Mr. Dao Duy Anh ( 1904 – 1988 ) was one of a few of the most respectable and prestigious scholars of Vietnam modern time. He was a multiple figure. He was the author of such valuable research works as: Chinese – Vietnamese Dictionary ( 1932 ); French – Vietnamese Dictionary ( 1936 ); Monograph on the Tale of Kieu ( 1943 ); Monograph of Confucianism ( 1943 ); Concise History of China ( 1944 ); Ancient History of Vietnam and History of Vietnam ( both in 1955 ). The book Viet Nam van hoa su cuong - Concise History of Vietnamese Culture that you are holding was written by Dao Duy Anh in the first half of the last 20th century ( exactly in the year of 1938 ) and was full of profound learning level & diverse of materials. It belonged to category of first classical textbooks on Vietnam culture's research and is still useful reference for now. Contents: Chapters: 1 – An Introduction. What is a culture ? Geographical conditions of Indochina. Population. The people of Vietnam. The history of evolution & development of Vietnamese. 2 – Economic life. Agriculture. Farming methods. Irrigation. Agricultural & agrarian policies. Husbandry & fishing. Industry: Why Vietnam industry was a backward ? Commerce. Rural countryside life. Cities. Transportation. Tax: Poll tax, land tax & others. Money system. 3 – Social life. Family, family clan & its relationships. Village, hamlet & commune. The country of Vietnam as a Nation. The system of monarchic government. Folk customs & habits. Body tattoo. Betel & areca nut chewing. Dress. Housing. Marriage & wedding ceremonies. Funeral rituals. Belief & religion. 3 – Cultural life. Buddhism. Confucianism. Taoism. Language ( Chinese & the Nom scripts ). Education. Literature. Arts. Architecture. Music. Sculpture. Medicine & medicinal herbs. Astronomy. Astrology & Fengshui. Historic & geographic sciences. .. And many others.