50 years - a journey full of gratitude.

Monday - November 14, 2022 09:06

On the morning of November 12th, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Han Nom Studies.

In the warm and solemn atmosphere of the commemoration ceremony, the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies was honored to welcome Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Dac Vinh (Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education), Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son (Minister of Education and Training), Venerable Thich Duc Thien (Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha); Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hieu (Vice Director of Hanoi National University), along with distinguished guests representing agencies, research institutes, and universities; veteran staff and lecturers; and nearly 400 former and current students of the university.
On behalf of the faculty, lecturers, trainees, and students studying at the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies, Dr. Dinh Thanh Hieu (Head of the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies) in his speech reviewed the 50-year history and development of the field, expressing pride in the mission of the Sino-Vietnamese Studies department to train a team of professionals who are both proficient in Chinese and Vietnamese characters and skilled in modern specialized and interdisciplinary Sino-Vietnamese research methods; capable of exploiting and introducing the values of traditional culture, directly contributing to ensuring cultural continuity between tradition and modernity. The anniversary celebration is an opportunity for teachers and students to look back at the remarkable achievements of the department, which are very commendable and a source of pride, providing a basis for confidence in the department's future prospects. However, it is also necessary to recognize the shortcomings and challenges facing the department in the new context and conditions, in order to strive and continue developing the department to live up to the trust of society and the contributions of previous generations. It can be said that with its solid foundation in thousands of years of ancestral knowledge, 50 years of development and growth, along with the attention and support of leaders at all levels, the dedication of teachers, and the appreciation of generations of students, the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will continue to develop.

Thầy Đinh Thanh Hiếu Trưởng bộ môn Hán Nôm

Dr. Dinh Thanh Hieu (Head of the Department of Han Nom Studies) was deeply moved to witness the attention of numerous leaders, teachers, alumni, and students of the University who came together to celebrate the anniversary of the department's establishment.

Dr. Dinh Thanh Hieu, on behalf of the Department of Han Nom Studies, presented calligraphy (created by the department's own teachers and students) to the school.

Speaking on behalf of the University's leadership, Rector Hoang Anh Tuan shared: "At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, we are aware that Sino-Vietnamese studies is one of the 'specialty' fields of study of the University. We are proud of and cherish the achievements we have built over the past half-century and are determined that developing this field of study, bringing it closer to contemporary social life to contribute to connecting traditional cultural values with people today, is not only a responsibility from the perspective of the University's training management, but more importantly, it reflects the national responsibility of a leading training institution in the field of social sciences and humanities in the country."

Rector Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that the school will always pay attention and make appropriate investments to ensure that the Han Nom Studies department continues to maintain and excellently fulfill its mission of being a leader in the system of training and research institutions on Han Nom Studies in Vietnam.

As one of the veteran educators, a pioneer in the field of Sino-Vietnamese studies at the University, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Thinh expressed his joy at the development of the field and the maturity of the current generations of lecturers and researchers in Sino-Vietnamese studies. He also hoped that in the future, the Department of Sino-Vietnamese studies would grow even stronger, with more students enrolling in this major. He hoped that after graduating from this university, students would be able to participate in collecting, researching, translating, and disseminating the cultural values of thousands of generations of ancestors, contained in the vast Sino-Vietnamese treasure trove stored in Vietnam and many places around the world.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Thinh (former head of the Department of Han Nom Studies) expressed his belief and expectations for the development of the field with the spirit of "Han Nom Culture".

Dr. Dinh Thanh Hieu presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a token of gratitude to Teacher Nguyen Van Thinh and other veteran educators who have diligently contributed to the achievements of the Han Nom studies field over the past 50 years.

Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Minister Nguyen Kim Son expressed his joy at returning to the Faculty of Humanities, to the department where he had studied, taught, and been associated for many years. The Minister also congratulated the achievements of the Han Nom Studies department over its half-century of formation and development, while emphasizing the "special" role of this unique field of science – Han Nom Studies. This is because it is the field that trains and researches the vast heritage of memory and valuable cultural values forged over thousands of years by our ancestors, bridging the cultural gap between the past and the present. Therefore, a strategic vision and appropriate investment are needed for the development of Han Nom Studies, not only for the department itself, not only for those working in it, but also for the building and development of the nation's culture.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son (Minister of Education and Training) delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.

The Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Leadership Board of the Faculty of Literature presented gifts and took commemorative photos with the leaders and veteran teachers.

Also at the commemoration ceremony, the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies, Faculty of Literature, received a Certificate of Merit from the Director of Hanoi National University for its achievements in training and research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu (Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi) presents the Certificate of Commendation from Vietnam National University, Hanoi to the Department of Han Nom Studies.

On behalf of the university's alumni, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong (Director of the Institute of Han Nom Studies) emotionally shared: "Choosing to study and then work in the field of Han Nom studies is like a 'predestined fate' for me. At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, we not only receive valuable lessons, profound academic knowledge, experience, and scientific research methods from our teachers, but also a spirit of dedication, gratitude, and lessons about humanity. We are always proud to have been taught Han Nom knowledge and to have been inspired to delve deeper into thought by generations of teachers under the roof of this university."

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong (former student of K44, currently Director of the Institute of Han Nom Studies) shared: generations of students in the field of Han Nom studies over the past half-century have "sought guidance from masters," pursuing their studies with a passion for classical knowledge to promote its value in contemporary society.

On the occasion of the anniversary celebration, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities also awarded 5 scholarships from the Talent Attraction Scholarship for basic science majors to K67 students (who have just enrolled).

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong awarded the Talent Attraction Scholarship to newly enrolled students of the K67 cohort in the Han Nom (Classical Chinese and Vietnamese) major. This is the first academic year that Hanoi National University has applied this scholarship to support and create conditions for the development of basic science disciplines.

The past 50 years have also served as a solid foundation for the faculty and students of the Sino-Vietnamese Studies Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to continue their journey towards the future, achieving even greater success and affirming their leading position in training human resources in Sino-Vietnamese Studies nationwide.

The Sino-Vietnamese Studies (Hán Nôm) department of Vietnamese universities was established in 1972 at the Faculty of Literature - Hanoi University (now the Faculty of Literature - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi), amidst the most intense phase of the resistance war against the US. Its mission was to train a team of people to collect, preserve, research, translate, and exploit Sino-Vietnamese heritage, preserving and promoting the cultural values of the nation, serving the revolutionary cause. The establishment of the Sino-Vietnamese Studies department at that time demonstrated the special attention and far-sighted vision of the Party and State for the long-term future of national culture and scholarship, ensuring an uninterrupted connection with the thousand-year-old cultural heritage of our ancestors.

Over 50 years of formation and development, the Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies, under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has become one of the prestigious and important institutions in training Sino-Vietnamese human resources nationwide, at all three levels: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
The culture of each nation is shaped by core values that are its defining characteristics. The Department of Sino-Vietnamese Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is proud to contribute to preserving these core cultural values and to serve as a cultural bridge connecting tradition and modernity, ensuring that the national cultural heritage is forever preserved and developed.

Author:Hanh Quynh

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