Tran Ich Phat was an extraordinary educator in Vietnamese history, with an impressive record of 74 students who achieved the highest academic honors, ranging from doctors to top-ranking scholars.
According to the book Dai Nam Nhat Tong Chi, Tran Ich Phat lived during the Le So period of the Later Le dynasty (1428-1527). However, his exact birth and death dates remain unknown.
Based on current historical sources, Teacher Tran Ich Phat was born in Tieu Duong village, Chi Linh district, in what is now Hai Duong province. He grew up in a poverty-stricken family, rarely experiencing the comfort of a full stomach.
Among Tran Ich Phat’s students, an astonishing three attained the rank of top-ranking scholar, four earned the title of bang nhan (the second-highest honor), six became tham hoa (the third-highest honor), ten were hoang giap (the fourth-highest honor), and a remarkable 51 achieved the title of doctor.
All three of the top-ranking scholars were disciples of Teacher Tran Ich Phat: Vu Kiet, who earned the title in 1472; Tran Sung Dinh, in 1487; and Nghiem Vien, in 1496.
Another remarkable aspect is that the majority of Tran Ich Phat’s students achieved these honors at a very young age. For instance, Vu Kiet became a top-ranking scholar at just 21 years old, while Tran Sung Dinh was only 23, and Than Canh Van earned the title of tham hoa at the age of 25.
Most of Tran Ich Phat’s students attained their academic successes during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (1460-1497), a period marked by the flourishing of education and academic pursuits.
According to the book Nhung Nguoi Thay Trong Su Viet (The Teachers in Vietnamese History), all three of the aforementioned top-ranking scholars were part of the Tao Dan Nhi Thap Bat Tu, a group of 28 distinguished scholars established by King Le Thanh Tong himself.
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