Dignified or decent?

The character "堂" (Tang) first appeared in bronze script during the Western Zhou dynasty. Initially, it meant a square platform built by humans or the foundation of a house ( Shangshu, Da Gao ). "堂" also referred to the front hall of a palace, where the emperor governed ( Shijing, Tangfeng, Bisu ), or a building used for collective activities; or the place where the court held ceremonies, worked, or judged cases ( Luanxing, Wushi of Wang Chong during the Han dynasty).

Additionally, this word is also used as an honorific for someone's mother, for example, "lệnh đường" (the mother of Mr.), "tôn đường" (the mother of Mr.), or to refer to a shop or to indicate kinship within the same family, not necessarily direct relatives, such as "đồng đường huynh đệ" or "đường huynh đệ" (brothers from the same paternal uncle), "tụng đường" (brothers from the same grandfather)...

The character "Huang " (皇) first appeared in oracle bone script during the Shang Dynasty. Its ancient form resembled the flame of a torch. Perhaps because ancient people worshipped fire, "Huang" came to signify nobility, solemnity, and greatness. In ancient texts, "Huang" also referred to deities, ancestors, and especially the emperors of the past.

Besides, "huang " also means large, magnificent ( Book of Poetry, Great Odes, Huang Xi ); brilliant, splendid ( Book of Poetry, Small Odes, Tai Xi ); beautiful ( Book of Poetry, Zhou Song, Shen Gong ) and many other meanings.

The character Đường Hoàng (堂皇), also written as Đàng Hoàng, derives its name from the fact that the character Đường (堂) has two phonetic transcriptions: "đồng lang" ( Kangxi Dictionary ) and "đồ lang" ( Shuowen Jiezi ). Both of these transcriptions result in the Sino-Vietnamese pronunciation "đàng". However, because the Kangxi Dictionary annotates "đồng lang" as "đường", there are currently two spellings as mentioned above.

The term "tanghuang " (堂皇) may have originated during the Han Dynasty. Initially, it referred to a large palace ( Xi Jing Za Ji , Volume 3), a meaning that persisted during the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty, "tanghuang" was used to describe the grandeur and magnificence of architecture (Ai Qing's Gangdu Ye ) or in elegant writing, for example, "fu li tanghuang," meaning magnificent and splendid – an idiom originating from Wen Kang's *Nü Ying Xiong Zhuan* during the Qing Dynasty, or "tanghuang er yi" – a phrase describing majesty and grandeur.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the term " grand" was also used to praise the beauty of architecture, the elegance of objects, or the workplaces of officials ( Han Shu, Hu Jian Biography ). This term also described arrogance ( Yen Chi Xue Dan Ci by Ke Hong during the Qing dynasty) or outwardly dignified words and actions that were actually deceitful ( Quan Chang Xing Ji during the Qing dynasty).

Generally, in ancient times, Vietnam used the word "đường hoàng" (堂皇) according to the meanings in Chinese mentioned above. However, at the latest from the 19th century, the meanings of the two words "đường hoàng" and "đàng hoàng" changed according to the Vietnamese understanding. "Đường hoàng" is understood as "straightforward, not secretive," for example, "a person of integrity," "a dignified gesture" ( Vietnamese Dictionary (1970) , volume 1, p. 507). This is also the meaning in the Vietnamese Dictionary (1988) edited by Hoàng Phê; in addition, on page 305, this dictionary also explains "đàng hoàng" as having sufficient material possessions ( decent houses) or eligible worth respected ( speaking politely )...