Vietnam: Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), poet, patriot and adviser to Emperor Le Loi (r.1428-1433), 16th century...

Nguyen Trai, also known under his pen name U'c Trai (1380-1442) was an illustrious Vietnamese Confucian scholar, a noted poet, a skilled politician and a master tactician. He was at times attributed with being capable of almost miraculous or mythical deeds in his designated capacity as a close friend and principal advisor ofLe Loi, Vietnam's hero-king, who fought to free the country from Chinese rule. He is credited with writing the important political statements of Le Loi and inspiring the Vietnamese populace to support open rebellion against the Ming Dynasty rulers. He is also the author of the declaration of independence from China, 'Binh Ngo dii cao' ('Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu [Ming China]).