Xich Dang temple of literature in Hung Yen city is the second oldest, afterQuoc Tu Giam Temple of Literature in Hanoi. The establishment of temples ofliterature reflected Vietnamese people’s fondness of learning.
Xich Dang temple of literature wasconstructed in 1804. However, in 1839, the building was renovated with thecurrent beautiful and large scale. After more than 200 years, its architectureremains intact.
Covering 6,000 square metres, Xich Dang temple of literature consists of a three-doorentrance gate and a crossroad where examinations were held to select talented scholars.An ancient bronze bell and a musical stone built in the 18th centuryare among precious artifacts that remain undamaged.
The main area of Xich Dang Temple of Literature was built based on the imperialpalace’s architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).
Visiting the temple, Nguyen Thi Hue said she prayed for successesin work and life.
Xich Dang Temple of Literature is the place to worship Confucius – the founderof Confucianism. Moreover, the middle of the room is a place to worship Chu VanAn, a talent and moral teacher of the Tran Dynasty that ruled from 1225 to 1440,and known as the “the ancestor of Confucianism in Vietnam”.
There are nine stone steles preserved here. These steles were inscribed withthe names of 161 talented scholars in the locality, manifesting the studiousspirit of local people.
Bearing long-standing values of national history, Xich Dang Temple ofLiterature along with other works across the country have become a culturalsymbol honouring the nation’s intellectual elite.-VNA