Temple of Literature
Coordinates: 21 ° 1 ′ 43 ″ N , 105 ° 50 ′ 8 ″ E
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The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu-Quốc Tử Giám) (hán tự: 文廟) is a Confucian complex of facilities built as a national academy in the west of Hanoi's Old Quarter in North Vietnam . It is the most important of the temples of literature in Vietnam.
Concept and meaning
The term temple of literature denotes neither a temple, nor has the complex ever served religious purposes. Built in 1070 by the third emperor of the Lý dynasty Thánh Tông (Lý Nhật Tôn) , the complex is still the main shrine of Vietnam today, but from the beginning it was the first academy in the country, in which between 1076 and 1915 the sons of the Mandarin and various gifted people of the bourgeois aristocracy were taught. In 1076, in memory of the wise Confucius (Khổng Tử) , Quốc Tử Giám (Imperial Academy) , the National University was founded on the site of the Temple of Literature. The temple is based on the Confucius Temple (孔庙 "Kǒng Miào") in the native city of Confucius' Qufu in the Chinese province of Shandong .
During the Trần dynasty (1225 to 1400) and subsequent dynasties, the temple complex was revised several times. Over the years, destruction, reconstruction and renewed destruction took place in the temple of literature. The temple complex was completely renovated between 1920 and 1956; in 1947 alone, the reconquest of Hanoi by French troops against the Việt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh H verursachti caused severe damage to the complex (see First Indochina War ). It was last restored in 2000. Today the facility is considered to be an important historical and cultural legacy in Hanoi. A partial view of the complex, a section of the Lake of Heavenly Clarity (Thien Quang Tinh) , shows the reverse of the 100,000 Đồng banknote ( VND , Vietnamese currency).
System architecture
The complex is divided into five walled inner courtyards, which are lined up along a north-south axis according to the classic scheme of Chinese residential and temple complexes. Paths and gates in the central area of the main axis were reserved for the rulers alone. The sidewalks along the walls were used by servants and soldiers.
The first courtyard
At the entrance through the outer gate, an inscription “ha ma” (German: “Descend!”), Embedded in two steles, addresses the mounted visitor regardless of rank and name. The central route axis begins behind the gate. In front of the first courtyard is the main gate ( Van Mieu Mon ) guarded by two stone dragons .
The second courtyard
Through the next gate complex, the Great Middle Gate (Dai Trung Gate) , one enters the second courtyard. To the left of it there is the entrance through the Gate of Acquired Talent (Dat Tai Mon) and to the right of it the entrance through the Gate of Acquired Virtue (Thanh Duc Mon) . The adjoining inner courtyard houses a small garden. Here you meet the Khue Van Cac Mon , on which the symbol of Hanoi, the two-story pavilion of the constellation of literature (Khue Van Cac) stands. This pavilion served the scholars as a meeting place for debates, speeches and readings. It was built in 1802 and is still a true example of Vietnamese architecture today.
The third courtyard
To the left and right of the main portal, two further gates open up access to the third inner courtyard. This courtyard is dominated by a square pond, the Thiên Quang Tỉnh (source of heavenly light) . The artefacts of the courtyard are also here. The 82 remaining stone steles can be found here on both sides . 34 steles are no longer available. The name, place of birth and the result of the doctoral examination of the total of 1,307 graduates of the imperial examinations during the Lê and Mạc dynasties from 1442 to 1779 are carved here. All candidates have the highest title that can be awarded, tien si . Each stele stands on the back of a turtle, which embodies strength and a long life. Several steles have floral patterns and the symbolism of yin and yang . Stately dragons were only added in the late creative period (18th century). After the Nguyễn dynasty came to power in 1807 , the Gia Long ruler relocated the academy to the newly established capital Huế in 1802 and only minor exams were held. In 1915 the training system in the temple of literature finally ended.
The fourth courtyard
The Dai Thanh Gate (Gate of Great Success) leads to the fourth inner courtyard, the actual temple area. The pavilions on both sides once contained statues and altars, which originally served in memory of the 72 most famous students of Confucius. The two Confucian scholars Truong Han Sieu and Chu Van An were worshiped here. At the north end of the courtyard is the actual Confucius Temple, which consists of the Great House of Ceremonies (Dai Bai Dunong) and the Hall of Great Success (Dai Thanh Dien) with the Holy of Holies. Once even the king was forbidden to enter. A Confucius statue dominates the center of the darkened room. Confucius is framed by his four most important disciples Yan Hui (Nhan Uyên), Zengzi (Tăng Sâm), Zisi (Tử Tư), and Mencius (Mạnh Tử). There are also pedigrees of ten other important students on the side of two altars. The ceremonial hall is a squat building with a curved roof. In the red and gold chancel, the king and his mandarins sacrificed to the sound of drums and gongs. Sights include bronze cranes and carvings ( phoenixes , dragons , yin-yang symbols, fruits and lotus flowers ) standing on turtles, and decorative bonsai trees. Today souvenir shops with postcard sales and a small museum have established themselves.
The fifth courtyard
Finally, in the fifth courtyard area was the National University ( Quoc Tu Giam ). The academy's classrooms were located in this area from 1076 onwards. From the 15th century, the dormitories of the graduates were also housed there. As part of the overall renovations, the current appearance of the fifth courtyard was created. Four buildings shape the terrain. The two low-rise buildings served as accommodation for the temple guards (left) and officials (right).
UNESCO World Document Heritage
The collection of stelae 82 described above (Doctor's steles of Le - Mac Dynasties, Văn Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam) in the Temple of Literature was on March 9, 2010 in the UNESCO - World Soundtrack Awards added.
Surroundings
The temple of literature is located south of the Thang Long citadel . It covers an area of 54,000 square meters, including the Lake of Literature (Ho Van Chuong) and Giam Park in this measurement. Two kilometers to the east is Hoan Kiem Lake .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Beate Szerelmy, Vietnam
- ↑ Temple of literature (Văn Miếu), Ha Noi ( English ) VietnamNet.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ↑ Martin H. Petrich, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: Temples, monasteries and pagodas in the countries on the Mekong (p. 110 ff.)
- ↑ Michael Aquino, Temple of Literature - Ancient University in Hanoi, Vietnam
- ↑ Back of the 100,000 Đồng banknote
- ↑ Beate Szerelmy, Vietnam
- ^ Martin H. Petrich, Hanoi
- ↑ UNESCO: First inscription from Macao on Memory of the World Register at MOWCAP 4 ( engl ) portal.unesco.org. 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
literature
- , Tran Doàn Lâm, Lê Bích Thuy, Bùi Kim Tuyen Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giám: The Temple of Literature, School for the Sons of the Nation, Hà Noi Viet Nam. A walking tour . Thế Giới Publishers, Hanoi 2004, p. 85.