The Penn State University Libraries recently acquired a set of thirty-two sắc phong, Vietnamese imperial edicts granting titles and promotion to meritorious individuals and efficacious deities. The dates of the edicts range from 1638 to 1944, representing the Later Lê dynasty (1533—1789) and the Nguyễn dynasty (1802—1945), stretching into the period of French colonial rule. These edicts and official documents are valuable primary sources for understanding how Vietnamese emperors engaged with deities and officials. The imperial edicts granting titles to deities, in particular, illuminate how the central state proclaimed its authority, regulated deities and local religious practices, and interacted with local society
Kate Baldanza is Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at Penn State.
Rachael Dreyer is Lead Curator and Engagement Coordinator at the Eberly Family Special Collections Library at Penn State.
Zhaohui Liu is the Asian Studies Librarian at Penn State Libraries.
