THE CEREMONY TO PRESENT THE WOODEN ARTWORK “VINH QUY BÁI TỔ” AT VĂN MIẾU – QUỐC TỬ GIÁM
On the morning of October 10, at the Thái Học House of the Special National Relic Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, the Hanoi Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi held a ceremony to present the wooden artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ” to the Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám..
The delegates conducted the ceremony to present the wooden artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ” to the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám.
Attending the ceremony were: Mrs. Bùi Thị Minh Hoài, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and Head of the Hanoi Delegation of the National Assembly Deputies; Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phong, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Quyền, Member of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee; Mr. Bùi Hoài Sơn, Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education; Mr. Nguyễn Hùng Sơn, Deputy Head of the Department of Propaganda and Mass Mobilization of the Hanoi Party Committee; Mrs. Bạch Liên Hương, Member of the Party Committee and Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports; together with artisan Bùi Trọng Lăng, along with numerous artisans, scholars, and representatives from Ngọc Than traditional craft village.
Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyễn Văn Phong and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyễn Mạnh Quyền presented the certificate of donation for the wooden artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ” to the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám.
The wooden artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ”, displayed at the Thái Học House within the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám site.
The wood carving artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ” (Returning in Glory), currently displayed at the Thái Học House of the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám site, is meticulously hand-crafted from precious rosewood. Measuring 8.33 meters in length, 1.7 meters in height, and 16 centimetres in thickness, the piece vividly recreates the scholarly journey of a Confucian student in the old days — from studying under a village teacher, passing the Regional, Metropolitan, and Court Examinations, to the triumphant day of returning home in glory.
This unique, large-scale masterpiece has achieved two Vietnamese records:
1️⃣ The largest hand-carved woodblock “Vinh quy bái tổ” artwork in Vietnam.
2️⃣ The “Vinh quy bái tổ” wood carving features the greatest number of human figures in Vietnam.
Beyond its artistic grandeur, the work embodies the spirit of creativity and the aspiration to honour the nation’s long-standing tradition of scholarship and respect for learning.
In terms of composition, the carving follows the aesthetic principle of “vital energy in motion” (khí vận sinh động), depicting a processional scene curving like a soaring dragon — a sacred symbol of Thăng Long – Hà Nội. Every detail is meticulously rendered, inspired by Ngô Tất Tố’s novel Lều Chõng (The Mat Tent and Palanquin), portraying a vivid cross-section of ancient Vietnamese society — scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, fishermen, woodcutters, tillers, and herders.
Familiar cultural symbols such as Ngọ Môn Gate, Thái Hòa Palace, the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, the Khuê Văn Pavilion, village gates, banyan trees, wells, and communal courtyards are harmoniously interwoven within a festive atmosphere, forming a living wooden epic that celebrates the intellectual and cultural spirit of Vietnam.
Dr Lê Xuân Kiêu, Director of the Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, addressed the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Lê Xuân Kiêu, Director of the Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, expressed his profound honour and sincere gratitude to the city’s leaders, artisan Bùi Trọng Lăng, and the craftsmen of Ngọc Than Village. He emphasised that the Centre will strive to preserve and promote the artistic and cultural value of the work, thereby contributing to the celebration of Vietnam’s scholarly traditions and the exquisite craftsmanship of Thăng Long – Hà Nội.
Artisan Bùi Trọng Lăng shared insights into the creation of the artwork.
Sharing about the artwork, Artisan Bùi Trọng Lăng from Bùi Gia Woodcarving Workshop, Kiều Phú Commune, Hanoi — representing the group of creators — said:
“This artwork is the most heartfelt and genuine expression of our lifelong aspiration as artisans — to honour the national culture through woodcarving, and to preserve the eternal values of Vietnamese heritage within the flow of history.”
The delegates posed for a commemorative photograph at the ceremony.
The placement of the wooden artwork “Vinh quy bái tổ” at the Thái Học House – the space dedicated to honouring Confucian learning within the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám site – carries a profoundly meaningful significance. Its presence is not only an artistic highlight but also serves to help the public, especially the younger generations, gain a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese virtues of lifelong learning, respect for teachers, and devotion to the nation. Through this, it reaffirms the vital role of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám in preserving and promoting cultural heritage and in nurturing the country’s intellectual talents.
Thúy Hồng
