Regarding the character "Doi Doa" in the Duy Tan Uprising

There was a figure in Quang Nam province who played a crucial role in King Duy Tan's uprising in 1916, seemingly forgotten by history, but fortunately, after more than a century, his life story is gradually being "decoded"...

The tomb of Doi Doa in Hoa Trung village, Phu Hoa hamlet, Dai Loc commune. Photo: VT.

An associate of the patriot Phan Thành Tài

According to the book "The Duy Tan Uprising through Archival Records" by authors Luu Anh Ro and Nguyen Truong Dan ( Da Nang Publishing House, 2023), in document number 41 of the ANOM – GGI - 65530 archive at the National Overseas Archives Center (Republic of France), there is a "Declaration of Phan Thanh Tai" dated May 22 and 23, 1916.

Patriot Phan Thành Tài (1878 - 1916), also known as Đạt Đức, was from Bảo An village, now part of Gò Nổi commune, Da Nang. He was a pioneer of the Vietnam Restoration Society in Central Vietnam and a key figure in the Duy Tân Uprising (May 1916). He was trusted by his comrades and nominated to serve as Governor of Nam-Ngãi, holding the highest responsibility for the uprising in Quảng Nam and Da Nang.

In the aforementioned statement, Phan Thành Tài mentions a character: "Team Đóa," with two noteworthy details:

Firstly, regarding the recruitment of insurgent troops (militia), Phan Thành Tài stated: “I was assigned by Thông Phiên (i.e., Thái Phiên) to travel throughout the province to recruit soldiers, through a third party… The following is a list of those responsible for recruiting soldiers in various localities. In Đại Lộc district: Đội Đóa, from Quảng Huế Trung village…”.

Secondly, there was the assignment of command to the rebel forces. According to Phan Thanh Tai, "Doi Doa, Nguyen Trinh, Nguyen Uynh, and Huynh Con were in Da Nang." He also stated that Doi Doa and the rebel troops advanced to Da Nang according to the planned uprising: "The next morning (May 3, 1916)... I went to look for the troops, met some I had recruited in Da Nang, then returned to Binh Long by cart to inform Doi Doa to mobilize some people to join him in the Da Nang concession, but I learned that he had already gone with his troops via the Tuy Loan route."

Thus, the book "The Duy Tan Uprising through Archival Records" has "revealed" that: In the Duy Tan Uprising 110 years ago, Doi Doa was a reliable associate of the patriot Phan Thanh Tai, playing a rather important role: he was both responsible for recruiting insurgents in Dai Loc district and one of the commanders of the army that attacked Da Nang.

Unfortunately, the Duy Tan Uprising was exposed before it could take place. The patriot Phan Thanh Tai, after hiding in the mountainous western region of Quang Nam, was executed by the enemy at the riverbank near Vinh Dien market on June 9, 1916. His trusted associate, Doi Doa, also fell into the enemy's hands.

The story of "Team Doa"

Based on the information about the character "Doi Doa" in the aforementioned archives, we went to Hoa Trung village (also known as Quang Hue Trung), Phu Hoa hamlet, Dai Loc commune, Da Nang. Mr. Truong Tam, the great-grandson of Doi Doa, now 62 years old, said: Doi Doa's real name was Truong Dien, also known as Truong Phuoc Danh, born in 1852. He came from a family of military officers.

According to Mr. Truong Tam, legend has it that after the failed rebellion led by King Duy Tan, Doi Doa went to Hoa Trung village to hide. However, his whereabouts were tracked and discovered by the French colonialists and the Southern Dynasty. Knowing that he was skilled in martial arts and very resourceful, they mobilized a large force to surround his house, demanding his surrender and threatening to hunt down the villagers and his family members if he did not comply. In desperation, Doi Doa was forced to allow himself to be tied up. After a period of brutal torture and imprisonment, he returned to his village to live until his death. His descendants do not know the exact year of Doi Doa's death, only that his death anniversary is on the 18th of June in the lunar calendar. His tomb is located in Hoa Phu village, Phu Hoa hamlet.

Regarding the designation "Doi Doa" (Flower Team), we believe it may have been a pseudonym, and the word "Team" likely relates to an order from Phan Thanh Tai. In "Quang Nam Past and Present" (Thanh Nien Publishing House, 2004), author Ho Ngan states: "He (Phan Thanh Tai) organized a secret army in Quang Nam. According to his order, whoever recruited one hundred volunteers would be appointed as a team leader in charge of those one hundred men."

Unanswered questions

The book "The Duy Tan Uprising Through Archival Records" has clarified the role of Doi Doa in the Duy Tan Uprising 110 years ago. However, in our opinion, the issue does not end here, but requires further in-depth research into the relationship between Doi Doa and other figures in the "Seven Provinces of Quang Hue" region in particular, and the prefectures and districts of Quang Nam province at that time in general, in preparing for the uprising.

For example, it is said that the elders Giáo Xứng (from Giao Thủy village, now part of Hamlet 1, Đại Lộc commune) and Thủ Nhẫn (from Phước Yên village, now part of Phú Phước hamlet, Đại Lộc commune) were involved in mobilizing the people of Giao Thủy - Quảng Huế region to weave cloth to supply the militia for military uniforms.

Who was the "extended arm" of Doi Doa in recruiting militiamen in the villages and districts? What locations were used to forge weapons for the militia? Was Con Giao Thuy the place where Doi Doa organized the training of militiamen to pursue his grand ambitions?...

These are, I believe, quite interesting questions, and satisfactory answers will contribute to fostering the unwavering spirit and self-sacrificing attitude of the people of Quang Nam in the process of reform and integration today!

Source: https://baodanang.vn/ve-nhan-vat-doi-doa-trong-khoi-nghia-duy-tan-3331060.html