Prior to the sixteenth century, kings appointed their military officers on the basis of their contributions, good records, or lineage rather than by examinations. As a result, most high-ranking military officers were members of the royal family. In 1253, the Tran Dynasty established the Giảng võ đường. a martial arts training school for royal relatives serving as military officers. About this lime. Trần Quốc Tuấn, a famous general of the Trần Dynasty, compiled the first book on the art of warfare, using standards of that time.
As a result of teaching martial arts, the Trân Dynasty had many famous generals. These include Trần Quốc Tuấn. Trần Ọuang Khải, Trần Khánh Dư, and Phạm Ngũ Lão. Historians have recorded their contributions to Vietnamese victories over the Mongols.
In 1721, King Lê Dụ Tông established Võ Học. the first martial arts training school for the general public in the capital of Thãng Long (Ilà Nội). He appointed a mandarin to teach the art of warfare. Lord Trịnh Cương attached great importance to the formal training of military officers. He also revised regulations for martial arts examinations. Examinations were held every three years. The regional level organized examinations (sở cử) in the Years of the Rat, the Horse, the Cat, and the Cock, while the Thang Long Court examination (bác cừ) took place in the Years of the Dragon, the Dog, the Buffalo, and the Goat.
Each exam consisted of three parts. The first ct’d ihe students’ undersiandina of the classic art comba, the second, their martial arts skills (lorse riding, archery. and sword or stick fighting) and the third, their knowledge of military strategy and tactics.
In 1731, Lord Trịnh Giang further revised the exam regulations after he realised that many good martial arts students had failed in their essays on warfare strategy. Under the new rules, martial arts skills received greater emphasis than knowledge of military strategy.
The Lê Dynasty opened martial arts training schools, organised martial arts exams, and built the Temple of Martial Arts (Võ Miếu) in 1740 to honour outstanding Vietnamese and Chinese military strategists, including Wu Chengwang. Sun Zi. Guan Zi. and Trần Quốc Tuấn.
The Lê Kings and Trịnh Lords held nineteen court examinations on martial arts between 1428 and 1788. Two hundred students passed. Examinations stopped after Nguvễn Huệ (later King Quang Trung) - a brilliant strategist and national hero - led his troops to the north, pul an end to the Trịnh Court, and restored the Lê Dynasty. Later, the examinations resumed.
Often the successful candidates in martial arts exams were quite young. However, there were exceptional cases. For example. Nguyễn Thời Lý and Nguyền Đình Thạch passed court examinations at the aee of eighty-five and seventy-eight respectively. Several clans were successful in martial arts exams, including thirteen members of the Vũ Tá lineage in Hoàng Hà. Commune (Hà Tĩnh Province) during the Lê -Trinh period.
The Nguyễn Kings (1802-1945) tried to expand their territory southward; to do so. they concentrated on selecting and training militar mandarins. In 1836. King Minh Mang issued an edict, stating: To govern a country, it is crucial to pay attention to both civil and military affairs. At present, there are many courageous people who are masters of military strategy and martial arts. They will be selected for appointment to the court.
The King set up regulations for two-stage martial arts examinations: the regional exam (hương) and the court exam(hội). Under the regulations, they held Hifdng exams in the Years of the Tiger, the Snake, the Monkey, and the l’ig and Hoi exams in the Years of the Rat. the Cat, the Horse, and the Cock. They held the first huong exam under the Nguyen Dynasty in 1837.
The martial arts examinations in Hue (the capital of the Nguyen) were usually held in the seventh lunar month. On the twelveth day of the seven lunar month, candidates gathered at the Examination School. From the fifteenth to seventeenth days of the same month, they participated in the first part of the examination: carrying two pieces of lead in two hands while covering the farthest distance possible.
Those who covered over 18 truong (one tufting is 1.70 metres) received the grade of excellent: 14 tufting, good: 10 truong, average; and under 8 trượng, weak.The second part of the exam look place from the 19 to 21s1 days of the seventh lunar month, during which the candidates showed their skills in bare-handed combat and in using weapons, such as sticks, scimitars, and shields. They also used metal sticks weighing about 18 kilos to compete against each other. In addition, they hurled 3.3-meter-long spears at straw scarecrows.
During the third part of the exam from the 23 to 25 days of the seventh lunar month, students tested in gun marksmanship. On the 27 day, the court announced the names of successful candidates. Before enlisting on the second day of the eighth lunar month, applicants endured à re-cxamination on seven classics of martial arts, including Sun Zi, Wit Zi. Six Arts of War, Si Ma'5 Strategy and Tactics, The Three Strategies of Huang Shi gong, and Questions and Answers by Yu Liaozi and Questions and Answers by Li Weigong. Or. they could choose to demonstrate their skills with one of eighteen weapons.
Generally speaking, martial arts examinations under the Nguyen Dynasty were systematic and strict. However, some students tried to cheat. For example, one student might sit for another at an exam. As a result. King Tự Đức decreed rules for rewards and punishments in martial arts exams. The supervisor immediately expelled any candidates who cheated or who brought books and documents. He dismissed anyone who wore sloppy clothes. If anyone took an exam under the guise of another, the supervisor forced both individuals to do military service. He punished those who gave bribes.