Definition

1. Noun:
   • Military mandarin; Martial official: A historical term for a high-ranking officer or administrator in the imperial court of Vietnam (and other Sinosphere countries like China) whose primary duty was related to military affairs, defense, and warfare. This contrasts with a "quan văn" (civil mandarin).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Dưới triều Nguyễn, các quan võ phụ trách việc phòng thủ kinh thành. (Under the Nguyễn dynasty, the military mandarins were responsible for defending the imperial capital.)
  • Ông tổ của dòng họ tôi từng là một quan võ có nhiều công trạng. (My family's ancestor was a martial official with many merits.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in historical or literary contexts to describe the pre-modern administrative and military system.
• It often implies a position granted by the emperor, involving command over soldiers, management of fortifications, and sometimes governing border regions.

Variants and Related Words

• Quan văn (n): Civil mandarin; a high-ranking official whose duties were related to administration, literature, law, and diplomacy.
• Võ quan (n): A synonym for "quan võ," also meaning a military officer or official.
• Tướng quân (n): General; a specific high-ranking title for a military commander, often a type of .

Synonyms

• Military official
• Martial mandarin
• Army officer (historical context)

Related Concepts

• Võ nghiệp: A military career.
• Binh quyền: Military authority or power.
• Cấp bậc: Rank (e.g., in the military hierarchy).