To the land of learning

For thousands of years, the flame of the tradition of valuing education has been passed down through generations of people in this "land of rice and culture." From legendary figures of scholarship such as the First-ranked Scholar Vu Due and the Second-ranked Scholar Nguyen Man Doc, today, the promotion of education and talent development receives special attention from the Party Committee, the government of Lam Thao district, and the entire society, becoming a shining example in the homeland of the Ancestral Land.

My hometown, Dong village - Xuan Lung today

A symbol of studiousness

When discussing the symbol of scholarship in the "land of rice and literature," one cannot fail to mention the First-ranked Scholar Vu Due. He was the only First-ranked Scholar from Phu Tho province, ranking first among the 13 loyal and patriotic generals of the Le dynasty who died for their country. Vu Due was born in the year of the Rabbit (1469) in Trinh Xa village, Vinh Lai commune, Son Vi district, Lam Thao prefecture, Son Tay province (now Vinh Lai commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province).

Vũ Duệ, whose childhood name was Vũ Nghĩa Chi, was known as a child prodigy. At the age of seven, he could read and write fluently and compose poetry. At 20, he topped the provincial examination. In the national examination of the year Canh Tuất, the 21st year of the Hồng Đức reign under King Lê Thánh Tông, he passed with flying colors and became the top scholar (Trạng nguyên). The name of Trạng nguyên Vũ Duệ is inscribed on a stone stele at the Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám (Temple of Literature). He served the country from the reign of King Lê Thánh Tông through the reigns of the following kings: Hiến Tông, Túc Tông, Uy Mục, Tương Mục, and Chiêu Tông, holding many positions from Tham phủ (Minister of the Court of Ceremonies), Lại bộ Thượng thư (Minister of the Board of Rites), Đông các đại học sĩ (Grand Academician of the Eastern Pavilion), Trịnh ý bỉnh văn (Commander of the Imperial Secretariat), Thiếu bảo (Junior Guardian), and Tước Trình Khê hầu (Marquis of Trình Khê)...

During the reign of Emperor Lê Chiêu Tông, the country was in decline. General Mạc Đăng Dung usurped power and seized the throne. Unable to bear the loss of the country, he committed suicide on August 16, 1522 (the year of Nhâm Ngọ). He is a shining example of the tradition of studiousness, compassion for the people, patriotism, and self-sacrifice for the greater good. He was a loyal and righteous official of the Lê dynasty, and a leading scholar among the 26 renowned scholars of Phú Thọ province. Currently, in Trình Xá village, Vĩnh Lại commune, the people have erected a temple to worship the First-Rank Scholar Vũ Duệ.

The temple dedicated to the top scholar Vu Due is located in Vinh Lai commune, Lam Thao district.

Dong Village (Xuan Lung Commune, Lam Thao District) is also known as a symbol of traditional scholarly pursuit. Throughout its 1,000-year history of Confucianism, Dong Village has produced 205 individuals who passed examinations of various levels, including 4 Grand Scholars, 21 Middle Scholars, 122 Minor Scholars, and the rest were Confucian students. When mentioning the scholarly tradition of Dong Village, one must mention Nguyen Man Doc, who held the title of Bang Nhan (second highest rank in the imperial examination). Born into a family with a tradition of scholarship and etiquette belonging to the Nguyen Tam Son clan, he passed the Bang Nhan examination in the Mau Dan year, the 3rd year of the Quang Thieu reign of Emperor Le Chieu Tong (1518).

When General Mạc Đăng Dung usurped power, King Lê Chiêu Tông had to temporarily leave Thăng Long and flee to Thanh Hóa. There, the king drafted a secret decree calling on high-ranking officials and ministers to assist the court. Nguyễn Mẫn Đốc, along with other loyal ministers, rallied to Thanh Hóa. The king and his ministers met in Lạc Thổ (now Nho Quan, Ninh Bình ). Upon hearing the news, Mạc Đăng Dung dispatched generals and troops to attack, resulting in a major battle at Cẩm Thủy. Afterward, he, in his full royal robes and sash, paid homage at the Lê dynasty's mausoleum in Lam Sơn before committing suicide. He was repeatedly bestowed with titles and posthumously honored by the Lê and Nguyễn dynasties as the Great King of Righteousness, with the posthumous name Nhã Lượng, a high-ranking benevolent deity. His descendants have been associated with the word "Trung" (loyalty) ever since.

Continuing the glorious tradition

The proud traditions of our ancestors have inspired countless studious children of Lam Thao district. The work of promoting education and talent, and building a lifelong learning movement in the district, has always received special attention from all levels, sectors, and organizations both within and outside the locality. To date, the district has 12 commune and town-level education promotion associations; 14 directly affiliated education promotion committees; and 447 branches and committees directly under the commune and town-level education promotion associations, with 30,300 members.

In addition, fundraising and educational development support efforts have been actively launched by the education promotion associations from the district to the grassroots level. The education promotion funds in communes and towns have a balance of nearly 10 billion VND. The Vu Due Scholar Education Promotion Fund in Lam Thao district has a balance of over 7 billion VND.

The temple dedicated to the scholar Nguyễn Mẫn Đốc is located in Xuân Lũng commune, Lâm Thao district.

Building upon its former glory, the village of Dòng - Xuân Lũng today remains renowned for its prominent scholarly families such as the Nguyễn Tam Sơn, Nguyễn Ba Ngành, and Nguyễn Đình clans, producing many accomplished individuals. Mr. Nguyễn Anh Đức, Chairman of the Nguyễn Ba Ngành clan council, stated: “The Ba Ngành clan comprises over 200 households with more than 4,000 inhabitants, concentrated in Xuân Lũng commune. Continuing the clan's tradition of academic excellence, generation after generation, descendants have consistently achieved high ranks in the imperial examinations, holding positions as officials during the Confucian era, and honing their skills to become accomplished individuals and good citizens. Each year, the clan has 10-15 students who pass university entrance exams, including top-ranking students and award-winning students at various levels; many individuals within the clan are outstanding students, university graduates, and Party members who have received commendations from various levels.”

Today, the lifelong learning movement has spread to many places in the district. In Tu Xa commune, the Hoang Thi Duc family in Zone 12 has a tradition of studiousness with many children achieving academic success and holding high positions in society. In 2021, the Hoang Thi Duc Scholarship Fund was established, receiving many contributions and support from organizations, individuals, and people from the homeland. The scholarship fund contributes to encouraging and rewarding students from the commune who achieve excellent academic results, have talents in sports, arts, scientific research, etc., and provides scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them both materially and spiritually to develop their talents in various fields.

Awards were presented to outstanding students of the 2022-2023 school year from the Trạng Nguyên Vũ Duệ Scholarship and Talent Promotion Fund.

Comrade Cao Xuan Hai, Chairman of the Lam Thao District Association for the Promotion of Learning, stated: “In the coming time, the association will continue to promote the dissemination and implementation of learning models in the area, linked with the campaigns to build advanced new rural areas, model new rural residential areas, civilized urban areas, cultural criteria, and a clean and strong Party organization. At the same time, we will focus on developing the association's organization and improving the quality of its activities, with families, clans, and residential communities as the core. The campaign to support the "Vu Due Scholar's Scholarship Fund" will be intensified, striving for 100% of all levels of the association to have scholarship funds and scholarships by 2024; and increasing the number of residential area branches and clan scholarship committees launching scholarship funds and scholarships.”

The work of promoting learning and talent development, and building a learning society, is a major policy that has been and is being actively implemented by localities in the province. Drawing on a glorious tradition of academic achievement, the people of Phu Tho, especially the younger generation today, are being inspired to learn, creating a highly skilled workforce that will contribute to building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland and country.

Thuy Trang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ve-mien-dat-hoc-225402.htm