Praying for good luck
(VOV) - Thousands of students converged on the 1,000-year-old temple in Hanoi on July 2 to worship Vietnam’s first scholars in high hopes of having the devil’s own luck in the upcoming tertiary entrance exams.
Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), the first university in Vietnam, was built in 1070. Eighty-two steles of carved blue stone turtles were erected to honour those who succeeded in royal exams.
Nearly 100 exams were also held in the temple’s courtyard.
The temple has since become an ideal place for students before exams. This year’s tertiary entrance exams will begin on July 4.
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| The temple is overcrowded in the early morning |
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| The doctorate steles have stood the test of time, inspiring many generations of Vietnamese students |
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| Many students try to touch the turtle’s head |
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| Offering incense to Chu Van An, one of the very few Vietnamese scholars worshipped at the temple |
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| Praying for good luck |
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| They expect their names would be carved on the wooden boards |
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| Scholars’ teachings are valuable lessons for students |
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| Asking for a petition – a piece of writing paper containing an individual’s personal information. The paper is often burned after being offered to ancestors hoping it would bring them luck |
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| Buying souvenirs for their relatives |
