Chu Van An was born in 1292 in Quang Liet commune, Thanh Dam district (now Thanh Liet village, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi). He was a teacher, physician, and mandarin under the Tran dynasty. According to Dai Viet's full history, Chu Van An is "stubborn, straightforward, clean, not seeking profit". He stayed at home reading, educated well, famous near and far, "students are full of doors, often some people pass college".Dictionary of Vietnamese historical figures written Chu Van An is a good teacher but strict, a talented judge of students and hates greedy and rich trusted people. His students had many excellent people who contributed to the country such as Pham Su Manh, Le Quat, two great officials of the Tran Dynasty. During his time, he was recognized by the people as "Van The monk", which means the eternal standard teacher of Vietnam.

Chu Van An's real name is Chu An, his name is Tieu An, his name is Linh Triet and his name is Van Trinh. According to the legend of Thanh Liet village communal house, where he was worshiped as a tutelary god, he was born in Nham Thin (1292) and died in Canh Tuat (1370). He was a teacher, a physician and a mandarin of the Tran dynasty, and was conferred the title of Van Trinh Cong, so later he called him Chu Van An. He was from Van Thon village, Quang Liet commune, Thanh Dam district (now Thanh Tri district, a suburb of Hanoi). Chu Van An was known as an upright person when he was young, he was clean, kept secret, did not seek fame and fortune, just stayed at home to read books. After passing the exam, Thai student was a righteous man, so he did not go to work as an official, only at home to open a teaching school in Huynh Cung village, across the To Lich river. He has made great contributions to propagating and educating Confucian moral thought into Vietnam. Students are very crowded. Among his followers, there were many successful people who passed the examination to become a major official in the court such as Pham Su Manh and Le Ba Quat. When they returned to visit him, he still observed the ceremony, and he was very happy to receive a few words from his teacher. There are old students not good, he frankly rebuked, even scolded for not meeting. His seriousness, dignity, and extensive education made his reputation spread further and further. His virtue and prestige thus made the pupils come to study as much and have all kinds.