Jingning Confucius Temple

Jingning Confucius Temple

Jingning Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Jingning Confucius Temple is located in Hexi Town, Jingning County, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

Jingning Confucius Temple was built in the third year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty (1452), about a li to the northwest of the county seat. It features a symmetrical structure and covers an area of 990 square meters. After several relocations, it was moved to its current site, where it has stood for 564 years.

During the modern era, Jingning Confucius Temple suffered many hardships and withstood numerous challenges. In 2009, the Jingning She Autonomous County Party Committee and County Government decided to fully renovate the temple. Following historical records and preserving the original architectural style, the project was meticulously designed and constructed. Construction began on October 28, 2010, and included the restoration of the Yilu (Righteous Path), Limen (Ritual Gate), Lingxing Gate (Screen Wall), Pan Pond, Zhuangyuan Bridge, East and West Side Halls (Wing Rooms), Dacheng Gate, and Dacheng Hall. Ancient relics that were excavated or preserved were also returned to their original placements. The project took one year and was completed in 2011.

Newly restored, Jingning Confucius Temple stands proudly on Hexi Street, bathed in morning and evening light, with its red walls, grey tiles, carved railings, and painted beams exuding grandeur. Backed by the Stone Seal Mountain and facing the Muhe Creek, it blends harmoniously with the ancient town of Hexi and its quaint streets and buildings, shining brightly and reviving the timeless charm of old Hexi.

Jingning Confucius Temple is the only well-preserved Confucian temple within the city limits of Lishui. Over its more than 500-year history, it has safeguarded the cultural heritage of the ancient She ethnic region and has become an important cultural relic and key symbol of Jingning. The Third National Cultural Relics Survey noted: “Jingning Confucius Temple boasts a grand architectural scale and exquisite components, making it of high research value for the study of feudal official architecture and the inheritance of Confucian culture.”

On January 13, 2017, the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province listed it as part of the seventh batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units