and were not allowed to leave the land without permission. Their lives were often very hard, but they were the backbone of the economy at that time. Interestingly, in feudal Japan, farmers also had to pay taxes in rice. A feudal lord's wealth was judged based on the amount of rice they received each year.
The third characteristic of the feudal system is the clear class division. Feudalism has very distinct classes. In the East, such as Vietnam or China, society was usually divided into main classes: the scholar class (officials and intellectuals), the peasant class (farmers and the main producers), the artisan class (craftsmen), and the merchant class (traders), who were often considered the lowest class. In addition, there was the aristocratic class (royalty and nobility), and at the very bottom, the slave class. In Vietnam, the scholar class was highly respected because they were those who passed the imperial examinations and helped the king govern the country. For example, during the Nguyen dynasty, high-ranking officials were not only military commanders but also scholars who played a crucial role in the court.
In the West, feudal society was divided into three major groups. These included the worshippers, such as monks and priests, who devoted themselves to spiritual matters; the warriors, such as kings, nobles, and knights, whose duty was to defend the territory; and the laborers, such as farmers and artisans, who produced wealth. The upper class enjoyed privileges, while the lower class bore heavy responsibilities. However, in Vietnam, farmers had the opportunity to change their destiny through examinations, a significant difference from Europe, where class structures were generally more rigid.
The fourth characteristic of the feudal system is that power is both centralized and dispersed. Although the king is the head, power in the feudal system is not entirely centralized. The king must rely on vassal lords to govern the country. This leads to a separation of powers. The king has supreme authority, but the lords also have autonomy within their territories. In Vietnam, the king's power was often stronger, especially under the Early Le and Nguyen dynasties.
However, during periods of decline, such as the Trinh-Nguyen conflict, local lords like the Trinh lords in the North or the Nguyen lords in the South wielded significant power, leading to the country's fragmentation. In Europe, power was more clearly dispersed. At times, lords were so powerful that they challenged even the king. For example, in medieval France, dukes were once wealthier and more powerful than the French king. Some lords even built their own castles and maintained their own armies, ready to confront the royal court if necessary.
Here are some interesting facts about feudalism that you may not have known.
The first interesting fact is that feudal lords weren't always wealthy. We often imagine lords or vassals living in castles and enjoying luxurious living, but that wasn't always the case. In Europe, there were very wealthy lords, but there were also those who owned only a tiny plot of land, even poorer than some wealthy farmers. They had to rely on taxes and the labor of their people to sustain themselves. But if the harvest failed, they too would weep silently.
The second interesting fact is that knights weren't as romantic as they are in the movies. The image of knights in films is often that of dashing gentlemen riding white horses to rescue princesses, but the reality is a bit harsh. Medieval knights were typically soldiers trained to fight, and many of them were quite brutal. They had to serve their lords, participate in wars, and sometimes even plunder to supplement their income. Their gleaming armor weighed 20-30 pounds, making movement incredibly difficult. Imagine running a few laps around a courtyard wearing that armor – it would be exhausting.
The third interesting fact is the story of life-changing opportunities. Unlike in Europe, where class structures were almost fixed, in feudal Vietnam and China, peasants had the chance to change their destiny through examinations. If they passed, they could become officials, even holding high positions in the imperial court.
The fourth interesting fact is that castles weren't always luxurious. When thinking of feudal castles, many imagine them as opulent and warm. But that's not the case; medieval castles in Europe were often cold, damp, and lacking in amenities. They were built primarily for defense, with thick stone walls and small windows, severely limiting light and air. Even the lords had to endure these harsh living conditions in their own homes. Even the toilets back then were simply holes in the wall that discharged directly outside.
The fifth interesting fact is that women in feudal times were not entirely weak. We often think of women in feudal times as being confined to the home, doing embroidery and sewing. But in reality, many women played important roles. In Vietnam, Lady Trieu led an uprising against the Wu army with her famous quote, "I want to ride the strong wind and trample the fierce waves." In Europe, Queen Elena in the 12th century was one of the most powerful figures of the Middle Ages, ruling her territory, participating in politics, and leading armies in the Crusades.
The next fact concerns taxes during the feudal era. Besides agricultural taxes, the feudal period also had other taxes that sound quite absurd. In Europe, there were wedding taxes; if a farmer wanted to marry, he had to pay the lord. Or a fire tax, paying to be allowed to light a fire for warmth. In Vietnam, under some dynasties, the people had to pay strange tributes such as ivory, rhinoceros horns, or even falcons for the king to use for hunting.