Spring Break
Hanoi, Vietnam in my heart
Hoa Nyugen & Phuong Nyugen, ISOSU
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Forum
Since then, every three or four years, the King organized national examinations to select scholars for the country's administration.
At this time, Buddhism and Confucianism had large influences in the Vietnamese society, so examination was designed based on the Confucian philosophy.
Rich families sent their children to famous schools, but the majority of farmer families could not afford their children's education fee, so they worked very hard to send them to the village's schools or pagoda schools where the teachers were teaching not for money.
Many poor students just lived with their teacher's family and helped them with farming. When the King opened the nation-wide examination, all students across the country traveled to Thang Long and drew a huge migration wave toward the Kingdom's capital.
Most of them walked months because they didn't have enough money to hire a horse.
They traveled along with clothes, ink, papers, food and money to Thang Long castle. Despite the strong will of examinees, only a limited number of students were chosen.
The rest of them had to come back to challenge themselves for the next examination after three to four years. Some of them just could not go back to their hometown because they didn't want to embarrass their family and relatives.
Those students stayed in the Hanoi area to work. In an agricultural country like Vietnam, the only way you can be rich was either become a merchant or be the administrative officer.
However, based on the Confucian philosophy which Vietnamese people strongly believed, being a merchant was not the nice way to be respected or promoted in the society. This circumstance added more pressure on young people to pass the national examination to be recognized.
Following these students were craft men, service vendors and of course good chiefs. The noble class in Thang Long increased very quickly and had very wealthy lives.
The best food and cooking materials were provided from all over country. Although normal families could never have chicken or beef for their daily meal, in Thang Long castle and surrounding areas, people enjoyed luxurious food with art work and medical herbs.
At this time, Buddhism and Confucianism had large influences in the Vietnamese society, so examination was designed based on the Confucian philosophy.
Rich families sent their children to famous schools, but the majority of farmer families could not afford their children's education fee, so they worked very hard to send them to the village's schools or pagoda schools where the teachers were teaching not for money.
Many poor students just lived with their teacher's family and helped them with farming. When the King opened the nation-wide examination, all students across the country traveled to Thang Long and drew a huge migration wave toward the Kingdom's capital.
Most of them walked months because they didn't have enough money to hire a horse.
They traveled along with clothes, ink, papers, food and money to Thang Long castle. Despite the strong will of examinees, only a limited number of students were chosen.
The rest of them had to come back to challenge themselves for the next examination after three to four years. Some of them just could not go back to their hometown because they didn't want to embarrass their family and relatives.
Those students stayed in the Hanoi area to work. In an agricultural country like Vietnam, the only way you can be rich was either become a merchant or be the administrative officer.
However, based on the Confucian philosophy which Vietnamese people strongly believed, being a merchant was not the nice way to be respected or promoted in the society. This circumstance added more pressure on young people to pass the national examination to be recognized.
Following these students were craft men, service vendors and of course good chiefs. The noble class in Thang Long increased very quickly and had very wealthy lives.
The best food and cooking materials were provided from all over country. Although normal families could never have chicken or beef for their daily meal, in Thang Long castle and surrounding areas, people enjoyed luxurious food with art work and medical herbs.
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