Rediscovering memories and the Chinese-Vietnamese teacher-student relationship

66 years ago, more than 20 Vietnamese students came to study at the Jingdezhen Ceramics Academy in China. At the end of November 2024, when attending the international conference "Socialist Modernization: Experiences of Vietnam and China" in Da Nang, Mr. Vuong Van Hoa, Director of the school's Marxist Academy, carried a special mission from the senior lecturers: to find the Vietnamese students and realize the wish to connect teachers and students from the past.

Memories of a teacher…

Mr. Vuong Van Hoa said: "Although it has been a long time and the available clues are very limited, we hope to be able to help connect that teacher-student relationship. The deep teacher-student relationship has not faded over time and is also a valuable testament to the friendship between Vietnam and China."

According to records from the Jingdezhen Ceramics Academy, in 1958, during the period of national construction after the victory of the resistance war against France, more than 20 Vietnamese students were sent to study at the school (now in Xianghu Town, Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, China). Of these, 3 students were placed in the research class and the others were divided into regular classes to learn sculpture, enamel painting and under-enamel painting, etc.

Photo: Vietnamese students take a photo at Jingdezhen Headquarters

They were arranged separate accommodation and taught by leading Chinese ceramic artists such as Du Han Thanh, Truong Chi Thang, Ninh Lan...

Professor Ninh Lan. Photo: NVCC

The school also regularly organizes extracurricular activities such as festivals, singing and dancing on traditional Vietnamese holidays to enrich the spiritual life of Vietnamese students.

The Vietnamese students' study period in China lasted one and a half years. (a professor of Fine Arts at that time) recalled: "Vietnamese students were very diligent, listening attentively to lectures in class. On weekends, they did not go out but focused on studying in the drawing room. Their serious attitude towards life, enthusiasm for learning and will to overcome difficulties moved me and many other students in the school."

Time to say goodbye...

According to school records, in March 1961, the students completed their course and returned to Vietnam. Before leaving the school, they visited each lecturer's house to thank them and say goodbye in tears.

To ensure the safety of the delegation, the school assigned Mr. Tang Nguyen Sinh, Deputy Head of Department in charge of the delegation, to accompany the students to Muc Nam Quan border gate (now Huu Nghi Quan border gate).

In the early 1970s, a student who had studied at the school accompanied a delegation to visit China. He expressed his wish to visit the school again to see his teachers. However, at that time, the school had temporarily closed. Later, the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute was restored and renamed Jingdezhen Ceramics University.

Below are some pictures of students according to school documents:

Mrs. Vuong Anh

Mrs. Dinh Thi Han takes a photo with her husband and children.

Mr. Kim Ngoc Can

Vice President Nhan Hue Sung relied on the memories of the lecturers to rewrite information about the Vietnamese students and found a list including: Hoang Minh Cao, Vuong Anh, Kim Ngoc Can, Hoang Dao Khanh, Tran Huu Phat, Dinh Thi Han, Pham Thi Thanh Vu, Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuc, Tran Thi Thu Huong, Nguyen Thi Xam, Hoang Van Hao, Do Thi Nhu, Tran Thi Dac, Pham Thi Vuong, Mai Thi Vien, Tran Thi Phat, Tran Luc Cau, Hoang Thi Kim Khoa, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Mai Cat Phuong and Truong Duc Vinh. According to the lecturers' memories, many of these students were children or relatives of martyrs who died in the resistance war against the French.

Thoi Dai Magazine hopes that this article will reach many readers. For information related to students of Jingdezhen Ceramics Academy, China, please contact:

Reporter: Nguyen Thi Mai Thuy

Unit: Times Magazine

Phone number: 0387 929 681

Email: [email protected]

Any useful information from readers will help us complete the search and connect teachers and students in the most effective way. Sincerely thank you!

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tim-lai-ky-uc-va-tinh-thay-tro-trung-viet-208749.html