Pages of history in stone
The Bac Ninh Temple of Literature is one of the most representative historical sites, considered a symbol of the scholarly tradition of the Kinh Bac region. Currently, the site preserves 15 stone steles, which are the most authentic historical records in stone about the glorious scholarly tradition of the homeland. Among them are 12 "Kim Bang Luu Phuong" steles erected in 1889, recording the full names, titles, academic ranks, and degrees of 677 prominent scholars from the Kinh Bac region. In 2020, the 12 Doctoral Steles of the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature were recognized as National Treasures by the Prime Minister.
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Students visit and learn about the Doctoral Examination Stele at the Temple of Literature in Bac Ninh (Vo Cuong Ward). |
The system of stelae at the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature retains its value in terms of education, training, the appreciation of talent, and the duties and responsibilities of intellectuals towards the people and the country. According to researcher Le Viet Nga, former Director of the Bac Ninh Museum, in nearly 1,000 years of classical Chinese examinations, Kinh Bac was the leading province in the country in the number of people who passed the highest-level examinations, with many unique characteristics such as: Le Van Thinh, who topped the first examination of the feudal state in 1075; Nguyen Quan Quang, the first-highest-ranking scholar; Nguyen Nhan Thiep, the youngest doctor of the country (15 years old); Nguyen Dang Dao, the "Two-Nation Scholar"; and Nguyen Dang (the "Four-Nation Scholar"). Notably, Bac Ninh also has Tam Son village that achieved all three top ranks; the Nguyen family of Kim Doi village with 13 consecutive generations of high-ranking scholars; and eight members of the Nguyen family in Vinh Kieu who all passed the examinations and held official positions in the same court. Furthermore, there are families where fathers and sons, or brothers, all passed the same examination, or where five brothers all earned doctorates. There are also rare examples of studiousness like Mr. Quách Đồng Dần, who continued his studies even after becoming an official, and passed the doctoral examination at the age of 68, earning him the folk praise and the saying, "He only started learning at 63, but by 68 he was already a scholar."
Experts believe that a love of learning is a valuable cultural tradition in many regions across the country, but it is truly rare for this love of learning to lead to such brilliant and exemplary academic achievements as in Kinh Bac - Bac Ninh.
A new look at the Temple of Literature in Bac Ninh.
Currently, Bac Ninh Museum No. 2 is responsible for managing, operating, and organizing activities at the Bac Ninh Confucius Temple. Open to visitors every day of the week, the site is increasingly affirming its role as a "red address" in traditional education for students. Visiting the Bac Ninh Confucius Temple for the first time, student Ngo Tra Anh (Academy of Journalism and Communication) expressed surprise and admiration for the ancient, sacred space and the unique historical and cultural values of the site, and said she would return to learn more about the scholarly traditions of Kinh Bac.
| Bac Ninh province is implementing the project to invest in the construction of technical infrastructure and auxiliary works for the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature Park. The project covers an area of approximately 4.7 hectares, with a total investment of nearly 692 billion VND, to be implemented in the period 2024-2027. It comprises three functional areas: the central square and auxiliary works; the overall technical infrastructure area; and the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple, lotus pond, solidarity square, and landscaped space. |
More than just a place preserving tradition, the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature has become a spiritual anchor, a place where young people can entrust their aspirations for self-improvement and career development. Nguyen Tai Duc, a student in class 8A4 at Suoi Hoa Secondary School, shared: "Every Tet holiday, my parents take me to the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature to light incense and pay respects to the great scholars. I hope to study hard and make continuous progress so that I can become a useful person for my homeland and country, just like the doctors honored here."
To meet the needs of visitors, Bac Ninh Museum No. 2 has deployed staff to provide guided tours and implemented many activities to revitalize the historical site's space. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Luyen, Deputy Director of Bac Ninh Museum No. 2, the unit has actively coordinated with agencies and organizations, especially schools, to organize many meaningful educational activities such as ceremonies for admitting new members to the Youth Union, coming-of-age ceremonies, honoring outstanding students, thematic talks, and exchanges to learn about the traditions of scholarship... Alongside these are rich and attractive experiential activities such as calligraphy writing, gifting calligraphy, printing calligraphy on Do paper, knowledge-based games, and experiencing life as a scholar of the past… With its flexible and creative approach, Bac Ninh Temple of Literature has become a vibrant and accessible educational space, helping students and young people access history and culture through vivid and engaging experiences. As a result, the site attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, mostly teachers, students, and researchers.
In preparation for the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, staff at the Interpretation Department of Bac Ninh Museum No. 2 are actively decorating and refreshing the miniature landscapes, exhibition spaces, and check-in areas according to the themes of spring and the imperial examinations. These activities contribute to promoting the value of the historical site while also creating a joyful and solemn atmosphere for the people and tourists visiting during the spring festival.
Throughout its history, the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature has always received attention for restoration and preservation. Bac Ninh province is currently implementing a project to invest in the construction of technical infrastructure and auxiliary facilities for the Bac Ninh Temple of Literature Park. The project covers approximately 4.7 hectares, with a total investment of nearly 692 billion VND, to be implemented from 2024 to 2027. It comprises three functional areas: the central square and auxiliary facilities; the overall technical infrastructure area; and the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple, lotus pond, solidarity square, and landscaped area.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/van-mieu-bac-ninh-luu-danh-mien-dat-khoa-bang-postid439031.bbg
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