Located in the center of Bac Ninh, about 30 km northeast of Hanoi, this relic is one of the six Temples of Literature in Vietnam with significant historical and cultural values reflecting the learning tradition of the Kinh Bac region. Nguyen Duy Nhat, Director of the Relic Management Committee of Bac Ninh province, says that before 1893, the monument was set up at the foot of Chau Son mountain in Thi Cau village. In 1893, the monument was moved to Phuc Duc mountain, Dai Phuc district, Bac Ninh province. Do Trong Vy, who was once Head of the Department of Education of the Kinh Bac region, built 12 stone steles on which the names of 677 doctors were engraved. Nhat says:“In 1928, the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature was restored and an additional large stele was built. The monument became the place of worship of Confucius and doctors from Kinh Bac who were appointed under the feudal system of Vietnam”.
Today the monument has 15 steles, 12 of which were set up 1889, and lists the names of nearly 700 doctors of the Kinh Bac region, who brightened the fine learning tradition of the region. The largest stele, with an area of 10 square meters, is considered the jewel of the relic. It praises the role and significance of the relic in addition to honoring the talent of the doctors. Mr. Nhat again:“With its significant values, Bac Ninh Temple of Literature is a typical relic reflecting the fine learning tradition of Bac Ninh province. Bac Ninh tops the country in terms of number of doctors under the feudal regime accounting for one third of the country’s total”.
The Bac Ninh Temple of Literature has established itself as one of the 3 largest relics of this type in Vietnam after those of Hanoi and Hue. The relic has become a center for cultural activities.
The Temple of Literature symbolizes the intellectual curiosity of the inhabitants of Bac Ninh province which happens to be the province with the largest number of doctors appointed under the Vietnamese feudal system. Bac Ninh, alone, accounted for one third of all national appointments.
The Bac Ninh Temple of Literature has received many delegations of students, who come to make an offering of incense and report their own academic achievements. Huy Hoang Hoi is a member of the Site’s Management Committee:“At the beginning and the end an academic year, students come here to burn incense and worship the late doctors. They wish to follow the doctors’ example to record good results in their study thus contributing to national development”.
The Temple of Literature with its records of history and culture is valuable historical evidence of the age-old culture of the Kinh Bac region. It is growing more popular with tourists, who come to learn about Vietnam’s tradition and culture.
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