ACTIVITIES

EXHIBITION OF QUỐC TỬ GIÁM – THE FIRST NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

    Currently at Đông Vu House, Đại Thành area, the special national landmark Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám is exhibited under the theme: "Quốc Tử Giám – the First National University". Over 200 documents, artifacts, including first-time published color photographs along with very precious archaeological artifacts, have demonstrated the establishment of  Quốc Tử Giám. Through these artifacts, documents about events, and exemplary figures of each period, the exhibition conveys a message honoring teaching and learning at Quốc Tử Giám, venerating the history of scholarly education and the nurturing of talents by our ancestors.

    The exhibition " Quốc Tử Giám - The First National University" is divided into two static and dynamic spaces, indoor and outdoor. The indoor exhibition will take viewers back in time to Quốc Tử Giám through each historical milestone.

    As soon as visitors step into the exhibition space, they will admire the ancient wall stretching throughout the display, resembling a river reenacting the formation and development of the Imperial Academy intertwined with the educational system of Vietnam through historical milestones from the Lý Dynasty to the present day. Associated with each developmental phase, Quốc Tử Giám leaves its mark with cultural luminaries or significant events.

    The beginning of the ancient wall recounts the process of moving the capital by Lý Thái Tổ, and it ends with a large mirror-like surface on the opposite wall, designed to resemble water. The mirror has dual implications: one, cultural luminaries as a reflection for us to emulate, and two, it symbolizes water - associated with Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám, linked with Thăng Long with its many lakes. In the relic site, there are small lakes distributed in a very tight structure, with the Thiên Quang well reflecting sunlight and the stars. The virtual presence of water makes the exhibition more modern, arousing the curiosity of visitors to explore.

    Regarding the design concept of the indoor exhibition space, Patrick Hoarau - a graphic design expert, head of the exhibition design team - said: "The exhibition scenario reflects the timeline sequence. That timeline axis is like a river connected to the flow that takes us to different periods, different stages of intellectual development."

    Also in the exhibition space, visitors are provided with information about the examinations of the Vietnamese educational system: Hương (regional), exam Hội (national) exam, Đình (royal) exam about literary meetings at Quốc Tử Giám as well as the ceremonies honoring ancestors reproduced through paintings by artist Nguyễn Thành Phong.

    In the exhibition space, there are interactive activities: writing on the "Magic Board" placed near the water wall. Visitors can use a marker pen, and the words they write on the "magic board" will appear and be a temporary part of the exhibition; these words will disappear within a few minutes. Opposite the magic board is a "peephole", where visitors can see the 3D image of the Doctorate Stele by peeping.

    Opposite the ancient wall is the door system of the building. Right behind the door is the modules arranged between the doors, serving as a supplement to the ancient wall. In the module area, there is the application of information technology in conveying information to visitors through two touch screens. Patrick Hoarau said: "The indoor exhibition space is designed in the Đong vu house, the fourth area of Văn Miếu- Quốc Tử Giám. The building has many entrances and exits, so we chose the design option for visitors to understand this exhibition space from any entrance." Visitors can look up information, images about the relic area, doctoral steles. Information about characters or stories about some characters is also integrated into QR codes, so visitors can scan the QR code to listen to stories about the characters in the module.

    Immediately after the Đông vu house is the outdoor exhibition. This is a space that reminds viewers of the life of a scholar with schooling in the village, examination scenes in the capital, and then returning to the hometown to honor ancestors. The content of this section complements the indoor exhibition, allowing visitors to fully access information about Quốc Tử Giám and understand the journey of studying and taking exams of scholars. The synthesis of both exhibitions clarifies the position, role, and contributions of the Imperial Academy, generations of teachers, and students of Quốc Tử Giám to the Vietnamese educational system during the feudal period and creates Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám - a symbol of Vietnamese educational culture today.

    In addition, the outdoor exhibition space is designed to organize traditional activities such as experiencing the process of making dó paper, printing traditional paintings "honoring ancestors";... All of these activities create a special attraction for visitors when coming to Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám.

    The exhibition " Quốc Tử Giám - The First National University" right within the heritage space helps the public easily access and understand more deeply about teaching and learning for over 700 years at Quốc Tử Giám, along with the education system, scholarly examinations, talent selection under the feudal era in Vietnam.