West Lake - A big lake in inner Hà Nội

A big lake in inner Hà Nội, it covers an area of hundreds of hectares and the road around the lake is 17km long. Geographers have proved that the lake was once part of the Red River before the latter changed its course. It is perhaps due to such history that there are so many legends about the lake and its names.

For instance, according to the story about the Fox Devil, the lake was called Xác Cáo (Fox Carcass). The legend says that there was a 9-tailed fox hiding itself in the lake, harming the people. Long Quân raised waters in order to destroy the fox’s lair. The lair collapsed and was turned into the lake. According to another legend, the "'Bell-Casting Griant - the lake had another name.”Golden Buffalo".

West Lake in Hanoi

The story says That there was a giant who lived ID the South and collected all the black bronze from the North in order to cast a bell. When struck, the bell echoed throughout the North. As black bronze was believed 10 be the mother of sold, the golden buffalo of the North heard the sound and desperately went south to look for its mother.

It came to this area and trampled on the land so much that the earth sunk and became a lake. However, according to some ancient manuscripts, in the 11th century this lake was called Dâm Đàm (Frosty Lake). By the 15th century. It was called Tây Hồ (West Lake). Another name of the lake is Lãng Bạc which is considered the field where fierce fights between the soldiers of the two Trưng Sisters and the Han troops (in fact, that field is in Tiên Sơn district, Bác Ninh province).

West Lake has for long been a beautiful land-scape. During the Lý and Trần dynasties, many kings had various palaces built around the lake as resorts. Some of these palaces: Thúy Hoa Palace in the Lý Dynasty, i.e. Hàm Nguyên Palace in the Trần Dynasty (Trấn Quốc Pagoda’s site now); Từ Hoa Palace 111 the Lý Dynasty, (Kim Liên Pagoda’s site now); Thụv Chương Palace in the Lê Dynasty (Chu Vãn An School now), etc.

Fishing on the Lake

Taking walk around the lake, one can see many historical sites and beauty spots: Nghi Tàm village, the birthplace of the wife of the Prefect Thanh Quan (a famous poetess who lived around 19th century); Kim Liên Pagoda with its unique architecture; Nhật Tân village with its famous gardens of peaches; Xuân Tảo village, with SÓC Temple dedicated to Saint Gióng; Trích Sài village with Thiên Niên Pagoda dedicated to the founder of the craft of weaving; silk; Kẻ Bưởi village with its traditional craft of making paper and Đồng cổ Temple; Thụy Khuê village with Bà Đanh Pagoda which was once very famous. Quan Thánh Temple, etc. Today, a series of newly-built hotels around the lake adds much diversity to its beauty.

Together with Trúc Bạch Lake, West Lake further enriches the poetic nature of inner Hà Nội while being a source of fish for the City.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers

Temple of Literature - Vietnam's first university

The Temple of Literature was built in October 1070 for worshipping sages and saints of Confucianism (Confucius, Mencius and others).

The Temple of Literature was built in October 1070

Six years later (1076), the National University was built at the rear of the temple. Originally, it was only a University for princes, but later it also admitted bright students from the populace.

The whole Temple of Literature is surrounded by brick walls. Inside the complex, there are walls separating it into five sections. The first one begins at the great portico on which Han characters are inscribed. Under the gate, there are two stone dragons made in the style of the early Lê Dynasty (15th century). The main path running through this gate leads to the Great Middle Gate which marks the second section. 

This gate is flanked by two smaller sates. The main path leads to the Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature). There are also two small gates on both sides of Khue Van Cac. The third section is that between the Khue Van Cac and Dai Thanh Mon (the Gate of Cheat Synthesis). In the middle of this area there is a square lake called Thien Quang Tinh (Well of Heaven Clarity), which is bordered by walls.

At the rear of the Great House of Ceremonies is the Quốc Tử Giám

On both sides of the well are pavilions of steles. These steles record the names of those who attained the Tien Si, or doctor laureate degree. In 1993, with the financial aid from an American business organization, eight pavilions were built to protect the steles.

Tiến Sĩ were those attaining the highest degree in the Court examinations (thi Đình). In ancient times, students after about ten years of study were able to participate in the thi Hương ( interprovincial competitions-examinations) which were held once every three years. Those who scored the highest marks in such exams were conferred with the title of Cu Nhan (bachelor). A year later, these bitchcJors came to the Capital lo take part in the first stage of the Court competition-examination (thi Hội). 

Winners of this stage were allowed to go ahead with the second stage, thi Đình. Winners of the tiến sĩ might be appointed court mandarins or local administrators, up to date, 82 steles have been preserved, the oldest of which records the exams in 1442 and the most recent is the 1779 exams. These steles are the most valuable relics of the Temple of Literature. Walking through Đại Thành Môn, we come to the fourth section.

The National University was built at the rear of the temple

There is a large courtyard to the left and right of which stand two rows of houses, originally used to accommodate the altars for the 72 disciples of Confucius. At the rear of the courtyard is the Great House of Ceremonies and the Sanctuary where various precious objects are found: a bell cast in 1768, on the left and on the right is a stone gong with an engraved essay telling us the usage of this musical instrument.

The present appearance of the Temple of Literature dates back at least to the Le Dynasty (15th-18th centuries), except for Khue Van Cac which was constructed at the start of the 19th century. However, the present general disposition of the Temple of Literature is similar to that in other countries (such as the Temple of Literature in Qu-fu, China, the birth place of Confucius - where there are also the Great Middle Gate, Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature, the Gate of Great Synthesis, the Sanctuary of Great Synthesis and stone steles). The Khuê Văn Các in Hà Nội’s Temple of Literature used to serve as the place for commenting on excellent poems and essays by examinees.

At the rear of the Great House of Ceremonies is the Quốc Tử Giám, the National University of the Lê Dynasty. When the Nguyễn Dynasty moved this University to Huế, this area was converted into Khải Thánh Temple dedicated to Confucius’s parents. It was damaged during the recent wars. However, this site has been restored with new constructions this year in 2000 as a contribution to the celebration of the 990th anniversary of Thăng Long-Hà Nội.

Hà Nội Past and Present Nguyen Vinh Phuc - The Gioi Publishers