Trip to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university

The Temple of Literature,

Vietnam’s first university

                So this week Bob and I ventured out to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi- within easy walking distance to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Citadel.  (We’ve walked by it before and never realized what it was!  Here’s to knowing how to run Google maps! This is a learning curve for me- use my phone? New technology?  I’m a work in SLOW progress.)

So I wondered why the first university was called a temple- now I think I know- here at the university where sons of the elite took their exams- Confucius,  along with other scholars, is worshiped.

The university/temple was built in 1070 under the Emperor Ly Thanh Tong.  The first royal academy was established in 1076 and remained the academy for royalty until 1779 when the Nguyen dynasty moved the capital to Hue. (Hue is down the coast in about the middle of the country.)

                The main gate opens onto three paths through the compound which is surrounded by a brick wall. The middle path was for the emperor- symbolized by the bronze bell.  The path to the left is for the administrative Mandarins and the path to the right is for military Mandarins. After this main gate, the site is divided into five courtyards. 

               

            The absence of a gate between the second and third courtyard is meant to represent the fact that the road to enlightenment is continuous without limits of space and time.  Now there’s a thought.

In 1484 Emperor Le Thanh Tong erected 116 carved stone turtles who hold 116 stelae (inscriptions of great accomplishment.) These stelae hold the name, birth date, and hometown of individuals who passed the exam.  Think national testing at its finest glory!  Only 82 stelae remain today.   In Vietnam the turtle symbolizes longevity, strength and intelligence.  He is one of the four sacred animals in Vietnamese culture:  the dragon, representing the emperor; the phoenix, representing the empress; the turtle, and the unicorn, representing peace, mercy and good fortune. On a side note, Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi, means rising from a dragon.

And then we come to the temple aspect of the Temple of Literature:  The temple of Confucius and his disciples- 4 honored disciples and ten others honored on tablets. Outside of this building is the Court of Ceremonies, containing a ceremonial drum and a bell cast in 1768.