The Temple of Letters is a worship temple founded by the
Nguyen dynasty to dedicate to celebrated scholars of Confucianism.
Formerly,
various Temple of Letters were built by the Nguyen Lords in the capital and
moved to three different places: Trieu Son village, Luong Quang village and Long
Ho village.
In 1808, Gia Long and his Imperial Court decided to choose a
low hill beyond the Heavenly Lady pagoda, on the left bank of the Perfume river,
i.e. the current position, to built a new imposing and striking Temple of
Letters. At that time, the National University was also established there and
operated until 1908 before it was moved into the citadel. The construction of
the Temple of Letters was commenced on 17th April 1808 and finished on 12th
November 1808.
The Temple of Letters faces south. All main constructive works were built on the top of the hill, three meters higher than the surrounding land. In front of it was the Perfume river, in the back were villages, hills and mounts spreading from Truong Son range, surrounded the back of Temple of Letters. All items of Hue Temple of Letters were erected on a square surface of 160 m long on each side enclosed by La Thanh (surrounding wall). There was once a complex of 50 big and small constructions including 32 steles which bore names of doctors and four other steles.
The Temple of Letters was many times renovated and many sub- constructions were built, especially in Minh Mang and Thieu Tri's time. From Minh Mang's time onwards, National Examinations were held so that steles bearing the names of successful candidates were erected here.
These "Tien si de danh bia" - "Steles bearing doctors' names" were gradually erected on the yard of the main temple from 1831 to 1919, the year in which the last National Examinations was held in Khai Dinh's time.
As destroyed by the war and weather, the remains of the Temple of Letters are now the 34 steles of great cultural and historic value.
On these steles are names, ages and places of birth of 239 successful candidates in National Examinations organized in the Nguyen dynasties.
Hue Temple of Letters is a valuable historic remains. To visit Van Mieu, tourists can understand more about the tradition of knowledge appreciation, scholars administration and study encouragement of our ancestors from the old time.
The Temple of Letters faces south. All main constructive works were built on the top of the hill, three meters higher than the surrounding land. In front of it was the Perfume river, in the back were villages, hills and mounts spreading from Truong Son range, surrounded the back of Temple of Letters. All items of Hue Temple of Letters were erected on a square surface of 160 m long on each side enclosed by La Thanh (surrounding wall). There was once a complex of 50 big and small constructions including 32 steles which bore names of doctors and four other steles.
The Temple of Letters was many times renovated and many sub- constructions were built, especially in Minh Mang and Thieu Tri's time. From Minh Mang's time onwards, National Examinations were held so that steles bearing the names of successful candidates were erected here.
These "Tien si de danh bia" - "Steles bearing doctors' names" were gradually erected on the yard of the main temple from 1831 to 1919, the year in which the last National Examinations was held in Khai Dinh's time.
As destroyed by the war and weather, the remains of the Temple of Letters are now the 34 steles of great cultural and historic value.
On these steles are names, ages and places of birth of 239 successful candidates in National Examinations organized in the Nguyen dynasties.
Hue Temple of Letters is a valuable historic remains. To visit Van Mieu, tourists can understand more about the tradition of knowledge appreciation, scholars administration and study encouragement of our ancestors from the old time.
Author: Vietnamtourism
