Trấn Biên Literature Temple

Văn Miếu Trấn Biên is a Confucian temple located in Biên Hòa, Vietnam, the capital city of the Đồng Nai Province. The temple was first built in 1715 in the area of Đàng Trong. The Văn Miếu Trấn Biên was soon demolished by French colonies in 1861, and was later restored into its original location in 2002.HistoryEstablishmentIn 1715, Nguyễn Phúc Chu, a Vietnamese warlord, sent a request to Governor Nguyễn Phan Long and Phạm Khánh Đức to build the Văn Miếu Trấn Biên to have a place to promote, preserve, and honor Confucian cultural values. The temple was first built in Cochin, before other temples were built in Vĩnh Long, Gia Định, and Huế. Similar to the Văn Miếu in Huế and the Văn Miếu in Hanoi, the temple's purpose is to teach young students, and was built near many Biên Hòa provincial schools. Thus, in addition to a place of worship, the Văn Miếu Trấn Biên serves as a place of culture and education.RestorationThe Văn Miếu Trấn Biên has undergone many restoration projects, being rebuilt twice during the Nguyễn dynasty, and then restored again in 1998 after the French destroyed the historical site. The first "phase" of the 1998 restoration project began during Tet 2002, while the second phase is still under construction.