Career revival activities in Duy Tan movement in Quang Nam in the early twentieth century

Abstract

The renovation thought of Quang Nam’s scholars in the early twentieth century was encapsulated by Phan Chau Trinh in a slogan with 3 phrases focusing on the people: "Broaden the people’s mind, invigorate the people’s spirit, and enrich the people’s well-being”. In particular, although the “enrich the people’s well-being” is placed at the end of the slogan, it exudes a practical meaning to escape the situation of “difficult country with poor people”. This thought, implemented in practice, has a great effect not only in normal activities of revitalizing career but also encourages the entrepreneurial spirit, for the purpose of the people's autonomy and self-reliance. Its influence was not only limited in Quang Nam but also spread to many other localities in Vietnam at that time.