The place-names of Dong Anh = Địa danh Đông Anh

As a real science subject, Vietnamese toponymy was formed and developed for a short time (about in the middle of the 20th century). In the world, the toponymy has a longer history attaching with the name of the first toponymists such as J.J. Eghi, J.W.Nagl at the end of the 19th century … However, the notes of geographical, historical place-name in both Orient and in the West appeared from very soon. - In China, at the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Co documented more than 4,000 place-names. By the time Northern Wei, Lich Dao Nguyen wrote “Thuy kinh chu so”, in which noted more than three thousand place-names. - At the end of the 19th century, in the West, the toponymy subject was officially appeared. In 1872, J.J. Eghi (Switzerland) wrote Toponymy and in 1903, J.W.Nagl (Austrian) also made the work Toponymy. In the 20th century, flourished the researches on place-name attaching to the great names from many countries. J.Gillénon (1854 - 1926) wrote Atlat French language, research the place-name in the direction of geography development. A.Dauzat wrote Origin and development of place-name propose the geographical methods to study the chronology of the place-names. Leading and reaching many achievements in building theoretical system is the Soviet toponymists with some typical works such as E.M.Murzaev with The tendencies of researching place-names, I.U.A.Kapenko Discussing contemporary place-names, A.V.Nhikonov with General of place-names (1965); G.P.Xmolixkaja and M.V. Gorbanhexki with Moscow place-names etc.... The person who is considered to have most contributions to the toponymy research science is A.V. Supenranxkaja with 2 great works named Principles of toponymy and What is toponymyịa. In which, including the work What is toponymy has great value in the development of toponymy branch. b. Situation of place-name research in Vietnam The chronicle works, history of literature, geography books appearing a lot of centuries ago may be considered as the first toponymy works in our country. We may tell the name of typical works in this genre such as: Vietnamese historical summary, Vietnam Records of the Historian (Ngo Si Lien), General history summary of Vietnam, 11 An Nam miscellaneous literary works, Geography book (Nguyen Trai), Lich trieu hien chuong loai chi (Phan Huy Chu)…. From the middle of the 20th century, some works researched place-names in the angle of language or place-name approach in interdisciplinary science type, bring the Toponymy of Vietnam into a real science subject. Starting from the years of 70th decade – previous century, the issues of place-name research and theory of toponymy were taken true interest. We may quote the typical works as follows: - “Relation of ancient language in Southeast Asia through some names of river” (1967) by Hoang Thi Chau. - “Changes in administrative geography in the French domination period” (1972) by Vu Van Tinh - “Method of applying toponymy in research of geography, ancient history of Vietnam” (1984) by Dinh Van Nhat - “Test discussion about Vietnam place-names” (1976) by Tran Thanh Tam The research of modern toponymy must mention to Le Trung Hoa, author of the successful research work on place-names of Ho Chi Minh city and a series of other valuable researches around the field of Toponymy. In addition, it is necessary to mention to the contribution of Nguyen Kien Truong with MA thesis in Survey placenames in Hai Phong city; Tu Thu Mai with thesis “Research place-names in Quang Tri”; Tran Van Dung researched “Place-names in Dac Lac”; Phan Xuan Dam with thesis “Survey place-names in Nghe An” and many thesises, themes of place-names in other localities. c. Issue of place-name research in Hanoi and Dong Anh district - In the important historical documentations such as, Vietnam Records of the Historian (Ngo Si Lien), General history summary of Vietnam, An Nam miscellaneous literary works, Geography book (Nguyen Trai), place-names of Co Loa, Uy No, Duc Tu, Kim Hoa, Dong Do… are mentioned attaching to the important historical events and as a unit directly under Dong Ngan district, in consideration of administrative aspect. 12 - Dong Anh village community was mentioned in the famous books “Name of Vietnam village community in the 19th century”, “Thang Long – Hanoi competitionexaminations villages” - The history of formation, transformation of the administrative place-names and name of Dong Anh village community was also introduced in the books “Dong Khanh geography book” (complied at Dong Khanh reign -1886), “Bac Ninh geography book” by Do Trong Vi, “Bac Ninh tinh chi” by Trinh Nhu Tau, “Kinh Bac administrative geography” by Nguyen Van Huyen, “Vietnamese country through the dynasties” by Dao Duy Anh and recently the meticulous research work on change process of placenames and administrative border of districts, communes of Bac Ninh province through the historical periods of author Nguyen Quang Khai. - During the thesis implementation, the implementer approached to many typical research works attaching to land and people of Dong Anh, in which, the place-names in this land are considered as the historical evidence or itself is the object of research: Book “On the land of historical Co Loa” by late Professor Tran Quoc Vuong, Dong Anh with 1000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi published by the District Party Committee– People’s Council – People’s Committee of Dong Anh district, Prof.Dr. Bui Xuan Dinh chief editor, Co Loa monography Nguyen Quang Ngoc and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vu Van Quan - The research on Dong Anh place-names can not but mention to the work Meaning and origin issue of Co Loa place-name discussed by many researchers in the works and articles: “Vietnamese country over dynasties” (Dao Duy Anh), “On the land of historical Co Loa” (Tran Quoc Vuong), “ Co Loa geography book” (Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Vu Van Quan), “Study about the origin and meaning of Co Loa place-name” (Tran Tri Doi, Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh)… - The place-name in Dong Anh also contributes to proving the presence, prosperity and decadence of Royal Dynasty Li on Hoa Lam mother’s village of King Li Cong Uan. The development of scientists such as Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Binh Dy, Asso.Prof.Dsc. Tran Ba Chi, Prof.Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lam Thi 13 Mi Dung on the sources of bibliographies, archeological documentations and placenames contribute to clarifying such significant historical secrets. In addition to the above-mentioned research works, the place-name in Dong Anh is also mentioned in the folk legends, local researches and a lot of articles, thesis, themes about Co Loa Festival, Den Sai Festival, Choosing Son-in-law Festival, Duong Yen village, singing Ca tru in Lo Khe, Puppetry Lo Khe, puppetry Dao Thuc… In such researches, Dong Anh place-names xists with all its vitalities and souls, when being associated with legend, customs, festivals … However, most preceding researches only took interest in Loa Thanh, Mai Lam and neighboring cultural regions, in which, the place-name is only told name as historical evidences that are rarely considered as direct object of research. The picture of Dong Anh place-names with 23 wide communes and townlet is only described generally and most are acknowledged in the angle of administrative unit. The research on Dong Anh place-names n the interdisciplinary direction, attach special importance to the characteristics of language – history – culture is the direction chosen by us with desire to discover and affirm more specific characteristics of this land, seeing from the angle of place-name system 6. Research method: Generally apply the methods of collection, fieldwork, description method, interdisciplinary research method of language – history – culture, analytical method, summary, generalization. 7. Contributions of the thesis Implementing this theme, we desire to achieve the research results with scientific and practical values, including the basic contributions: - Point out and prove the characteristics and development law of place-name language according to the particular research methods of linguistics. - Put forth a accurate, scientific and full system of place-names in Dong Anh in the organic close relation with local history and culture. - Being an important research segment in the scientific project about overview of natural, historical, cultural, social characteristics of Dong Anh district implemented by 14 Dong Anh district People’s Committee in coordination with the Institute of Vietnamese studies and Development science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 8. Thesis composition In addition to Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis includes 3 chapters: Chapter 1: General issues of place-name and the place-names of Dông Anh Chapter 2: Characteristics of the place- names of Dong Anh Chapter 3: The place – names of Dong Anh in the relationship with history and culture 15 CHAPTER 1: GENERAL ISSUES OF PLACE-NAME AND THE PLACE –NAMES OF DONG ANH 1.1. General theories of place-name 1.1.1. Concept The naming is a language operation to determine, call, reflect and localize the things, phenomenon. The result of naming is the appearance of name words with the different forms: human name (name of people), ethnic name (name of ethnic people), place-name (name of geographical objects)… The place-name term has origin from an ancient Greek Toponima hay Topoma, Vietnamese meaning “place name”, “name of geographical place”. The place-name not only brings meaning “land name” as pure way of understanding if only translate the topographical meaning. The place-name includes the name of all geographical objects belonging to nature (mound, hill, river, stream …), residence units (village, hamlet, province, city …), construction works existing on a defined geographic space (temple, pagoda, factory, market, street …). The set of place-names forms a layer of special terms in the vocabulary system of one language. The place-name is governed by the general language laws (such as rule of pronunciation), bringing the characteristics of a specific language (rules of grammar, spelling…), at the same time, there are the particular rules in its immanent structure (rule of place-name composition, method of identification). The place-name is the familiar concept, but around this concept, there are still a lot of ways of understanding that are not completely identical with each other. In the famous toponymy research work named What is place-name?, author A.V. Superanxkaja determined the place-name: “All geographical names, sometimes there are other names: list, originating from Latin nomenclature (write name)” and “such geographical places, targets are the natural or artificial objects with the location, determination on the earth’s surface, from the largest objects (continents and oceans) to the smallest objects (houses, tree gardens standing separately) have name”. On the other hand, the author thinks that: “The people in all countries from the old time recorded the 16