Chu Van An
Encyclopedia
Chu Văn An was a Confucian
, teacher, physician and high-ranking mandarin
of the Trần Dynasty in Đại Việt.
district, Hanoi
. In the early life, he was famous as a straightforward man who passed the doctoral examination (Thái Học Sinh / 太學生) but refused to become a mandarin. Instead, An opened a school and began his career as a Confucian teacher in Huỳnh Cung village in district Thanh Tri. An's teaching played an important role in spreading Confucianism into a Buddhist Vietnam in this time.
Under the reign of Tran Minh Tong
(1314–1329), he became a teacher at the imperial academy (國子監) where he was responsible for teaching the crown prince Vuong, the future emperor Tran Hien Tong
. Under the reign of emperor Tran Du Tong
, he was raised to a high-ranking mandarin.
Later, he resigned and return to his home-village because Tran Du Tong refused his request of beheading eight other mandarins who he accused of corruption. For the rest of his life, An continued his teaching career and wrote books. He died of illness in 1370.
An altar was erected in his honour in the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, where he is still revered.
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, teacher, physician and high-ranking mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
of the Trần Dynasty in Đại Việt.
Biography
He was born in Văn Thôn village, Quang Liệt commune, present day Thanh TriThanh Tri, Hanoi
Thanh Trì is a district of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Thanh Tri is located on the southeastern side of Hanoi, on the western bank of the Red River...
district, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. In the early life, he was famous as a straightforward man who passed the doctoral examination (Thái Học Sinh / 太學生) but refused to become a mandarin. Instead, An opened a school and began his career as a Confucian teacher in Huỳnh Cung village in district Thanh Tri. An's teaching played an important role in spreading Confucianism into a Buddhist Vietnam in this time.
Under the reign of Tran Minh Tong
Trần Minh Tông
Trần Minh Tông , given name Trần Mạnh , was the fifth emperor of the Trần Dynasty who ruled Đại Việt from 1314 to 1329. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Hiến Tông, Minh Tông held the title of Thái thượng hoàng for 29 years...
(1314–1329), he became a teacher at the imperial academy (國子監) where he was responsible for teaching the crown prince Vuong, the future emperor Tran Hien Tong
Trần Hiến Tông
Trần Hiến Tông , given name Trần Vượng , was the sixth emperor of the Trần Dynasty who reigned Đại Việt from 1329 to 1341. Enthroned by Minh Tông when he was only a ten-year-old boy, Hiến Tông ruled Đại Việt with the regent of the Retired Emperor Minh Tông during his thirteen years of reign...
. Under the reign of emperor Tran Du Tong
Trần Dụ Tông
Trần Dụ Tông , given name Trần Hạo , was the seventh emperor of the Trần Dynasty, and reigned over Đại Việt from 1341 to 1369...
, he was raised to a high-ranking mandarin.
Later, he resigned and return to his home-village because Tran Du Tong refused his request of beheading eight other mandarins who he accused of corruption. For the rest of his life, An continued his teaching career and wrote books. He died of illness in 1370.
An altar was erected in his honour in the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, where he is still revered.