Hanoi's Temple of Literature (Photo-essay)

When I mentioned to a Malaysian friend that I was thinking of visiting Vietnam, she told me to expect to see lots of buildings and scenery that would look familiar -- and by that, she didn't just mean "international" (i.e., late 20th century Western) style buildings but also ones that wouldn't look out of place both in Malaysia and also where Chinese communities have historically existed.  

But, as I told my mother while were there, much of Hanoi, the countryside between it and Ha Long Bay, and the small towns we passed along the way to Ha Long Bay actually got me thinking more of the parts of Africa I had lived in as well as visited decades ago.  Part of this is due to Vietnam's level of economic development.  Another, probably related factor comes from it being the dustiest part of Asia I've ever been to -- with its dustiness on par with the drier parts of East and Southern Africa that I've been to and in.

At Hanoi's Temple of Literature though, I did see architecture that definitely showed a Chinese influence -- not all that surprising, really, when it's modeled on the temple at Confucius' birthplace in Qufu, China, and is dedicated to Confucius along with homegrown sages and scholars.  Originally established in 1070 and home to the Imperial Academy that is looked upon as Vietnam's first university, much of what one sees today doesn't date back further than the 19th century -- which makes those portions that do particularly special and interesting...

The Chinese-style Great Portico through which one 

enters into the grounds of the Temple of Literature proper

The first two courtyards one passes through are 

pleasantly green and have a peaceful air to them

 In the third courtyard can be found

82 stone stelae, each mounted atop large

stone tortoises -- see the example above

 Each of the stone stelae is inscribed with

the names of scholars, and some of these

stelae date back to 1442

 More turtles, this time propping up large birds

inside the sanctuary where Confucius is worshipped

Puppet Ponyo poses in a part of Hanoi --

and the Temple of Literature -- that visually

some might mistake for a part of China

 

 In the Thai Hoc Courtyard, we came across yet more happy 

graduates -- some of whom had literally kicked off their 

shoes to be more comfortable when posing for the camera! :)

Despite his stern demeanor, I still think that this sage

would give those newly minted graduates his blessing though ;b