The final classical Chinese examination and its influence on the bac ha literati in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through Han-Nom sources

Abstract

The final Classical Chinese examination was organized in 1919 with significant modifications to the format of the Metropolitan Examination (Hội examination), wherein proficiency in Classical Chinese, Quoc ngu (Romanized Vietnamese), and French became a prerequisite for candidates nationwide to register. How did this shift influence the educational policies of the colonial protectorate government prior to this event? How were the establishment of the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) in Vietnam in 1901 and the implementation of the protectorate state's policies through the EFEO’s administration manifested? Drawing upon archival materials currently preserved at the Institute of Sino-Nom Studies and various libraries in Hanoi, this article elucidates the changes in colonial policy and their impact on education in Vietnam (1889-1916). The study highlights the pivotal role of the EFEO in executing educational policies designed to encourage scholars to study Quoc ngu, French, and Nom at the village level; promoting the translation of Vietnamese works into Quoc ngu and French; and encouraging the translation of Vietnamese works from Quoc ngu into Nom to serve the multilingual educational policy of the French protectorate administration in the early 20th century.