Stone stele records of imperial examinations of the Lê and Mạc dynasties

Step quietly, traveler, for you are entering the hallowed grounds of the Temple of Literature, the Vahn Mee-oh Kwok Too Yahm. You are standing in the world's most significant open-air library of stone: the 82 Doctor's Steles. …

Our journey starts at the first courtyard, the 'Nhap Dao' or the entrance to the Way. To proceed, we pass through the Dai Trung Mon, the Great Middle Gate. …

Before us stands the most iconic structure in the complex: the Khue Van Cac, or the Pavilion of the Constellation. Built in 1805 under the Nguyen Dynasty, it is so central to the city's identity that it serves as the official…

Passing through the pavilion, we encounter a large, square pond known as the Thien Quang Tinh, or the Well of Heavenly Clarity. Its name suggests that the water acts as a mirror, reflecting the 'light of the sky.' In the context…

We now approach the first rows of the 82 steles, specifically those on the eastern side of the pond. These include some of the oldest records, dating back to the year 1442 during the reign of King Lee Nhan Toong. …

As we move to the western side of the Thien Quang Well, we find the steles representing the later periods, including the Mac and the Late Lee dynasties. You might notice subtle differences in the 'tư thế' or posture of the…

We now enter the fourth courtyard, the heart of the ceremonial worship. This is the Dai Bai Duong, or the House of Ceremonies. …

Our final stop is the fifth courtyard, the Thai Hoc area, which was the actual site of the National University or 'Quoc Tu Giam.' Although the original buildings were destroyed by French bombing in 1946, they were meticulously…

As we depart from the Temple of Literature and its 82 magnificent steles, I hope you carry with you a sense of the 'vital energy' that these stones represent. We have walked through the five stages of wisdom, from the first…