Definition

1. Noun:
   • Interprovincial competition-examination (before the Nguyễn dynasty era): "Hương cống" refers to the triennial provincial-level Confucian civil service examination held in pre-modern Vietnam. Passing this exam conferred the title of "cử nhân" (bachelor, licentiate).
   • A successful candidate of the "hương cống" examination: The term also refers to the scholar who achieved the degree of "cử nhân" by passing this exam.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông cụ ấy từng đỗ hương cống dưới thời Lê trung hưng. (That old gentleman once passed the interprovincial competition-examination during the Revival Lê dynasty.)
  • Danh sách các vị hương cống được khắc trên bia đá tại Văn Miếu. (The list of successful licentiates is engraved on stone steles at the Temple of Literature.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "hương cống" is an archaic, historical term. It is primarily used in historical texts, discussions, or literature referring to Vietnam's feudal examination system and scholar-gentry class before the Nguyễn dynasty reforms.
• The examination and title were replaced by the term "cử nhân" (bachelor) starting from the reign of Emperor Gia Long of the Nguyễn dynasty (early 19th century).

Variants and Related Words

• Cử nhân (n): Bachelor, Licentiate. The term that succeeded "hương cống".
  • Sau cải cách, học vị tương đương được gọi là cử nhân. (After the reform, the equivalent academic degree was called bachelor.)
• Thi hương (n): The provincial examination itself (the event).
  • Kỳ thi hương được tổ chức ba năm một lần tại các trấn. (The provincial examination was held once every three years in the regions.)

Synonyms

• Licentiate (n): (Archaic) A person who holds a license to practice a profession, used in historical context for "hương cống".
• Provincial graduate (n): A descriptive term for a scholar who passed the provincial exam.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Đỗ đạt cao: To achieve a high academic degree (in the feudal examination system). While not containing "hương cống," it describes the achievement.
  • Cụ tổ nhà tôi từng đỗ đạt cao, từng là hương cống. (My ancestor achieved high academic success, having been a licentiate.)

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) Interprovincial competition-examination (trước
   • thời nhà Nguyễn)