Heritage education experience on the theme "Exploring the Doctoral Steles"

Recently, Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám organized a heritage education program on the theme "Exploring the Doctoral Steles" for students of Maya Preschool. The activity was designed to suit the preschool age group, combining guided introductions, direct observation, and hands-on experience.

At the start of the program, the children were given a general introduction to the history of the formation and development of Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám — the nation's leading center for education and civil examinations over many centuries. At the Khuê Văn Các area, the children learned about the symbolic significance of this iconic architectural work, representing the nation's tradition of reverence for learning and its spirit of honoring knowledge.

The highlight of the program was the activity exploring the system of Doctoral Steles — a World Documentary Heritage. Through an open-ended question-and-answer format, the children gradually learned about the blue stone material of the steles, their distinctive color, the Chinese characters carved upon them, as well as the number of Doctoral Steles still preserved at the heritage site today.

In addition, storytelling about celebrated scholars and men of learning helped the children begin to appreciate the traditions of respect for teachers, reverence for learning, and the determination to excel that characterized previous generations.

In the hands-on experience segment, the students personally printed woodblock motifs of decorative patterns from the Doctoral Steles onto traditional giấy Dó paper. The activity not only encouraged the children to observe the ancient carved patterns more closely, but also gave them the opportunity to engage with traditional materials and handicraft techniques, thereby strengthening the connection between historical knowledge and creative experience.

The program is one of the heritage education activities regularly organized by Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám, contributing to the promotion of the values embodied in the Doctoral Stele system and nurturing a love of heritage in the younger generation from their earliest years.