Doorways & Courtyards

IMG_2333 copy — Tứ Trụ – In front of the Temple of Literature are these four tall pillars with Chinese inscriptions & two stelae from which horsemen dismounted.

IMG_2335 copy — Standing before the Great Portico of the Temple of Literature (**Cồng** **Văn Miếu**) which was built in 1070 & reconstructed during the Trần Dynasty (1225-1400) & in later dynasties but the ancient architectural styles have been carefully preserved.

Vietnam’s first university, ‘**Quốc Tử Giám’** the Imperial Academy was established here & built by Emperor Lý Nhân Tông especially for the bureaucrats, nobles, royalty & members of the elite as he recognised that education was of utmost importance. A bronze bell hangs above this main gate signifying that a person of importance is passing through & affiliated to the **Văn Miếu**.

IMG_2337 copy — Archway meant for the Monarch is decorated with a gold gilded Dragon motif wooden panel. The Imperial Academy was later opened to the public as there was a shortage of universities in Hanoi & remained opened from 1076 to 1779.

IMG_2340 copy — The Great Portico is flanked by two other smaller gates; the centre gate was reserved for the Monarch, the right gate for the administrative Mandarins & the left gate for the military Mandarins.. This temple complex was dedicated to Confucius, a venerated teacher, politician & philosopher & has the same structure as the Temple of Qufu in Shandong, the birthplace of Confucius in China.

IMG_2346 copy — We passed through this gate (**Cồng Đại Trung**) from the First Courtyard to the Second Courtyard, approaching Khuê Văn Pavilion. The first two courtyards are quiet areas with ancient trees & trimmed lawns where the scholars could relax & get away from the busy outside world.

IMG_2347 copy — **Khuê Văn Các –** The upper portion of the wooden pavilion is painted a vermillion red with two circular windows topped by an elaborate roof. A bronze bell hangs from the pavilion’s ceiling & it is rung only on auspicious occasions.

IMG_2411 copy — We are now in the Third Courtyard after crossing the Khuê Văn Pavilion (**Khuê Văn Các**) which was uniquely built in 1805 on four whitewashed stone stilts. Thien Quang Well (**Giếng** **Thiên Quang**) lies in the middle with the great halls (**Bia Tiến Sĩ**) on either side, housing treasures of the temple.

IMG_2352 copy — Young Graduates having their portraits taken by the professional photographers.

IMG_2354 copy — This section here is the *‘Doctors Stelae*‘ which was erected in 1484 by Emperor Lê Thánh Tông. Originally there were 116 such Turtle steles but only 82 remain today. They bear the names of 1307 successful candidates of 82 triennial royal exams held between 1442 to 1779 in honour of their talent & to encourage learning. In Vietnamese culture, the turtle symbolizes longevity & wisdom.

IMG_2410 copy — Another batch of happy graduates are having their portrait taken within the Third Courtyard with Khuê Văn Pavilion as the backdrop.

IMG_2355 copy — I am about to cross Đại Thành Gate (**Cồng** **Đại Thành**) into the Fourth Courtyard. There are several pavilions & halls within this complex, where study sessions & the strict exams of the **Đại** **Việt** took place.

IMG_2356 copy — Looking through Đại Thành Gate into the Fourth Courtyard which was a flurry of activity as different groups of Graduates prepared to have their photos taken.

IMG_2358 copy — The House of Ceremonies (**Đại Bái Đường**) with two dragons sitting on the ridge of the roof. According to ancient origin myth, the Vietnamese people were descended from a dragon & a fairy. So the Vietnamese believe that the dragon brings rain essential for agriculture & it also represents the emperor, prosperity & power of the nation.

IMG_2364 copy — Love the colourful **Áo Dàis** & the enthusiasm of these young people, the very future of Vietnam.

IMG_2366 copy — A Bronze pair of Crane-like mythical birds guard the altar in the middle. In Vietnamese culture, the colour red is auspicious & represents happiness, love, luck & celebration.

IMG_2367 copy — A long corridor of vermillion pillars with gold embellishments & wooden plagues with Chinese proses in gold lettering. Gold is associated with wealth, prosperity, royalty, happiness & change.

IMG_2370 copy — An ornamental incense holder with two twining Dragons, in front of the **Thượng Điện** for devotees to place the lighted joss sticks in worship of Confucius (551-479B.C.) & his disciples.

IMG_2376 copy — Within the **Thượng** **Điện** Confucius & four of his closest disciples Yanhui, Zengshen, Zisi & Mencius are worshipped.

IMG_2378 copy — Beautiful traditional wooden doors within the **Thượng Điện**.

IMG_2380 copy — Thái Học Gate (Cồng Thái Học) brings us to the Fifth & final Courtyard – the Thái Học Courtyard.

IMG_2383 copy — The Thái Học Courtyard was constructed in 2000 where the Quốc Tử Giám or Imperial Academy formerly stood. This section was destroyed in 1946 during the French occupation & was re-built to honour talent, the national traditions of culture & education in Vietnam. It consists of a front building, rear building, left & right buildings, a bell tower & a drum tower on each side & some other peripheral buildings. This front building is where ceremonies in memory of cultural scholars, scientific & cultural activities are held.

IMG_2385 copy — An Orchestra performs at regular intervals featuring some bamboo instruments, playing traditional music in honour of the Royal founders & Confucius.

IMG_2384 copy — Entrance to the rear building at the Thái Học Courtyard with the Altar to Chu Văn An, rector of the Imperial Academy, facing the main doorway.

IMG_2395 copy — Altar of Chu Văn An, a venerated rector of the Imperial Academy.

IMG_2403 copy — Overview of the first level of the rear building at Thái Học Courtyard.

IMG_2402 copy — This upper level of the rear building is dedicated to the three monarchs who contributed most to the foundation of the temple & the academy. Right in the middle is Lý Nhân Tông (1066-1127) who founded the Imperial Academy & Lê Thánh Tông (1442-1497) who had the Doctors Stelae erected & Lý Thánh Tông (1023-1072) not in the picture, who founded the temple in 1070.

IMG_2398 copy — On the second level overlooking the tiled roof of the rear building & the Bell Tower.

IMG_2397 copy — **Lầu Chuông** – This Bell was cast in 2000 & has a height of 2.1m & width of 0.99m

IMG_2394 copy — View of the rear building from the Drum Tower all within the Thái Học Courtyard.

IMG_2392 copy — **Lầ Trồng** – this drum weighs about 700kg, is 2.01m high & 2.65m wide, with the volume of 10m³

IMG_2406 copy — The temple complex covers an area of over 54000 sq m & it includes the Văn Lake, Giám Park & the interior Courtyards which are surrounded by a brick wall.

The Temple of Literature is truly an interesting visit, as it is well-preserved & holds a lot of history & gives insight into the lives of the literati in Hanoi during the centuries past. It is also featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese Dong banknote. Every year, just before the New Year celebrations Tết, calligraphers would gather outside the temple & write well wishes in Chinese Han characters. These are either given away as gifts or used as home décor for special occasions.