Quoc Dan Doc Ban (the Citizen Textbook of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc) - A Controlling Mirror for Vietnamese Confucian Education

Abstract

In Hanoi, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc (ĐKNT, Hanoi Free School) compiled Quoc dan doc ban that consists of 79 lessons on different topics: politics, economy, society, culture, ideology and education. Among these lessons, there are 4 lessons directly discussing civil examination and education including the following issues: No. 34 on education, No. 35: Explanation about the learning, No. 37: Discussing on the disadvantages of the civil examinations, No. 38: on the uselessness of the civil examinations. ĐKNT commented and criticized the Confucian education and pointed out its disadvantages. Thus, the ĐKNT's great contribution to education cause is that it critically reflected the Confucian education and examination, just like a back mirror.