Mao Dien Temple of Literature is located in Mau Tai Village, Mao Dien Commune, Hai Phong City, near National Highway 5 and about 40 km east of Hanoi. It is one of the important historical sites representing the Confucian scholarly tradition of the former Hai Duong region. For centuries, the site has served as a place to honor sages and distinguished scholars, preserve the legacy of the imperial examination system, and uphold the tradition of learning.
The name Mao Dien is derived from Sino-Vietnamese terms. “Mao” refers to grass, fragrant grass or divination grass, while “Dien” means field. According to local historical records, the area was once characterized by extensive fields covered with fragrant grasses and was later selected as the examination site for the Hai Duong Province-level Confucian examinations. During the Tay Son period, the Temple of Literature of Hai Duong was relocated to the Mao Dien area and combined with a school and examination grounds, giving rise to the name Mao Dien Temple of Literature.
Temples of Literature are architectural institutions closely associated with Confucian culture in East Asian countries. They served both religious and educational functions, providing places to commemorate Confucius and the ancient sages while honoring successful scholars and preserving the cultural legacy of education and the imperial examination system.
History and Worship Tradition
The predecessor of Mao Dien Temple of Literature was the Temple of Literature of Hai Duong, built around the 18th century in the Van Dau area of the former Vinh Lai district, Binh Giang, Hai Duong. It was among the early provincial-level Temples of Literature established in northern Vietnam.
In 1801, the temple was relocated to its present site, on the former grounds of the school of Thuong Hong Prefecture, north of the administrative center of Hai Duong. The complex was constructed and expanded with a number of important buildings, and the work was completed on the 26th day of the seventh lunar month in the year Tan Dau.
Under the Nguyen Dynasty, the temple underwent major restoration campaigns. The restoration carried out from the 6th day of the tenth lunar month in the year Binh Dan (1806) to the 5th day of the eighth lunar month in the year Dinh Mao (1807) completed a number of important structures, including the Bai Duong, Rear Sanctuary, Khai Thanh Shrine, East and West Houses, school buildings, the Bell Tower, the Stone Chime Pavilion and the Khue Van Pavilion. In the fourth year of Emperor Minh Mang’s reign (1823), the temple was restored again.
In earlier periods, the worship arrangement at Mao Dien followed the model of the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy in Hanoi. The main altar in the Rear Sanctuary was dedicated to Confucius, while the two sides honored Yan Hui, Zisi, Mencius and Zengzi, four prominent disciples and successors in the Confucian tradition.
From 2002, the worship system was reorganized to include, alongside Confucius, eight eminent Vietnamese scholars who achieved high ranks in the imperial examinations. Bronze statues of Confucius, Chu Van An, Mac Dinh Chi, Nguyen Trai and Nguyen Binh Khiem were installed, while ancestral tablets were dedicated to four other distinguished figures: Tue Tinh, Vu Huu, Pham Su Menh and Nguyen Thi Due. This arrangement reflects the long-standing tradition of valuing education, scholarship and talent in the former Hai Duong region.
During the 20th century, the temple was affected by war and suffered considerable deterioration. In 1947, many of its structures were still relatively intact, and annual sacrificial ceremonies continued to be held in spring and autumn. Restoration and conservation efforts were carried out in 1994 and 1999, followed by more extensive restoration from 2002 onward, gradually recovering the site’s traditional architectural appearance and spatial organization.
Architecture and Main Structures
After numerous restoration and conservation projects, Mao Dien Temple of Literature developed into a large architectural complex comprising the Temple Gate, Tho Co Shrine, the Doctoral Stele Houses, Thien Quang Well, two historic stele houses, the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, East and West Houses, Bai Duong, Rear Sanctuary and Khai Thanh Shrine.
Tho Co Shrine is dedicated to the local Earth Deity according to traditional folk beliefs. After the original structure was destroyed during the war, local residents rebuilt a small shrine. The building follows a Dinh-shaped layout, consisting of a Front Sanctuary and Rear Sanctuary. It uses ironwood and a traditional wooden frame with cầu kèo and tru bang structural elements.
The Temple Gate was reconstructed in 1995 on its original foundation, following the architectural model of the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy in Hanoi. It consists of a central gate and two side gates. The central gate, standing about 5.7 meters high, is taller than the side gates and has upper and lower sections. At its center is an arched entrance with two carved wooden doors, while the sides feature windows decorated with the Chinese character “Tho,” symbolizing longevity. The front and rear facades are decorated with relief panels depicting the Four Sacred Animals. Above the central gate are four Chinese characters, “Nguong Di Chi Cao,” expressing reverence for lofty ideals and moral excellence.
The two Doctoral Stele Houses were built in 2002. Each is a seven-bay ironwood structure with a traditional layered wooden frame and tiled roof. The stele system includes two stones introducing the history of the Temple of Literature and its restoration, together with twelve steles recording the names of Confucian doctoral laureates from Hai Duong between 1075 and 1919. These steles constitute an important part of the site’s scholarly and examination heritage.
Thien Quang Well originally consisted of two ponds constructed at the same time as the temple in 1801. In 2002, the area was redesigned after the model of Thien Quang Well at the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy in Hanoi. A stone bridge was built in the middle, with surrounding balustrades and walking paths.
Two historic stele houses stand on either side of Thien Quang Well and preserve valuable records concerning the construction and restoration of the temple. Among the surviving inscriptions are the stele titled “Tan Dau Trung Thu Coc Nhat Tao” and the “Stele Inscription on the Restoration of the Temple of Literature,” which records the major restoration carried out in 1806–1807 and the completion of many important structures. The latter stele was erected in the eighth lunar month of the ninth year of Emperor Gia Long’s reign (1810).
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower were reconstructed in ironwood using a double-tiered roof configuration with eight roof planes. In 2004, a bronze bell weighing approximately 1,040 kg was cast for the complex. The structure originally known as the Stone Chime Pavilion was used to house a stone chime. After the old chime was damaged, it was replaced by a large ceremonial drum, and the building was renamed the Drum Tower.
The East and West Houses were built at the same time as the Temple of Literature. They were once gathering places for civil and military officials before ceremonies honoring Confucius and the ancient sages. The two buildings are similar in scale, each consisting of five bays and featuring ironwood frames with traditional structural elements. After reconstruction, they were adapted for use as a Traditional Heritage House and reception spaces.
The Bai Duong and Rear Sanctuary are the principal worship buildings of the temple. They stand behind a spacious brick-paved courtyard and are arranged in a two-building, Dinh-shaped composition with a double-roof configuration. Both face south and consist of seven bays constructed mainly of ironwood. Their columns, beams and wooden frames are decorated with stylized floral motifs and swirling patterns. Between 2002 and 2004, the structural systems were repaired and the decorative surfaces restored with traditional lacquer and gilding, helping recover the solemn character of the worship space.
Behind the Rear Sanctuary is the Hau Cham area. According to traditional feng shui principles, a place dedicated to sages should have a raised area behind it as a supporting element. Because the temple site is relatively flat, an artificial earth mound was created behind the main buildings. In 2007, Hau Cham was raised and developed into an area known as Tam Son.
Khai Thanh Shrine was constructed in 1806–1807 under Emperor Gia Long. It was dedicated to the parents of Confucius, Shu Lianghe and Yan Zhengzai. The original structure was completely destroyed during wartime and was later reconstructed on its former foundation.
In addition to its architectural structures, Mao Dien Temple of Literature preserves a number of notable artifacts, including a stone incense burner, a stone chime and historic stone steles. Together, these objects provide further evidence of the site’s long history as a center of Confucian worship and scholarship.
Heritage Value and Traditional Festival
With its system of historic architecture, examination steles and significant cultural and historical values, Mao Dien Temple of Literature was recognized by the Prime Minister as a Special National Relic under Decision No. 2082/QD-TTg dated December 25, 2017.
Today, Mao Dien Temple of Literature remains an important heritage site associated with the Confucian and scholarly traditions of the former Hai Duong region. It preserves the memory of a historic center of education and imperial examinations while serving as a cultural and spiritual space dedicated to Confucius, Vietnamese scholars and distinguished figures.
Traditional festivals are held at the temple in spring and autumn, with the main festival taking place in the second lunar month. Ceremonial rites and cultural activities commemorate earlier generations, promote respect for teachers and learning, and encourage the pursuit of knowledge.
Through its architecture, inscriptions, worship traditions and scholarly heritage, Mao Dien Temple of Literature continues to represent the enduring legacy of education, scholarship and the culture of learning in the historic land of Hai Duong.
