Vietnam: Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), Hanoi

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Source: https://azlocaltrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-largest-drum-in-vietnam-300x300.jpg

    Greeting guys! It's been a year since my last blog on History: World Civilization lesson. I am a fourth year senior, and this is probably my very last blog for university lessons before I'm working for my internship next semester. Wish me luck :) Now, today's work is a part of subject 428432 History For Tourism in South East Asia 1, and I will present you a histical attraction in Vietnam, which out of my expertise but I will give it a try. As I'm studying in South East Asian Studies (SEAS), I'm going to be honest that of all South East Asian countries, Vietnam is my least favorite country that I want to visit. However, I am surprise that there are so many magnificent and interesting historical attractions. The teacher let us choose (as usual) one historical attraction for working on a poster and writing a blog. My choice is the "Temple of Literature" in Hanoi, so let's get start it.

History

    "Van Mieu" or Temple of Literature was the Imperial Academy for nobles and bureaucrats sons, as well as the princes. It was founded by the Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, which almost 1,000 years ago, as a place to worship the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. It became one of the most precious historical legacy as it was the first university of Vietnam. 


Architecture


    

    The total area is about 35 rai or 54,000 square meters. Its plan was built follow the temple in Qufu City, Shandong Province, China, which is the birthplace of Confucius. The temple consists of five main parts.


1. The Pavilion of Constellation (Khuê Văn Các)

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Hanoi_Temple_of_Literature.jpg/330px-Hanoi_Temple_of_Literature.jpg

    This obseratory was built in 1805 with four white-washed stone stilts. "Khue"  is the brightest star in the sky and the whole constellation is shaped like the character of "Literature" in Chinese, which implied the wish for prosperous and developed education. Inside the courtyard, a thousand-year-old bronze bell hangs from the ceiling and it only rung on auspicious occasions. 


2. Thien Quang Well


    The square shape well in the middle of the next corutyard known as the "Well of Heavenly Clarity". The meaning behind this, represents the earth while the circle at the top of the pavilion represents the sky, all together created a harmony between the sky and earth. This well functions as a mirror absorbing the best essence of the universe. In this section of the courtyard, there are stone turtles carried large stelae on their back with the philosophy of each dynasties and listing information about the exams since turtles is only one of all sacred creatures in Vietnam legend, which are Dragon, Qilin, Phoenix, and Turtle. There should have been 116 stelae, but only 82 remained today as a result of wars. 


3. The Great Middle Gate (Đại Trung Môn)


    The gates on the left and right side are called "Virtue Gate and Talent Gate" respectively, which depicted the expectation of the King towards students attaining high education here. The symbol of a fish on top of the gate, which represents the student that study hard to pass the exams and earn to become the governor. Legend has it that God holds an annual competition for the fish, and the one, which is able to leap over the strongest waves and jump to the other side of the waterfall, will be transformed into a powerful dragon. 


4. House of Ceremonies and the sanctuary to Confucius (Đại Thành Môn)


    "Đại Thành Môn" meaning the gate to great success, it is where outstanding House of Ceremonies and the sanctuary to Confucius located, with a complex red columns and wood beam ceilings from which antique-style lanterns hang. In the middle of the sanctuary, there is a typical altar existing in each and every houses of Vietnamese families. The altar is always laid in the center and most sacred place of the house filling with offerings and smell of incense where people worship their ancestors.


5. The Grounds of Imperial Academy


    The last courtyard have two floors, the ground floor has a statue of Chu Văn An, a great teacher and the first rector of the Imperia Academy, who devoted all his life to Vietnamese education. There are also pictures and artifacts about Confucian education in Vietnam at that time. The upper floor was where people worship the three kings contributing most to the foundation of the temple and the academy.


Before I go...

    Since I have to finish this blog before Mother's Day on Friday 12 August, which also my grandpa's birthday, so I have to visit my grandparent tomorrow at Udonthani province. There is nothing much I could say about this place, and despite my disfavor for the country, I have to admited that it is so mind-blow that Vietnam has such an intrigue hitorical legacy like this. After all, it's nice to knew more about it, for the glorious of Vietnam's first university.



References

กั๊ตจัง. (2560). "วันเหมียว มหาวิทยาลัยแห่งแรกของเวียดนาม". ค้นข้อมูล 10 สิงหาคม 2565 จาก, https://40plus.posttoday.com/eatandtrip/12898/
BooBoo. (2563). "เที่ยวชม วันเหมียว มหา'ลัยแห่งแรกของเวียดนาม". ค้นข้อมูล 10 สิงหาคม 2565, จาก https://travel.trueid.net/detail/Aqx33zZOVWnN
Ha Truong. (2021). "Temple Of Literature Hanoi Vietnam: History, Architecture & Tips". Searched 10 August 2022, from https://www.expatolife.com/temple-of-literature-hanoi-vietnam/
Post to Day. (2559). "วันเหมียว วิหารวรรณกรรมแห่งเวียดนาม". ค้นข้อมูล 10 สิงหาคม 2565 จาก, https://www.posttoday.com/life/travel/469678
Rachel Tran. (2019). "Temple of Literature Hanoi A Peaceful Corner with Historical Imprints". Searched 10 August 2022, from https://vietnamdiscovery.com/hanoi/attractions/temple-of-literature/



Location: 58 P. Quốc Tử Giám, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

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