A photo taken on October 26, 2021 shows the Dacheng Hall at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province, China. /CFP
The Confucius Temple in Qufu in Shandong Province, China, and the Van Mieu, or the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Vietnam, are both temples dedicated to Confucius (551-479 BC), a Chinese educator and philosopher who founded Confucianism, a school of thought that profoundly influenced later generations.
Tourists visit the Van Mieu in Hanoi, Vietnam on July 4, 2023. /IC
Built in 1070 in the Chinese style, the Van Mieu in Hanoi features a plaque with an inscription by the Kangxi Emperor (1654-1722) from China's Qing Dynasty praising Confucius as the "Sacred Model Teacher for Ten Thousand Generations."
A grand ceremony is held to commemorate the 2,570th anniversary of Confucius' birth at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province, China on September 28, 2019. /CFP
The Confucius Temple in Qufu was built in 478 BC in the hometown of Confucius and has been expanded and renovated by almost all the imperial dynasties since then, making it the largest temple in China where Confucius is worshipped. The temple and the neighboring Kong Family Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
People visit the Van Mieu in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 10, 2019 during the Tet Nguyen Dan holiday. A plaque in the temple carries the Kangxi Emperor's inscription praising Confucius as the "Sacred Model Teacher for Ten Thousand Generations." /CFP
Grand ceremonies to commemorate Confucius are held every year at the Van Mieu during Tet Nguyen Dan, the traditional New Year, while the Confucius Temple in Qufu holds commemorative ceremonies in September on the birthday of Confucius.