500-year-old Temple of Literature - Hai Phong examination school in feudal times

Xuan La Temple of Literature is located in the southwest of Doi Mountain, in Xuan La Village, Thanh Son Commune, Kien Thuy District. The Temple of Literature worships Confucius and Confucian scholars of Nghi Duong District (now Kien Thuy) during the feudal period. The Temple of Literature was recognized as a city-level historical and cultural relic in August 2010.

Xuan La Temple of Literature was built in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the Mac Dynasty took Nghi Duong as its second capital (called Duong Kinh). Xuan La Temple of Literature was considered a major examination school of Duong Kinh - the coastal capital. Xuan La Temple of Literature has undergone many renovations and repairs. In particular, in 2023, with the attention and donations of benefactors, Xuan La Temple of Literature was renovated, renovated, and new constructions including the Confucian Doctorate Stele House, Khue Van Cac, Co Van Tu, yard, surrounding walls, lake, etc.

Khue Van Cac was restored beautifully and majestically and inaugurated and put into use from August 2024.

According to the History of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, the ancient Temple of Literature is a large-scale architectural work, with a large campus and beautiful natural scenery, belonging to the level of a prefecture-level Temple of Literature. Through the ups and downs of history, the works of the ancient Temple of Literature have been destroyed, however, the physical remains of the Temple of Literature's foundation and some stone steles still remain. Therefore, some basic works of the Xuan La Temple of Literature have been restored on the ancient Temple of Literature's foundation.

The Temple of Literature was built with concrete and steel, but the traditional architectural style of the Temple of Literature still ensures the front-back layout.

The unique architecture of Xuan La Temple of Literature with the main image being the dragon.

The Temple of Literature records the names of 14 feudal doctors who originated from ancient Nghi Duong, present-day Kien Thuy.

Among the Confucian doctors whose names are recorded at the Temple of Literature, there are 7 from Le Xa village, Tu Son commune and 2 from Xuan La village, Thanh Son commune (both in Kien Thuy district).

Every year, people organize festivals at the Temple of Literature on the 18th and 19th of January and the 27th of August of the lunar calendar. On this occasion, people restore traditional cultural activities and festivals, turning the Temple of Literature into a spiritual and cultural destination for people to come and worship.

At the festival, Thanh Son commune also organized awards and presented gifts to local children who passed the entrance exams to universities across the country. Clans in Xuan La also established a fund to encourage learning and talent, making Xuan La a land of studiousness, continuing the tradition of examinations of the homeland in the past. Photo: Department of Culture and Information of Kien Thuy district