"The Heritage of Traditional Vietnamese Education and Examinations - A 100-Year Retrospective"

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Professor Pham Quang Minh, Rector, delivered the opening remarks at the conference.

In Vietnamese history, education and examinations, to some extent, originated during the Northern domination period but only began to develop during the Ly Dynasty – beginning with a series of events: the establishment of the Temple of Literature (1070), the examinations (1075), and the construction of the National Academy (1076). From then on, through the Tran, Ho, and especially the early Le dynasties, education and examinations increasingly developed and perfected. During the Nguyen Dynasty, building upon and continuing the tradition, under new conditions, an official education system was re-established from the central to the local level, playing a leading role in the entire contemporary education system, while simultaneously continuing to exist and develop widely in the folk education system.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Quan - Head of the History Department, Director of the Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Resources

The last Confucian examination took place exactly 100 years ago, marking the end of traditional education and the examination system. It was replaced by a French-established education system, and after the August Revolution of 1945, a new education system under the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Quan, Head of the History Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the education and examination system of medieval Vietnam has been the subject of numerous scientific studies and publications, addressing all aspects of the issue from history and politics to culture. However, to this day, it remains a fascinating topic, attracting the attention of scientists due to its significant influence on all aspects of Vietnamese society. This conference, organized by the Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Resources, aims to contribute to further discussions and reassessments of the legacy of traditional education and examinations in contemporary life, thereby drawing lessons learned and proposing solutions to promote the core values ​​of traditional education in today's society.

The workshop focused on three main topics.

First,Education and examinations in the history of Vietnamese cultureReports on this topic approach the subject both through the historical development of traditional education and examinations and by examining individual aspects of the issue. Some reports view the history of education and examinations from the Ly Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty, while others summarize the overall achievements of the examination system from the perspective of the Confucian doctoral graduates. In each aspect, the authors adopt a new approach, even when addressing familiar topics such as: the behavior of Confucian scholars in the 17th and 18th centuries through the case of the Vu family in Mo Trach, Hai Duong; the two-way impact of Confucian education and examinations on villages; Confucian scholars and the formation and development of legends in Vietnam; a comparison of traditional educational organization methods in Northeast Asian countries; and a comparative approach to British education policies in Malaysia and French policies in Vietnam...

SecondConfucian intellectuals and the history and culture of Vietnam in the early 20th century.The presentations covered topics such as: paradigm theory examining the transition of the intellectual class from Confucianism to Western learning; the role of Confucian intellectuals in the early 20th century; a comparative study of feminist thought and education by Suong Nguyet Anh and Rakatini; the path of action of progressive Confucian scholars in the early 20th century; and historical figures such as Nguyen Van Vinh, Nguyen Van To, etc.

Third isThe legacy of traditional education and examinations in contemporary life.The discussions included: analyzing the dual impact of Confucianism and Confucian studies on contemporary Vietnamese society; whether Confucian education was a foundation of civilization or a historical villain; the legacy of traditional Confucianism in the contemporary context; and the imprint of Confucian tradition on education in South Vietnam before 1975...

The workshop attracted the participation of researchers from Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi Pedagogical University I; Hanoi Pedagogical University II; University of Science - Hue University; Capital University; the Institute of Han Nom Studies; the Institute of History; the Institute of Culture Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; and the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Activities Center.