Vietnam: The main altar, Altar to Confucius, Great House of Ceremonies, Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), Hanoi. The Temple of Literature or Van Mieu is one of Vietnam's foremost cultural treasures. Founded in 1070 by King Ly Thanh Tong of the Early Ly Dynasty, the temple was originally dedicated both to Confucius and to Chu Cong, a member of the Chinese royal family credited with originating many of the teachings that Confucius developed five hundred years later. The site was selected by Ly Dynasty geomancers to stand in harmony with the Taoist Bich Cau temple.