Upper Temple
Introduction
The Upper Temple was built around the 17th–18th centuries. It worships Saint Van Xuong De Quan (the saint of literature and examinations in Confucianism), with co-worship of Tan Vien Son Thanh and Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh.
The temple has three compartments and two lean-tos, with four curved roof corners, a wooden frame with four rows of columns, and a system of panel doors. In the past, Confucian students in feudal times often came here to eat and sleep (eating vegetarian food and praying) in the hope of passing examinations, and it was also once a meeting place for the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc movement.
The temple is designed in the shape of the character SỸ (士), which originates from the ancestors' respect for talented people and honoring scholars, and also because the temple was built to worship Lord Van Xuong De Quan and Lord Quan Thanh De Quan. To date, the temple has undergone many repairs and renovations; the largest and most recent was the restoration in the Canh Thin year of 2000, when the temple was almost entirely restored. Next to the temple there used to be a bell tower, but through the ups and downs of history it is now only ruins.
Currently, the temple still preserves many ancient artifacts: a stone stele dating from the 18th century, a dragon throne, couplets, and horizontal plaques dating from the 19th century, etc.
