Confucius Temple in Nanjing

Confucius Temple in Nanjing

The Confucius Temple in Nanjing is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Confucius Temple in Nanjing is situated on the north bank of the Qinhuai River in Qinhuai District, Nanjing, along Gongyuan Street to the west of Jiangnan Gongyuan (the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall). Also known as the Nanjing Confucian Temple, Nanjing Temple of Literature, or Temple of Wenxuan King, it is a site dedicated to the worship of Confucius. It was China’s first national highest academy, one of the Four Great Temples of Confucius, a hub of ancient Chinese culture, and a gathering place of historical and cultural heritage in Jinling (Nanjing). It served not only as the educational and cultural center of Nanjing during the Ming and Qing dynasties but also as the most prominent complex of educational buildings in the southeastern provinces. It is now an important part of the Confucius Temple–Qinhuai Scenic Area.

The Confucius Temple is a grand complex of ancient architecture, primarily composed of three major sections: the Confucian Temple, the Imperial College, and the Imperial Examination Hall, covering a vast area. It features structures such as a screen wall, a ceremonial pond, memorial archways, Juxing Pavilion, Kuixing Tower, Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Hall, Mingde Hall, and Zunjing Pavilion. The Confucius Temple is renowned as a scenic highlight of the Qinhuai area and stands as a distinctive landscape district of the ancient capital Nanjing. It is the largest traditional ancient street market in China and, together with Shanghai’s City God Temple, Suzhou’s Xuanmiao Temple, and Beijing’s Tianqiao, forms one of China’s Four Great Bustling Markets.

The Confucius Temple was first built in the third year of the Xiankang era (337 AD) during the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was reconstructed as a Confucian Temple in the first year of the Jingyou era (1034 AD) of the Song Dynasty. From the Six Dynasties period through the Ming and Qing dynasties, many noble families gathered in the vicinity, giving rise to the saying “the glamour of the Six Dynasties.” Hundreds of notable figures—including military strategists, politicians, and literary giants such as Fan Li, Zhou Yu, Wang Dao, Xie An, Li Bai, Du Mu, and Wu Jingzi—created immortal achievements and penned timeless masterpieces here.

The Confucius Temple in Nanjing has been destroyed and rebuilt five times, with its last destruction occurring during the shelling by Japanese invaders in 1937. After its restoration in 1985, it has welcomed over 100 million visitors. On regular days, it receives more than 100,000 visitors daily, and this number surges to over 300,000 during holidays. It is a renowned open-air national AAAAA-level tourist attraction and a world-famous travel destination.

Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong Province) in the State of Lu. He was a thinker, educator, and statesman in the late Spring and Autumn Period, the founder of Confucianism, and one of the most influential figures in Chinese history and culture. His impact extends globally, especially across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons.

Confucius’ ancestors were from the royal family of the Shang Dynasty. His earliest known ancestor was Weizi Qi, the half-brother of the tyrant King Zhou of Shang, who inherited the Shang lineage and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation ancestor, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt the surname Kong. His fifth-generation ancestor, Kong Jiafu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled in Zou, Lu... More details about Confucius ++

Confucius Temple Community: Located within the Confucius Temple Tourist Scenic Area, the community covers an area of 0.38 square kilometers, with 2,221 households and a total population of 6,174. The area includes attractions such as the Zhanyuan Garden, Juxing Pavilion, Nanjing Qifangge Halal Restaurant, Confucius Temple specialty snacks, the Lantern Festival viewing area from Zhonghua Gate to Dongshuiguan, and the Qinhuai River Scenic Belt. It is also home to four educational institutions: Confucius Temple Primary School, Zhonghua Middle School, Finance and Economics School, and Aerospace Cadre Management College. Local landmarks and facilities include Zhuangyuanlou Hotel, Jiankang Hotel, Shanghai Grand Hotel, Urban Inn, the Third Fire Brigade, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Memorial Hall, Weihao Electric, and the Telecom Building... More details about the Confucius Temple Community ++