What is special about the wooden painting 'Returning home in glory and paying respect to ancestors' that Hanoi bought and gave to the Temple of Literature?

It is a wooden painting that holds two records: The largest monolithic wooden carving of Vinh Quy Bai To in Vietnam and the wooden painting of Vinh Quy Bai To with the largest number of people in Vietnam.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen (right) awarded a certificate of merit to artisan Bui Trong Lang for his excellent work on the Vinh Quy Bai To wooden painting - Photo: T.DIEU

The painting was presented to the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam by the Hanoi City Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee - Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee on October 10. The painting is currently hanging in the Front Hall, Thai Hoc.

An epic of the nation comes alive on wood

The work Vinh Quy Bai To was crafted from rare rosewood bought from Africa, with dimensions of 8.33m long, 1.7m wide, 16cm thick. The painting vividly depicts the journey of the imperial examinations, from childhood studying with a teacher, to the time of taking the Huong exam, then the Hoi exam, the Dinh exam, being listed on the golden list and being granted the King's Grace to return to the village in the Vinh Quy ceremony.

According to the introduction of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, the composition of the painting follows the artistic principle of "dynamic energy", making the procession resemble a winding dragon - a symbol associated with the name Thang Long - Hanoi.

Hanoi Party Secretary Bui Thi Minh Hoai and delegates congratulated artisan Bui Trong Lang on his success with his excellent wood painting - Photo: T.DIEU

The landscape and characters are elaborately depicted. The paintings feature all social classes of the past: scholars, farmers, workers, merchants, fishermen, woodcutters, guards, and shepherds.

In particular, the images of Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, Khue Van Cac, village gate, banyan tree, well, communal house yard... blend in the bustling festival atmosphere, creating a vivid wooden epic of the nation.

Mr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, said the ceremony of returning home to pay respect to ancestors is also a symbol of Vietnamese ethics: respect for teachers; filial piety; village solidarity; aspiration to serve the country; honoring learning; encouraging talented people to contribute their strength to the nation...

Therefore, placing the Vinh Quy Bai To wooden painting at Thai Hoc House, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam has a particularly profound meaning.

The presence of the painting at Thai Hoc House is therefore a heartfelt reminder of the value of Vietnamese intelligence. At the same time, it affirms the mission of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, encouraging learning, arousing the spirit of studiousness, and nurturing talents for the nation.

Children enjoy taking souvenir photos with the painting "Returning home in glory to pay respect to ancestors" at the Temple of Literature - Photo: T.DIEU

Looking for a consultant, more than a dozen artisans worked for three years

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online, artisan Bui Trong Lang - the person who made this painting - said that since he started working as a woodcarver, he has longed to bring Vietnamese culture to wood paintings.

He had the idea to make this wood painting in 2020. He decided to make the painting based on the novel Leu Chong by writer Ngo Tat To.

In addition, he sought advice from experts on the painting. Without knowing each other beforehand, Mr. Lang tried to contact historian Duong Trung Quoc, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, and painter Ho Trong Minh (Vietnam University of Fine Arts) for advice. He received enthusiastic help from these experts.

After nearly three years of hard work by more than a dozen workers, the painting was completed in December 2022 and debuted at the Hanoi Museum.

Recently, the painting was selected by Hanoi city to participate in the National Achievement Exhibition. From this exhibition, Hanoi decided to buy the painting to give to the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam.

Part of the wooden painting Vinh quy bai to - Photo: T.DIEU

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online, artist Ho Trong Minh - Deputy Head of the Graphics Department of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, one of the three advisors for artisan Bui Trong Lang to create the work Vinh quy bai to - highly appreciated the fact that artisan Lang had researched and sought out advisors, a very serious approach.

In terms of art, Mr. Minh considers this a very successful painting, creating a moving energy flow in the painting. If the viewer moves from left to right to look at the painting, this energy flow will give the viewer the feeling of joining the procession.

He said he had never seen a wood carving that achieved as good an overall feeling as the Vinh quy bai to painting.

Scene "the brother goes first in the hammock" - Photo: T.DIEU

Scene "her hammock follows behind" - Photo: T.DIEU

Scene of tents and beds at the examination school - Photo: T.DIEU

Image of Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy with Khue Van Cac - Photo: T.DIEU

Villagers happily came out to welcome - Photo: T.DIEU

Old and young happily welcome the successful candidates back to the village - Photo: T.DIEU

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-gi-dac-biet-o-buc-tranh-go-vinh-quy-bai-to-ma-ha-noi-mua-tang-van-mieu-quoc-tu-giam-20251010204536934.htm