Organizing a workshop to preserve and promote the value of Dien Khanh Temple of Literature relic

VHO - On October 7, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Khanh Hoa province said it is actively implementing the Workshop on Cultural and Historical Values ​​of Dien Khanh Temple of Literature. Scheduled to take place on October 12, 2025, the Workshop aims to comprehensively assess and propose effective solutions to preserve and promote the value of this historical relic.

The death anniversary of Duc Kho Tu at Dien Khanh Temple of Literature. Photo: TTBTDSVH

The workshop will focus on a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the Dien Khanh Temple of Literature, analyzing the characteristics, values ​​and types of Vietnamese Temples of Literature under the Nguyen Dynasty along with issues arising in the contemporary context.

From there, the Workshop will clarify the role of Dien Khanh Temple of Literature in education and community development, combined with consulting management experiences from other local units.

The ultimate goal is to propose solutions to preserve and promote the value of relics in the development of education and tourism in Khanh Hoa, and at the same time provide important directions in the management and organization of festival activities at the Temple of Literature.

According to the Center for Cultural Heritage Conservation of Khanh Hoa province, Dien Khanh Temple of Literature worships Confucius, Tu Phoi (4 excellent students who were most loved by Confucius and were worshiped with him: Nhan Hoi, Tang Sam, Khong Cap, and Mang Kha), Thap Triet (10 sages who contributed to Confucianism: Man Tu Khien, Tu Truong, Te Du, Nhiem Huu, Ngon Yen, Nhiem Canh, Nhiem Ung, Trong Do, Boc Thuong, and Doan Moc Tu)...

Dien Khanh Temple of Literature is located on a large, flat land, with a total area of ^{​​1,500m2} , belonging to Phu Loc Tay 1 Residential Group, Dien Khanh Town, Dien Khanh District (old), now Dien Khanh Commune, Khanh Hoa Province. When it was first built, the Temple of Literature had the following architectural works: the Main Temple and the Khai Thanh Temple, roofed with thatched grass.

In 1849, the Temple of Literature was renovated, the thatched roof was replaced with a tiled roof and the Ta Vu, Huu Vu, Khai Mieu, Quan Cu, Tu Mieu were built on a very large and solid scale. In 1959, the Temple of Literature was rebuilt on the old foundation in Phu Loc village, but on a smaller scale, including: the outer Nghi Mon gate and citadel wall, the inner Nghi Mon gate, the stele house (Thach Bi Dinh), the temple yard, the flagpole, the East house, the West house (Ta Vu - Huu Vu), Bai Duong, and the Main Palace.

Leaders of Khanh Hoa Province Cultural Heritage Conservation Center awarded scholarships to studious students. Photo: Center for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Basically, the structure of the main chamber and the worshiping hall were moved from Van Chi Phuoc Dien, with the addition of Ta Vu and Huu Vu in the style of a three-room house. The walls were built with bricks, without lean-tos.

The roof was covered with yin-yang tiles, later restored and replaced with western tiles; the wooden door system was closed in a panel style, replacing the ancient upper-slit and lower-panel style; Khai Mieu, Quan Cu and Tu Mieu were not restored.

In 2008, from the National Target Program fund of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the budget of Khanh Hoa province, the Dien Khanh Temple of Literature was restored to its original structure in 1959.

During the Nguyen Dynasty, Dien Khanh Temple of Literature was one of six places of worship in Khanh Hoa province that were listed as "International". The feudal government organized the ceremony: A ninth-rank official was assigned to look after it, under the direct management of the Governor of Education.

Assisting him were four ceremonial servants and 30 carefully selected temple servants. The temple servants were exempted from other miscellaneous levies and duties. Those chosen to be temple servants were mostly from Truong Lac, while the station servants were mostly from Phuoc Thanh and Phu Loc villages.

Every year, the relic management board organizes the Saint's Birthday (birth anniversary on the 27th day of the 8th lunar month) and Saint's Death Anniversary (death anniversary on the 18th day of the 4th lunar month) of Confucius.

From 2004 to present, Dien Khanh Temple of Literature has maintained the awarding ceremony, granting "Encouraging learning, encouraging talent" scholarships to poor and excellent students of Dien Khanh district and Khanh Hoa province on the "Saint's death anniversary" ceremony. The funding source is mobilized by the Management Board from benefactors, Khanh Hoa Provincial Learning Promotion Association and Dien Khanh District Learning Promotion Association (old).

Dien Khanh Temple of Literature relic was ranked as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in Decision No. 04/1998/QD-BVHTT dated October 15, 1998.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/to-chuc-hoi-thao-bao-ton-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-tich-van-mieu-dien-khanh-172998.html