Echoes of a Decade in Annam: A Journey Through Chen Tianjie’s Memoirs

A Decade of Discovery in Indochina

Introduction

"Memories of Ten Years in Vietnam (Annam)" is a poignant memoir by Chen Tianjie, reflecting on his life in Cholon and Saigon between 1922 and 1931. Arriving at the age of sixteen, Chen captures a pivotal era when the Chinese diaspora deeply influenced the social and economic landscape of French-controlled Vietnam.

The Structural Fabric: A Table of Contents Analysis

The memoir is organized into several thematic sections that paint a comprehensive picture of the "Nanyang" experience:

1. Historical Overview of Overseas Chinese in Vietnam: A look at the transition from "Central Plains migrants" during the Qin and Han dynasties to the political refugees of the Ming-Qing transition.

2. The Rise of Cholon (Ti'an): How a desolate riverbank was transformed into a bustling commercial hub by Chinese settlers fleeing the turmoil of the Tay Son rebellion.

3. Governance under the French: Details on the "Bang" (Congregation) system, where the French utilized five Chinese dialect groups (Fujian, Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, and Hakka) for administrative control.

4. Economic Contributions: The dominance of Chinese merchants in the rice industry, particularly the "Five Big Rice Mills" that fueled the local economy.

5. Education and Culture: The establishment of schools like the Suicheng School and the preservation of Chinese traditions in a colonial setting.

6. Social Customs and Anecdotes: Unique cultural observations, including the "La Liao" (grass hut) childbirth customs and the legendary efficacy of Chinese medicine.

Quotable Quotes: Wisdom and Observation

Chen’s writing is noted for its sincerity and its focus on the symbiotic relationship between the Chinese and Vietnamese people.

On the Origins of Cholon: "The place now known as Cholon was originally a deserted area of weeds and marshes... Chinese merchants built embankments, constructed streets, and gathered there for trade, hence the name 'Ti'an' (Embankment)."

On the Unity of the Diaspora: "Among the five 'Bangs', although they were established separately, they frequently communicated and helped one another in public welfare and disaster relief."

On the Efficacy of Traditional Medicine: "Even some French people believed that Chinese medicine and herbs possessed an 'inconceivable divine effect'." — Regarding the story of a teacher who saved his leg from amputation thanks to a Chinese bone-setter.

On Cultural Integration: "Vietnamese people saw that Chinese families gave birth within their own homes, and they were gradually influenced to eliminate the superstition [of the grass huts]."

Conclusion

Chen Tianjie’s memoir serves as a vital historical bridge, reminding us that the story of the Overseas Chinese in Vietnam is one of resilience, innovation, and profound cultural exchange. 

Seeing the Body as a Landscape: Understanding Heat, Cold, Fullness, and Emptiness

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Seeing the Body as a Landscape: Understanding Heat, Cold, Fullness, and Emptiness

In TCM, the body is seen not like a machine but like a small world — full of warmth, coolness, movement, and stillness. These forces must stay in harmony. When one side grows too strong, the body sends signals that it needs rebalancing.

Heating (Yang or Hot Conditions)

Think of a sunny summer afternoon — bright, active, and full of energy. That’s like the heating side of the body. When this grows too strong, people may feel restless, thirsty, or irritable, with warm skin or red eyes. The body is telling us there’s “too much fire.” The solution isn’t just to remove the heat but to help the body cool gently — through rest, calm emotions, lighter food, and a peaceful mind.

Cooling (Yin or Cold Conditions)

Cooling is the opposite. Imagine a winter morning when everything moves slower; that’s how the body feels when it is too cool inside. Hands and feet may feel cold, energy drops, one may crave warmth or comfort food. It’s not about external temperature, but the body’s “internal season.” Warming foods, gentle movement, sunlight, or laughter can bring that warmth back.

Fullness (Excess)

Fullness means something has built up too much — like a traffic jam in the body. It could be too much heat, food, emotion, or tension. Symptoms are stronger, come suddenly, and feel “pushing.” For example, a strong headache that feels tight or a stomach that feels bloated after overeating. The focus is to unblock and let things move again, like opening a dam.

Emptiness (Deficiency)

Emptiness, by contrast, is when the body doesn’t have enough energy or resources — like a river running dry. Symptoms develop slowly and feel “lacking”: tiredness, dull pain, or low mood. The approach is not to fight but to nourish — to rest more, eat simply, and rebuild strength over time.

Western medicine might describe these as body temperature, metabolism, or chemical imbalance. TCM simply uses the language of nature — talking about “heat,” “cold,” “full,” and “empty” so people can picture what’s happening inside without instruments or lab tests. The aim is the same: to restore balance so life can flow freely again.

Balancing with Nature: Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

Balancing with Nature: Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is more than a medical system — it is a way of seeing life. It begins with a simple observation: humans are part of nature. Just as trees need sunlight, water, and rich earth to thrive, people need balance in their daily rhythm, emotions, and surroundings.

In TCM, health is not only the absence of disease but the presence of harmony. When someone feels tired all the time or becomes easily upset, it isn’t just a question of one organ or one symptom; it is a sign that life’s natural flow has been disrupted — like a stream blocked by fallen leaves. The goal of TCM is to help that stream flow smoothly again, restoring the body’s rhythm and ease.

Where Western medicine often focuses on the part that hurts — fixing a joint, lowering blood pressure, or destroying bacteria — TCM tends to look at the whole garden instead of the single plant. Western science is excellent at measuring, identifying, and analyzing the physical causes of illness. TCM, however, focuses more on relationships: how sleep affects mood, how emotions affect digestion, and how every part of life responds to the weather, food, and time of day.

TCM believes our bodies change with the seasons. In spring, we should move and stretch; in summer, enjoy lightness and openness; in autumn, slow down and reflect; in winter, keep warm and conserve energy. This living rhythm aligns us with the larger world — it teaches that healing isn’t only found in medicine but also in the way we live each day.

The roots of this way of thinking may sound poetic, yet they point toward a practical truth: balance creates strength. To live in tune with nature and with ourselves is to nurture quiet resilience — the kind that doesn’t only repair illness but builds vitality long before sickness appears.