Taixing Confucius Temple

Taixing Confucius Temple

The Taixing Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Taixing Confucius Temple (also known as the Academy) is located slightly northeast of the center of the ancient city of Taixing. This area is rich in cultural heritage and represents the thousand-year intellectual and cultural vein of Taixing. It is also the most vibrant part of the ancient city. To the east of Little South Sea, the site stretches narrowly from north to south, bordered by the Inner City Moat to the north and Xianhe Bay to the south. Waterways run along both the east and west sides, and the Confucius Temple is surrounded by water, seemingly standing on the water. On the eastern shore of Little South Sea, the northern section of the Confucius Temple site is surrounded by water on three sides, resembling a peninsula in the water. Moreover, it is situated at the dragon-head position of the ancient city of Taixing, and its shape resembles a dragon’s head — a marvel of natural craftsmanship. This peninsula is hailed as the “Dragon Head Island.” The Confucius Temple was an ancient site where scholars and gentry worshipped Confucius.

A sacred site of Confucian culture. The temple’s proximity to the county government office, the center of political power, reflects the dominant position of Confucian thought in ancient China. The Confucius Temple is also called the Academy because it served as a place of higher learning for scholars in ancient times. In its heyday, the Taixing Confucius Temple was grand in scale and fully equipped, with major structures including the Kunhua Pond, Kuwen Pavilion, memorial archway, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Chongsheng Shrine, and Zunjing Pavilion. Viewed from above, these buildings are laid out like the traditional Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper), presenting a unique and creative design. Today, the Dacheng Hall and the surrounding ancient waterways are still preserved. The important cultural sites such as the county government office and the Confucius Temple are all encircled by water, reflecting Taixing’s identity as a city built on and by the water. This also illustrates the Taixing people’s love and appreciation for water — “Ta” (peace) as it appears, and “Xing” (prosperity) within its meaning, which further affirms the significance of the name “Taixing.”

In March 2019, the Taixing Confucius Temple was included in the eighth batch of cultural relic protection units of Jiangsu Province.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province