Dưỡng Tế Department of the Nguyen dynasty (before 1884)

Abstract

As a relief agency of the Nguyen Dynasty, Dưỡng Tế Department functioned to treat the ill and take care of the sick people. Although it has been mentioned in some research on Vietnamese culture, history and medical history, there has not been a specific study on this agency, particularly its changing nature under the french colonial system. This article asks the question of understanding the Dưỡng Tế Department from 1814 to 1884 based on historical sources of the Nguyen Dynasty such as Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le, Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, documents belonging to the Nguyen Dynasty archives (Chau Ban of the Nguyen Dynasty, Tho Xuong district’s paperwork,...) and archival papers belong to colonial archives.