The foundation of Quoc Tu Giam
The Temple of Literature or Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi was built in 1070 under the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054 – 1072). Originally, its purpose is dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. But six years later, in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam or Imperial Academy, which is Vietnam’s first national university, was established within the temple to educate Vietnam’s bureaucrats, nobles, royalty, and other members of the elite. The first student was Prince Ly Can Duc – the son of the King Ly Thanh Tong and Nguyen Phi Y Lan. After that, because of the importance of education, there are not enough universities for everyone in Hanoi. Quoc Tu Giam was expanded and admitted more excellent students from all over the country. The university remained its function from 1076 to 1779, over 700 years.
Teaching and learning at the Imperial Academy
The organization of teaching and learning at the Imperial Academy began in 1076 under the Ly dynasty and was further developed in the 15th century under the Le dynasty. A rector (Te Tuu in Vietnamese) and a vice-rector (or Tu Nghiep) were the leaders of the academy. The professors held different titles such as Giao thu, Truc giang, Tro giao and Bac si.
Many students lived and studied at the Temple. Most students had passed the regional exam (Thi Huong) before enrolling at the academy. At the academy, people followed the Confucian educational system. Therefore, literature was everything they have to study on. The natural sciences such as mathematic, chemical, physics were not mentioned, the learning program only included the Confucian classics, philosophy, literature, history. Especially, the students must learn how to compose poems and royal essays. That’s the reason why the temple’s name is the Temple of Literature.
In the ancient time, Vietnam only had the oral language and didn’t have the written one. Therefore, in the time of the feudalism, the Vietnamese had to use Chinese characters for writing. Besides the subjects mentioned above, the students had to learn Chinese, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese history. Until the 16th century, when a couple of Catholic missionaries came to Vietnam to transform the Catholic theory, plus the French domination, the writing system was developed through the whole country. The students then had textbooks printed on paper which were in both Chinese and Vietnamese. They read The Four Books (The Great Study, The Golden Means, The Analects, and Mencius); Five Pre-Confucian Classics (Book of Odes, Book of Annals, Book of Rites, Book of Spring and Autumn, and Book of Change); ancient poetry and Chinese history.
Examinations
In the past, the exam was important to all students. The first three courtyards of the Temple of Literature was also referred to three different examinations that the students had to take to become a scholar mandarin. That was the only way for people who wanted to have higher class in society. The three-stage exam process could take several years.
The first one was the Regional examination (Thi Huong), which held every 3 years in several main towns and the successful candidates will receive the title bachelor’s degree. Those who passed the first exam then came to Hanoi to sit for the second one called National exam, which happened in the next 3-4 years. It was four parts of the examination. A candidate had to pass each part in sequence in order to qualify to sit for the following part. They have to show their profound knowledge of Confucian books, write a royal essay, compose poems in Chinese character, and comment on how to solve the problem facing the country. Those who complete all four parts were conferred the title of doctor and invited to the Royal palace for the Palace examination. In the Palace examination, all new doctors had to answer questions given directly from the King. The King then ranked the doctors in three groups and the top three successful candidates of the highest-ranking group. The new mandarins then were given a banquet at the palace, award new clothes and a lot of money and sent home to their village in triumphal procession. Later on, they would come back to the capital and work for the royal course as a mandarin.
Chu Van An – the most famous Confucian teacher in our history
Chu Van An (1292 – 1370) – the famous scholar whose name has become the moral model for the integrity and devotion to education in the country.
After reaching a doctoral title, he refused to become a mandarin and then set up his own school at his village. With his talent and morality, the school attracted a lot of students. Most of them later worked in the royal court and had the top position. After that, the King invited him back to the capital and appointed him a rector of the National University. When he died, the King sent mandarins to attend the funeral and granted him a high royal title and had him honored as a sage in the Temple of Literature.
Nowadays, at the weekend or on holidays, many local people, especially students, get here to pay a visit, and show deep gratitude to the forefathers. They also believe that touching the head of the stone tortoises at Van Mieu will make them lucky and pass the examinations.