In 1076, Vietnam's first university, the Quoc Tu Giam or Imperial Academy, was established within the temple to educate Vietnam's bureaucrats, nobles, royalty and members of the elite. The university functioned for more than 700 years, from 1076 to 1779. These are 82 stones steles which sit upon stone turtles and are inscribed with the names and birth places of 1306 men who were awarded doctorates from the triennial examinations held here at the Quoc Tu Giam between 1484 and 1780.