Hanoi plans to propose 82 doctoralsteles at the Temple of Literature to UNESCO for recognition as worlddocumentary heritage.
“If the steles in the Templeof Literature are recognised, it would be a very significant event forHanoi to celebrate during its 1,000 th anniversary next year,” HanoiPeople’s Committee vice chairwoman Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said at theseminar on Aug. 9.
Achieving recognition would require evidence that the steles wereunique compared to those in Hue , Japan and China for their origins andthe Confucian values they represent, for their calligraphy and design,and for their influence and significance in Vietnamese culture.
Dang Kim Ngoc, director of the Temple of Literature ’s Culture andScience Centre, said there were many doctoral steles in Hue , Beijing ,and Japan , but only Hanoi ’s written epitaphs.
“Almost all there epitaphs honour famous national cultural figures andgreat scholars, so they are invaluable works that have contributed tothe growth of Vietnam ’s tradition of culture and education,” saidNgoc.
The 82 steles at the Temple of Literature date from the 15 th to 18 thcenturies and serve as a record of men of outstanding scholasticachievement, 1,306 humanities scholars recognised between 1442 and1779. Rectangular, with the upper corners rounded off, they stand onpedestals in the form of turtles-a symbol of longevity-heaven (thedome-shaped dorsal carapace) and earth (the square ventral plastron).
Each stele is marked with the year of the competitive examinations, theyear it was erected, the names of the laureates and of their nativevillages (sometimes a few words about their lives), and the names ofthe calligrapher and carver. The top part displays carvings of dragonsand the moon, symbols of equilibrium and harmony between Heaven andEarth, and phoenix (spirit) and clouds (knowledge).
The steles of the 15 th century are plainer in design. Those of the 16th century are more stylised, and those made in the 17 th and 18 thcenturies are more intricately decorated, with threatening dragonspaying homage to the moon and phoenix in flight among the clouds.
The one dedicated to the examinations of 1442 also expresses the desireof the king to recruit good servants for the country. “Men of wisdomand talent form the original vital breath of the nation. If this breathis strong, the country is strong; if it weakens, the country weakens.That is why a saintly emperor and enlightened king will make it anurgent task to train talents and look for eminent, learned men andemploy them, thus preserving the original vital breath of the nation./.
“If the steles in the Templeof Literature are recognised, it would be a very significant event forHanoi to celebrate during its 1,000 th anniversary next year,” HanoiPeople’s Committee vice chairwoman Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said at theseminar on Aug. 9.
Achieving recognition would require evidence that the steles wereunique compared to those in Hue , Japan and China for their origins andthe Confucian values they represent, for their calligraphy and design,and for their influence and significance in Vietnamese culture.
Dang Kim Ngoc, director of the Temple of Literature ’s Culture andScience Centre, said there were many doctoral steles in Hue , Beijing ,and Japan , but only Hanoi ’s written epitaphs.
“Almost all there epitaphs honour famous national cultural figures andgreat scholars, so they are invaluable works that have contributed tothe growth of Vietnam ’s tradition of culture and education,” saidNgoc.
The 82 steles at the Temple of Literature date from the 15 th to 18 thcenturies and serve as a record of men of outstanding scholasticachievement, 1,306 humanities scholars recognised between 1442 and1779. Rectangular, with the upper corners rounded off, they stand onpedestals in the form of turtles-a symbol of longevity-heaven (thedome-shaped dorsal carapace) and earth (the square ventral plastron).
Each stele is marked with the year of the competitive examinations, theyear it was erected, the names of the laureates and of their nativevillages (sometimes a few words about their lives), and the names ofthe calligrapher and carver. The top part displays carvings of dragonsand the moon, symbols of equilibrium and harmony between Heaven andEarth, and phoenix (spirit) and clouds (knowledge).
The steles of the 15 th century are plainer in design. Those of the 16th century are more stylised, and those made in the 17 th and 18 thcenturies are more intricately decorated, with threatening dragonspaying homage to the moon and phoenix in flight among the clouds.
The one dedicated to the examinations of 1442 also expresses the desireof the king to recruit good servants for the country. “Men of wisdomand talent form the original vital breath of the nation. If this breathis strong, the country is strong; if it weakens, the country weakens.That is why a saintly emperor and enlightened king will make it anurgent task to train talents and look for eminent, learned men andemploy them, thus preserving the original vital breath of the nation./.
