Confucian temples outside mainland China
With the spread of Confucian learning throughout East Asia, Confucian temples were also built in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.
Taiwan
Zuoying Taiwan Confucius TempleThe first Confucian Temple in Taiwan was the "Taiwan Confucian Temple" (台灣孔廟
, which was built in the period of Tungning Kingdom (1661–1683). A more recent one, the Taipei Confucius Temple (臺北市孔廟
, was begun on Wenwu Street in Taipei in 1879, torn down by Japanese in 1907, to make place for the Taipei First Girls' High School, and reerected on Dalong Street from 1925 to 1939. The new temple was designed by Wang Yi-Shun, who also oversaws its construction. The design is an example for typical Fujian temple style. Every year on September the 28th, the birthday of Confucius, city authorities hold here the Shidian Ceremony. In addition, there is a Confucian temple located in Zuoying District Kaohsiung that was completed in 1974 in the Northern Song architectural style.
Vietnam
Third courtyard of Văn Miếu in HanoiA Confucian Temple in Vietnam is called Văn Miếu. The earliest recorded Confucian Temple in Vietnam is the Temple of Literature or Van Mieu in Hanoi, established in 1070. After 1397, with the construction of schools throughout Vietnam under the Tran, Confucian temples began to spread throughout the country. Well-known Confucian temples were built in Hue, Tam Ky, Hoi An, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Bien Hoa, Vinh Long and Bac Ninh.
Korea
Outside China, the largest number of Confucian temples is found in Korea. Temples were first built during the Goryeo period (918-1392). In the time of Yi Seonggye (r. 1392-1398), it was decreed that Confucian temples should be built in all areas of the nation. Although Chinese models were followed, variations in layout and construction were common, such as the building of schools in front of temples. Korea also added its own scholars (the eighteen scholars of the East) to the Confucian pantheon.
Historically, Korea had a total of 362 temples devoted to the cult of Confucius. After World War II and the division of the country, those in the North were converted to other uses. However, many of the 232 temples in the South continued their activities (see Munmyo). In addition to temples devoted to the cult of Confucius, the Republic of Korea also has twelve Confucian family temples, two temples in private schools, and three libraries.
Japan
Confucian temples (孔子廟 kōshi-byō
were also widely built in Japan, often in conjunction with Confucian schools. The most famous is the Yushima Seido, built in 1630 during the Edo period as a private school connected with the Neo-Confucianist scholar Hayashi Razan. Originally built in Shinobi-ga-oka in Ueno, it was later moved to Yushima (Ochanomizu) by the Tokugawa Shogunate and reopened as a school of Confucianism to spread the teachings of the Hayashi school.
Other well-known Confucian temples are found in Nagasaki, Bizen (Okayama prefecture), Taku (Saga prefecture), and Naha (Okinawa prefecture).
