PAULUS CUA (1847-74)

Originally HUYNH TINH CUA.

Scholar who contributed to the popular usage of Quoc-ngu, a romanized system of transcribing the Vietnamese language devised by Alexandre de Rhodes in the 17th century, by employing it instead of the traditional system of Chinese ideographs in his many literary works and textbooks.

Paulus Cua, who was among Vietnam´s early converts to Christianity was educated at a French mission at Penage (now Pinang, Malaysia) and after graduation served the French colonial administration as an interpreter.

He also rendered the Giadinh Bao, the official colonial journal, into Quoc-ngu.

By passing the mandarin examinations, Paulus Cua achieved a rank within the traditional Confucian-based hierarchy of the Vietnamese court and served later on a board that examined a candidate´s knowledge of Vietnamese and Chinese and conferred degrees.

Paulus Cua wrote many plays as well as a dictionary, novels and mathematical texts, all in Quoc-gnu. He was also the author of a number of ethnological works that detailed the customs and mores of his people.

Rites familiaux (1886; "Family Rites"), describing the Confucian-influenced, familiar ancestor cult, is among his frequently cited books.