Kinh Kỳ 3
- krolesh
- Apr 1, 2024
- 2 min read
The Temple Of Literature
This amazing ancient temple is dedicated to Confucius, and to the teachers, students and very profound Confucian teachings themselves.
One of the main Confucian teachings is "do not do unto others that which you would not want others to do unto you." Sounds logical.
And also sounds like those tricky Christians stole it, because this is also a prime tenet of Christianity, believe it or not. Confucius lived about 500 years before Christ.
Confucianism also has a strong belief in ancestor worship, and in the importance of leading a virtuous life.
The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 by Emperor Lý Thành Thông, and actually hosted the country's first university, the Imperial University, which was open for studies for over 700 years.
Garden entrance
Outer gate
The whole interior is a series of gardens, ponds and ancient buildings, including temples, residences, learning spaces, and other buildings.
Layered Emperor. You may need your 3D glasses to see the perspective.
Ancient tablet. These documented all the graduates of the University. There were three categories of people who weren't allowed to study there - criminals, musicians and singers, and those in mourning. I can easily understand why they excluded musos and singers (not virtuous or humble enough), but why criminals and mourners?
Actually there was a fourth exclusion category - women. But that goes without saying. It's obvious that unless you have an inverted vaginal passage and external ovaries you definitely won't have the mettle for such rigorous studies.
Ancient woodblock for printing texts. They'd paint black ink over it, and then press paper onto it using a roller.
Exam time. They stopped students from cheating by isolating them in their very own ricepaper hiking tents.
Kids practising their calligraphy with water brushes. They were quite good.
Bonsai's big here. Well, not the trees themselves.
Craniosacred
Emperors and teachers
This little toddler was trying to feed his little stuffed rabbit to the turtle.
I wish they'd had this sign up at the bhang lassi shop in Varanasi.
Gritty guardian
Contemporary art
A new take on a famous Vietnamese folk painting called Rat's Wedding, which was originally painted over 500 years ago.
Local artist's version of Three Beauties Of The Present Day, inspired by Japanese artist Kitagara Utamaro.
Banyan fig in a village
Magnificent ancient rooftop
The thing to do is throw money on the roof, and all your prayers will be answered. I was tempted to just answer my own prayers and take the cash.
Exquisite ancient and grand woodwork
Bellweather
I so much wanna hear this drum being played. It's so huge, the 2 skins stretched across the ends of the wide barrel were once stretched around 2 huge buffaloes.
Go to Part 4
Comments