Stone
steles in Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam include 82 steles which record the
royal examinations of Le and Mac dynasties (1442-1779). All steles are
put on stone tortoises back to represent everlasting national
quintessence and reflect historical and cultural values of Viet Nam
through 300 years.
In 1484, King Le Thanh
Tong gave an order to erect the first 10 steles for the royal
examinations held in 1442, 1448, 1463, 1466, 1469, 1472, 1475, 1478,
1481 and 1484 under Le So Dynasty. However, now only 7 steles remain. In
next years, Le So Dynasty had 5 steles erected for the royal
examinations held in 1487, 1496, 1502, 1511 and 1514. Under Mac Dynasty,
only 2 steles were erected for the royal examinations held in 1518
(under Le So Dynasty) and 1529 because of civil war.
Under Le Trung Hung
Dynasty, the royal examinations were restored and hold regularly. In
1653, Le Trung Hung Dynasty had the most number of steles erected in
Temple of Literature with 25 steles for the royal examinations held
between 1554 and 1652. Then in 1717, 21 steles were erected for the
royal examinations held between 1656 and 1712. With two large courses of
stele erection and next regular stele erections, Le Trung Hung Dynasty
had most steles erected in Temple of Literature (68/82).
Under Tay Son (1788 -
1802) and Nguyen (1802 - 1945) dynasties, capital city was removed to
Phu Xuan Hue and steles were not erected in Van Mieu (Ha Noi) any more.
Nguyen Dynasty gave an order to erect steles in Van Mieu (Hue) from the
royal examination held in 1822.
All the 82 steles are of
the same model: the slab is flat with an arched pediment and
tortoise-shaped base; the tortoise is rather big and looks strong; the
steles are of different sizes. The steles are also unique in terms of
their construction: stone was carefully selected, designed, decorated,
and engraved with texts. This work must have required extraordinary
patience and skill as it was done entirely by hand.
The 82 steles in Van
Mieu Quoc Tu Giam are unique ones in the world which have
inscriptions. Their inscriptions record not only the names of the
laureates of royal examinations held through nearly 300 years (1442
1779) but also information on history of the royal examinations; the
successive dynasties conceptions of education, training and employing
talent and their philosophy of state governance. Therefore the steles
had a great social impact on education and training of talented
citizens, encouraged contemporary people and people of the following
generations in education. The inscriptions also contain such details as
the date of the steles erection and the names and official posts of the
inscription compilers, revisers, calligraphers, and engravers. It
affirms that the steles are original, authentic and unique. Each stele
is a true work of art as they are the results of master mind and hands
of the best scholars, engravers and calligraphers over times. They are
of great significance to the study of ancient documents in Chinese as
the texts were written in Chinese characters, but read in Vietnamese way
of pronunciation, so they can serve as references for those who study
the former Vietnamese languages. Furthermore, these steles furnish
valuable information about Vietnamese emissaries that would contribute
to the study of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and other Northeast
Asian countries. Among the 1304 doctoral laureates whose names are
recorded on the steles, 225 were once assigned diplomatic missions to
China under Ming and Qing dynasties. Using the steles as reliable
documents, Vietnamese and foreign scholars can study the history,
education and culture of Viet Nam in the past, and young generations can
absorb the traditions and values left by their ancestors.
Moreover, each stele is
itself a vivid work of art with various designs: flowers, leaves,
clouds, the moon; or the dragon, holy lion, tortoise and phoenix. Steles
of each historic period are distinct from those of other periods.
Distinctive features such as designs, decorative patterns,
tortoise-shaped bases, and the type of Chinese characters used for their
inscriptions preserve the steles originality and prevent attempts to
produce replicas. Many art researchers consider the steles as important
documents to study Vietnamese history of art and sculpture from the 15th
to the 18th centuries.
At present, the 82
steles in Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam are still unique ones preserved
constantly on the spot since they were erected. The inscriptions on all
the steles are, in general, readable. The irreplaceability and rarity
lie in the content of the steles, the mode and condition of their
establishment, their historical and artistic value, and their social
impact. They are lively evidence of the intellect, aptitude and
dexterity of the Vietnamese people.
On March 9, 2010 in
Macau, China, the Asia-Pacific Regional Committee of Memory of the World
recognized 82 steles which record the royal examinations of Le and Mac
dynasties in Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam as world documentary heritage in
the Memory of the World Program of UNESCO.
