The Temple of Literature Complex is the place that witnessed and retained the development of Dai Viet’s education, and a historical and cultural relic that promotes the country’s cultural values to international friends.
During the Ly Dynasty, especially from the King Ly Nhan Tong onward, recognising the significance of education to the nation, the court decided to build Quoc Tu Giam (the first national university of Viet Nam), carrying out exams to choose the talented, which opened a milestone for the nation’s Confucian education.
Of note, in February of the 4th year of Thai Ninh era (1075) under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, the court held the “Minh kinh bac hoc” exam to look for well-educated people to be appointed as the court’s officials. This is the ever first exam in Viet Nam history.
Over hundreds of years of development, the education system, despite ups and downs, has successfully carried out the mission passed down by the ancestors, to foster the nation’s talents. The Confucian education has generated a class of scholars with temperament and virtue, oustanding people, and cultural figures attached to the destiny of the country with their talents and personality.
Through exams, the court selected numerous talented people to supplement for the national mechanism. Talking about Viet Nam’s Confucian education and examination, it is impossible to not mention the Temple of Literature Complex.
Nowadays, the Temple of Literature Complex is a historical and cultural relic, a place to promote Viet Nam’s cultural values to international friends and a place to education young generations about the spirit of ton su trong dao (which means that students are meant to respect teachers)./.
