Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

institution produced thousands of doctoral laureates who
passed through the system of royal examinations.
The stone stelae at the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam site
record the names of those who successfully passed the
royal exams under the Le and Mac dynasties from the 15th
to the 18th centuries. Vietnam was in the sphere of Chinese
influence and the erection of stone stelae as records of
royal examinations in Vietnam followed the same tradition
in China.
The exams were held every three years and the first
examination to select doctoral laureates was held in 1442.
Honouring of candidates by recording their successes
in stone was intended to encourage others to emulate
their achievements and Chinese inscriptions on the stelae
record the laureates in royal examinations held between
1442 and 1779.
Other details on the inscriptions include the date, names
and official posts of the inscription compilers, revisers,
calligraphers and engravers. Each period left its own mark
on the stelae in terms of design, decorative pattern, their
bases and the Chinese characters used, preserving each
stela’s originality and preventing attempts to produce
� Statue of Confucius
replicas. It is thought that there were ninety-one stele
originally, although only eighty-two have survived to date.
The largest stele is 2.07 m high and 1.3 m wide, and the
smallest 1.1 m high and 0.7 m wide. Each stele slab rests on
its base of a carved stone turtle (representing longevity).
Many of those listed became famous figures in
Vietnamese history, making contributions to culture,
education, the military, the economy and diplomacy in the
country, as well as holding offices at the royal court.
As well as their importance in Vietnamese history and
culture, the designs and ornamental patterns are unique
works of art from the centuries they cover.
140 Stone stele records of royal examinations of the Le and Mac dynasties (1442–1779)