With the spread of Confucian learning throughout East Asia, Confucian temples were also built in
Vietnam,
Korea, and
Japan. Starting in the 18th century, some were even built in Europe and the Americas. At their height, there are estimated to have been over 3,000 Confucian temples in existence.
Hong Kong The bill allowing for the building of the very first Confucian temple in Hong Kong, proposed by the
Confucian Academy, passed in September 2013. The location of the temple was decided to be near the famous Taoist temple,
Wong Tai Sin Temple, in
Wong Tai Sin District.
Taiwan The first Confucian temple in
Taiwan to be constructed was the
Taiwan Confucian Temple, which was built during the period of the
Tungning Kingdom in 1665 in
Tainan. A more recent temple, the
Taipei Confucius Temple, was built on Wenwu Street in
Taipei in 1879, torn down by Japanese in 1907 to make place for the
Taipei First Girls' High School, and re-erected on Dalong Street from 1925 to 1939. The new temple was designed by Wang Yi-Shun, who also oversaw its construction. The design is an example of typical
Fujian temple style. Every year on September 28, the birthday of Confucius, city authorities hold the Shidian () Ceremony here. In addition, there is a
Confucian temple located in
Zuoying District of
Kaohsiung that was completed in 1974 in the Northern Song architectural style. Other Confucian temples are found in
Chiayi City,
Taipei,
Taichung and
Changhua County.
Vietnam A Confucian temple in Vietnam is called
Văn Miếu. The earliest recorded Văn Miếu in Vietnam is the
Văn Miếu, Hanoi, established in 1070 during the
Lý dynasty. After 1397, with the construction of schools throughout Vietnam under the
Tran, Confucian temples began to spread throughout the country. Another renowned Vietnamese Confucian temple is the
Văn Miếu, Hưng Yên, located in
Hưng Yên City. Well-known Confucian temples were built in
Huế,
Tam Kỳ,
Hội An,
Hưng Yên,
Hải Dương,
Biên Hòa,
Vĩnh Long and
Bắc Ninh.
Korea Outside China, the largest number of Confucian temples is found in Korea. Temples as part of schools were first built during the
Goryeo period (918–1392). From the time of
Yi Seonggye (r. 1392–1398), Confucianism underpinned the new dynasty and its government. Thus government Confucian schools () were built throughout
Joseon to educate future government officials in Confucianism. These consisted of a building for teaching, together with a building () which housed the memorial tablets of Confucius. 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 (the five sages). Historically, Korea had a total of 362 temples devoted to Confucianism. After
World War II and the division of the country, those in the North were converted to use as a center of traditional culture (see
Gukjagam). However, some of the 232 temples in the South continued their activities (see
Munmyo). In addition to temples devoted to Confucianism the
Republic of Korea also has twelve Confucian family temples, two temples in private schools, and three libraries.
Japan were also widely built in Japan, often in conjunction with Confucian schools. The most famous is the
Yushima Seidō, 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 moved at the end of the 18th century near present-day
Ochanomizu by the
Tokugawa Shogunate, and a major state-sponsored school, Shoheikō, was opened on its grounds. Other well-known Confucian temples are found in
Nagasaki,
Bizen,
Okayama prefecture;
Taku,
Saga prefecture; and
Naha,
Okinawa prefecture.
Indonesia Confucian temples are also found in Indonesia, where they are often known as "Churches of Confucius" as Confucianism is a recognised religion in that country. In Chinese, these establishments are known as
litang () or "halls of worship". The largest and oldest is the
Boen Bio in
Surabaya, originally built in the city's
Chinatown in 1883 and moved to a new site in 1907. There are reportedly more than 100 Confucianist halls of worship throughout Indonesia.
Malaysia The first Confucian temple in Malaysia was built within a primary school known as
Chung Hwa Confucian School (which has since split into SJK(C) Chung Hwa Confucian A, B and
SMJK Chung Hwa Confucian) in
Penang, in the early 20th century. The building of the school was initiated by the
Qing dynasty ambassador to the British
Straits Settlement at that time. In those days parents in Penang brought their children to this temple for prayer before they began their schooling. The children prayed for excellence in their studies. There are also two Confucian schools in
Kuala Lumpur, namely SMJK Confucian and Confucian Private School, and a Confucian school in
Malacca where ceremonies in honour of Confucius are held annually. == List of temples ==