Though described as the "Vietnamese Joan of Arc," Triệu Thị
Trinh predated the French heroine by more than 1200 years. At 20 years old, Triệu
(a.k.a. Lady Triệu) raised a following 1,000 strong, and urged her fellow
Vietnamese to rebel against the Chinese forces that sought to conquer their
homeland in the 3rd century. Her brother tried to dissuade her from revolt, but
Triệu's response was as fearsome as she was on the battlefield. She retorted,
"I only want to ride the wind and walk the waves, slay the big whales of
the Eastern sea, clean up frontiers, and save the people from drowning. Why
should I imitate others, bow my head, stoop over and be a slave? Why resign
myself to menial housework?" From there, her brother joined her army.
Triệu cut a grand figure on the field, carrying two swords and wearing
bright yellow robes while she rode a war-elephant. After liberating her
territory and beating the Chinese back in 30 advances, she lost the war, and is
believed to have committed suicide by 23. Despite this dark end, her legacy
lives on. Stories of her suggest that she had a voice that sounded loud as a
temple bell, and that she was 9 feet tall with breasts that were 3 feet long.
These tall tales speak to the incredible presence this young woman, who inspired
people past and present, possessed.
Her power to inspire is easy to imagine, considering her gift for words.
Here's another gem of a Triệu quote: "I'd like to ride storms, kill sharks
in the open sea, drive out the aggressors, reconquer the country, undo the ties
of serfdom, and never bend my back to be the concubine of whatever man."
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