In the book “Chronicles of the Trung Hung”, it is recorded: “A type of vessel resembling a large mast was created, measuring over 60 zhang, with large stones placed on top. When encountering the boats of the officials, it would hurl stones and smash them with bamboo poles. The farmers referred to it as the xa thuyền.” So, who invented the “xa thuyền”?
Currently, there are two hypotheses:
– The first hypothesis: It was invented by Li Gao, the military commissioner of the Eastern Dao of Shan Nan. According to the “Old Records of Li Gao,” it states: “Li Gao once contemplated creating a warship with two wheeled carts that could sail with the clouds and ride the winds… referred to as the Two-Wheeled Warship.” This is precisely what the xa thuyền is, and it is believed that Li Gao was the one who created it. During the third year of the Shaoheng era of the Southern Song Dynasty, in the writings of Li Gang, it mentions: “Li Gao managed to build several warships with three tiers that had wheels gliding over the waves, drawing crowds of onlookers.” Additionally, historical records indicate: “Li Gao once lived in Jiangnan, and during this time, he invented the xa thuyền.” Thus, it can be concluded that Li Gao invented the xa thuyền, not someone from the Tang Dynasty.
– The second hypothesis: The xa thuyền was invented by Gao Yi, an official in the Southern Song Dynasty’s Water and Transportation Bureau. In the book “Legends of the Yangma”, it states: “The envoy encountered a group of soldiers… that was Gao Yi – the one who presented the drawing of the xa thuyền… and built a large xa thuyền…” From this story, it is clear that Gao Yi was the one who presented the design and constructed the xa thuyền, which the farmers used after seizing it from the officials of the dynasty. This book also mentions: “By what means did they cause the water of the Chi River to gradually recede, making the mouth of the Chi River very shallow, preventing the xa thuyền from escaping? The bandits then rushed into the gate of Dan Tong Zhi, using fire to burn it, but the xa thuyền did not catch fire and fell into the hands of the bandits.”
So, who truly invented the xa thuyền? This is a question that historians must diligently study and gather more materials to arrive at an accurate conclusion.
