THAI HOC COURTYARD
The Thai Hoc Courtyard is a site of special significance within the complex of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam. More than a space preserving the educational traditions of Confucian learning, it also serves as a symbol connecting the past and the present, continuing the enduring legacy of scholarship and moral cultivation in Vietnam.
During the Le dynasty in the fifteenth century, Quoc Tu Giam was also known as the Thai Hoc Vien (Imperial Academy). The complex comprised numerous architectural components, including lecture halls, the Minh Luan Hall, student dormitories, and storehouses for woodblocks used in printing books. Under the Nguyen dynasty in the nineteenth century, when the imperial capital was relocated to Hue, this area became a school of Hoai Duc Prefecture. Later, the Nguyen court dismantled the old school buildings and constructed the Khai Thanh Shrine to worship the parents of Confucius. In 1946, the entire former Quoc Tu Giam area was destroyed by French forces during the war.
The present-day Thai Hoc Precinct was commenced in 1999 and completed in 2000 on the occasion of the 990th anniversary of Thang Long–Ha Noi, with newly assigned cultural and educational functions. Covering 1,530 square meters within a total area of 6,150 square meters, the precinct includes several architectural structures: the Front Hall (Tien Duong), the Rear Hall (Hau Duong or Rear Sanctuary), the Left and Right Auxiliary Houses (Ta Vu and Huu Vu), the Bell House, and the Drum House. These buildings were reconstructed in the style of traditional Vietnamese architecture upon the historical grounds of the former Quoc Tu Giam.
The Front Hall serves as a venue for cultural activities, exhibitions, academic seminars, and commemorative ceremonies honouring distinguished historical figures. The Rear Hall consists of two levels. On the ground floor stands the statue of the educator Chu Van An (1292–1370), who served as Tu nghiep Quoc Tu Giam — equivalent to the rector of the Imperial Academy — alongside the exhibition "Khoi nguon dao hoc" ("The Origins of the Vietnamese Tradition of Learning").
The upper floor of the Rear Hall is dedicated to three monarchs who played pivotal roles in the establishment of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam and made major contributions to the development of Vietnamese Confucian education and culture: Ly Thanh Tong (1023–1072), Ly Nhan Tong (1066–1128), and Le Thanh Tong (1442–1497).
Today, the Thai Hoc Courtyard is not only a destination of great historical and cultural value, but also an educational space that continues to foster Vietnam's traditions of devotion to learning, respect for teachers and moral principles, and esteem for talented individuals.
