Custom of “Graduation and Celebration” in Thăng Long-Hà Nội

A lacquer painting depicts the solemn ceremony granted to a doctoral laureate

The size of the welcoming ceremony depended on the classification of the laureates. Third-grade laureates were honored at the commune level, second-grade ones at the district level, and the first grade ones at the provincial level. As there were very few tiến sĩ at an exam, the success was a great honor for not only the candidate, but also for his parents, relatives, teacher and neighbors. The act of returning to pay homage to ancestors after achieving academic honors would thus include a reception for the fresh laureates.  

Tiến sĩ would receive honors and a banquet from the king. He was also invited to tour the royal garden and the streets of the imperial city. Next, he returned to his hometown for another ceremony. His arrival was marked with a parade led by flag wavers (Tiến sĩ received flags and honorable plates as gifts from the king). A person would beat a drum to call villagers to come to welcome the laureate. The villagers would do so eagerly, as the tiến sĩ had brought honor to the entire community. When the procession reached the tiến sĩ’s home, he would bow before the altar for Confucius and the ancestors. After that, his relatives, neighbors, villagers and friends would join him in great parties hosted by his family. The tiến sĩ would then remain at home until he received a government appointment.

Apart from a hearty banquet, there was always singing to entertain partygoers. Guests would bring presents to offer the new tiến sĩ, such as betel nuts and areca, tea, firecrackers or decorations for ancestor altars. The type of gift sometimes depended on the degree of the new tiến sĩ. For example, in addition to money, tea, and firecrackers, poems and parallel sentences, the first-degree Tiến sĩ would receive eulogies embroidered on silk or cloth, second degree Tiến sĩ would receive poems, and third degree Tiến sĩ, embroidered parallel sentences.