Van
Mieu the Temple of Literature
Built in the latter part of the ninth century, Van Mieu
is one of the oldest universities in the world. Its original
purpose was the worship of the sages and saints of Confucianism,
but six years later, a National College was established
on the site. Initially, it admitted only princes, but soon
expanded to admit bright students nationwide.
The Temple of Literature is surrounded
by brick walls. Inside, the complex is separated into five
areas. The first area contains the main gate with the inscription
"Van Mieu Mon" (Disciple of Temple of Literature)
and two stone dragons in the style of the Le So Dynasty.
The main path
leads through another gate to the second area where there
are two small gates on both sides. The main path leads to
Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of Literature). There are also two
small gates on both sides of Khue Van Cac.
The third section divides Khue Van
from the Dai Thanh Mon (the Gate of Great Synthesis), and
contains a square lake, Thien Quang Tinh (the Well of Heaven’s
Clarity), surrounded by walls. On both sides of the well
are pavilions full of stelae inscribed with the names of
Ph.D scholars.
The
Confucian education system
After years of study, students were allowed to take the
first-degree examinations held once every three years. Those
with the highest marks in this exam were named bachelors.
A year later, they would travel to the capital to take part
in a further set of examinations. Those with the highest
marks became were awarded a doctorate. As a Ph.D., a scholar
was then eligible to join the ranks of the mandarins.
There are 82 steles, the oldest relating
to the 1442 palace exam and the most recent, the 1779 exams.
They are the most valuable relics in the Temple of Literature.
The
heart of Confucianism
Beyond the next gate is the fourth area. It contains a large
courtyard flanked by two pavilions originally used to house
the altars where scholars could worship the 72 disciples
of Confucius. At the rear is Dai Bai, the Great House of
Ceremonies, containing a bell cast in 1768 and other precious
objects.
The
University
The fifth section, at the rear of the Dai Bai area, is the
Imperial College of the Le Dynasty, the then university.
When the Nguyen Dynasty moved the college to Hue, this area
was converted into a temple dedicated to Confucius' parents.
The old University building was destroyed
during the war, but was accurately reconstructed in 2000
using authentic materials and techniques to launch the countdown
to Hanoi’s millennium in 2010.
Van
Mieu then and now
In the past, Van Mieu was held in great reverence not only
as a major centre of Confucian thought and study, but also
for its status as the apogee of learning in Vietnam and
the only route to becoming a mandarin. Regardless of rank,
those on horseback were obliged to dismount and walk their
steeds when passing the in front of the complex.
Today, the quiet queues of worshippers
and acolytes have given way to tourist coaches that disgorge
noisy tourists in their hundreds several times a day. Nevertheless,
we recommend a visit, but arrange it to coincide with off-peak
periods so that our visitors can experience the remarkable
qualities of a place steeped the echoes of thousands of
long dead scholars steeped in the pursuit of enlightenment.
