Area : 921 sq.
kilometers
Population (2000): 2.736.000
Average annual temperature: 23.4oC
Districts: Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba
Trung, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Tay Ho, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan and five rural
districts: Tu Liem, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Thanh Tri, Soc Son.
Economic potentialities: Hanoi
is the political, economical, and cultural center of the country.
Hanoi is located in the Red
River Delta, in the center of North Vietnam. It was founded in 1010
under the reign of Ly Cong Uan King
The tropical monsoon climate
is divided into the rainy and dry seasons. The most distinctive
characteristic of Hanoi�s climate is the fluctuations between the
cold and hot seasons.
Hanoi still preserves many
ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600
pagodas. Hectares of lakes lie intertwined between the streets, the
largest ones being Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake.
Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including
bronze molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery.
Other famous sites include the
One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1042), the Temple of Literature (built
in 1070), the Tay Phuong Pagoda, which is very famous for its
collection of statues, and Lenin Park.
Van Mieu - Quoc
Tu Giam
The Temple of Literature
Khue
Van Cac
Van
Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and cultural relic
consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam�s first university.
The Temple of Literature was
built in 1070 in honour of Confucius, his followers, and Chu Van An, a
moral figure in Vietnamese education.
Quoc Tu Giam, or Vietnam's first
university, was built in 1076. Throughout its 900 years of activity,
thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this university.
This site preserves historical
vestiges of a 1,000-year-old civilization such as statues of Confucius
and his disciples (Yan Hui, Zengshen, Zisi, Mencius), and ancient
constructions such as Khue Van Pavilion and the Worshipping Hall.
The artifacts collected during
the recent excavation drives around Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) in
Hanoi proved the architecture of this site belongs to the Ly
(1010-1225) and Tran (1225-1400) Dynasties. Life of the students in
olden times is reflected through these artifacts and seemed to be
simple and pure compared to that of the city dwellers. Van Mieu - Quoc
Tu Giam (National College) now preserves 82 steles engraved with the
names of 1,306 doctors who obtained the doctoral titles at 82 royal
examinations, held from 1442 to 1779.
Although Van Mieu was built long
ago, the architectural complexes in this area were erected much later.
One of them was Khue Van Cac, or Pavilion of the Constellation of
Literature, built under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). In 1802, Gia
Long took the throne and built the capital in Hue. In 1805, the
Commander of the Northern Citadel, Nguyen Van Thanh, ordered the
construction of Khue Van Cac at Van Mieu. This project was carried out
at the same time as the erection of the surrounding walls around Van
Mieu in 1833.
The pavilion was a two-storey
complex made of wood and bricks, that is mirrored on the Thien Quang
well. Located in the third courtyard (from the front gate), the
pavilion's ground floor is empty, with four brick pillars of 85 cm x
85 cm engraved with designs of clouds. The pillars stand on a square
base, 6.8 cm x 6.8 cm, which is covered with Bat Trang bricks. The
upper floor, made of wooden frames, stands on four brick pillars, with
four round windows facing the four directions and having rays like the
sun. This floor is the symbol of the brilliant constellation that is
shining. The Oriental people consider this star as a symbol of
literature. On this floor, the balustrade is supported by engraved
wooden pieces, and a gilt board with three letters of Khue Van Cac
hangs on the wall.
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