290 years Tran Bien Confucius Temple Anniversary (1715 - 2005): Tran Bien Temple – Establishment of a region’s cultural – political position

According to “Gia Đinh Town’s General Chronicle” edited by Trinh Hoai Đuc at the beginning of the century XIX (Translation of Tu Trai Nguyen Tao, published in 1972), Tran Bien Confucius Temple was built at Tan Lai hamlet, Phuoc Chanh district (now Buu Long ward, Bien Hoa city) in the reign of Hien Tong at At Vi 25th (1715). Tran Bien Confucius Temple was restored 2 times in the year Giap Dan (1794) and the year Tu Đuc 5th (1852). According to books of history and legends, Tran Bien Confucius Temple was built on a nice position with “pretty land and fresh vegetation… In the temple, pillars were carved sophisticatedly… A hundred flowers were green. There were abounding in such trees as cay tong, orange, mandarin, grapefruit, hoa su, jackfruit, mango, and banana and sapodilla plum with luxuriant and big fruit.”   

Tran Bien Confucius Temple was built while Bien Hoa - Đong Nai was quite stable on politics and socio-economic situation was developing with great streets, official residences… etc. Founding the temple is to establish the region’s cultural – political position and at the same time to proceed Thang Long Confucius Temple and learning esteem tradition, tradition of treating well intellectuals, talents through centuries building a independent and self-control country. At that time, Tran Bien Confucius Temple connected closely an education base, which is developed so early at Bien Hoa - Đong Nai. On this one, it generated much fame, which is famous in the Southward land. At the same time, they also have beautified our nation’s culture tradition through thousand years. They are Vo Truong Toan, Trinh Hoai Đuc, Ngo Nhan Tinh, Le Quang Đinh, Nguyen Đinh Chieu...     

Tran Bien Confucius Temple was devastated without any trace due to time and historical changes. According to “Bien Hoa’s historical summary” of Researcher Luong Van Luu, when French army attacked and occupied Bien Hoa in the year 1861, they burnt and destroyed Tran Bien Confucius Temple. Nowadays, we only can imagine ancient Tran Bien Confucius Temple over books of history and legends. However, with what described and praised by the people at that time, Bien Hoa – Đong Nai nowadays is very proud of our temple.    

In construction plan of Đong Nai‘s cultural institutions, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee guided to build again Tran Bien Confucius Temple on the occasion of 300 years Bien Hoa – Đong Nai anniversary. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 9th December 1998 and the Phase 1’s completion ceremony was on the third day of Nham Ngo 2002 festival (on 14th Feb 2002). In 290 years Tran Bien Confucius Temple anniversary, the Phase 2 of Tran Bien Confucius Temple project is continued to build and expand used area.

Reproducing Tran Bien Confucius Temple is not only to be directed toward the original point and the tradition, to meet our people’s desire but also to conserve and develop cultural values. This one aims to build one Vietnamese culture foundation how to be advanced and bold on national identity in accordance with the Party’s Central Resolution V (Term VIII).

Tran Bien Confucius Temple was built again on traditional form, but it presents new representation on educational culture and learning esteem spirit in accordance with our Party and State ‘s viewpoint, guideline. The temple is a place where preserves and respects education’s cultural values of our nation and province before and now. At the same time, the one is also a culture – tourism institution connected closely Buu Long – one beauty of nature is recognized as place of national interest. Besides to worshipping cultural and educational celebrities before and now, the temple is a place where organizes meetings to report works and commend talents in all fields. From the completion ceremony in year 2002 to now, Tran Bien Confucius Temple usually holds predecessor visits and organizes meetings to report works, commend and reward special achievements that Đong Nai‘s committee of a party and people obtained in all fields, especially in cultural – educational field. Additionally, the temple received many guest delegations inside and outside province. The international guest delegations also visited Tran Bien Confucius Temple when they were in Đong Nai.        

With these above form, content and new activities, Tran Bien Confucius Temple are also a big mental motive. It presents desire that the province‘s party committee and people want to develop intelligence and talent in order to boost economic and mental culture living development and to carry out industrialization and modernization progress successfully in Bien Hoa – Đong Nai area.