Confucius Temple Museum

Confucius Temple Museum

The Confucius Temple Museum is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tianjin Confucius Temple Museum is situated on Dongmenli Street in Nankai District, Tianjin. It was first built in the first year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1436), when Zhu Sheng, the commander of the Tianjin Guard, donated his residence to establish the academy, constructing the initial lecture halls and administrative offices. By the twelfth year of the Zhengtong era (1447), the Dacheng Hall was completed, and the site was initially called the Wei School, functioning as both the official educational institution and a temple honoring Confucius in Tianjin. Later, in the third year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1725), the Tianjin Guard was upgraded to Tianjin Prefecture, and in the ninth year of Yongzheng (1731), the prefecture was further elevated to a fu (higher-level administrative division), with Tianjin County also established. The Wei School was then renamed the Prefecture School. In the twelfth year of Yongzheng (1734), the County School was added on both sides of the Prefecture School, creating a layout where the Prefecture and County Schools stood side by side. Subsequently, the Minglun Hall was expanded on the east side of the Prefecture School, covering an area of 13,000 square meters with a construction area of over 3,000 square meters. The Confucius Temple is the most intact and grandest ancient architectural complex remaining in the Tianjin area. Also known as the Kong Temple, it is a shrine dedicated to honoring and commemorating Confucius. As it stands in contrast to the Martial Temple, which venerates legendary military heroes, it is called the "Civil Temple" or Wenmiao. The Confucius Temple also served as the location of the local academy in Tianjin. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple underwent multiple renovations and expansions, with significant construction projects taking place during the Ming dynasties of Tianshun and Wanli, and the Qing dynasties of Kangxi and Qianlong, gradually forming its current scale. The layout of the Confucius Temple follows the traditional Chinese quadrangle palace system. From south to north, it consists of the Ten Thousand Ren Palace Wall (screen wall), Pan Pond, Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Chongsheng Shrine, and side halls on the east and west. Some of the building names are unique to the Confucius Temple. For example, the Pan Pond is a semi-circular pool with a stone bridge, originating from the “Bi Yong” (a legendary round roofed school surrounded by water) described in the Rites of Zhou. It symbolically represents the highest seat of learning. In the Qing Dynasty, those who passed the imperial examination to become Xiucai (a degree roughly equivalent to a bachelor) were said to have “entered the Pan.” The Lingxing Gate is a memorial archway standing firmly with four soaring pillars. Legend says that Lingxing is the celestial deity governing literature and education. Passing through the Lingxing Gate is believed to invoke the protection of this deity. The Dacheng Hall is the main structure of the Tianjin Confucius Temple Museum, located at the center of the temple complex. It is the principal hall for Confucius worship, completed in the twelfth year of the Zhengtong era (1447). Inside the hall are plaques enshrining Confucius as well as Mencius, Yan Hui, and other notable disciples and sages, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Confucian teachings with a gathering of scholars. In the past, the annual Confucius worship ceremony was held here, making it the focal point of the ritual. According to old customs in Tianjin, ceremonies for Confucius were held twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn according to the lunar calendar. On the 27th day of the eighth lunar month, Confucius’s birthday, all schools would close, and students would collectively pay respects to Confucius, also enjoying a meal of lamian noodles to commemorate the occasion. Additionally, the side halls on the east and west enshrine the Seventy-Two Disciples of Confucius, along with notable officials and virtuous locals from various dynasties.

The Chongsheng Shrine, or Rear Hall, is dedicated to enshrining the parents and five generations of ancestors of Confucius. The two ornamental archways inside the eastern gate are also part of the overall Confucius Temple architecture. These are two-pillar, three-story wooden structures with a unique design. The horizontal beams are adorned with gilded carved dragon panels, while exquisitely crafted bracket arms support three hip-and-gable roofs featuring “five ridges and six beasts.” Further enhancing their beauty are calligraphy works by Huashi Kui inscribed with the phrases “Virtue Matches Heaven and Earth” and “Morality Surpasses Past and Present,” giving the archways a majestic yet delicate charm. These phrases are also praises for Confucius.

As a famous landmark in Tianjin, the Confucius Temple has been preserved for over 500 years. In Tianjin, Confucius has been venerated as a sage for centuries. In 1954, the Tianjin Municipal Government designated the Confucius Temple as one of the first batch of municipal-level cultural heritage protection units. Since then, substantial funds have been allocated for multiple restoration and maintenance efforts. In 1985, the municipal government allocated 900,000 yuan to renovate and rebuild the county school screen wall, Pan Pond, and Lingxing Gate. In 1987, the Confucius Temple Museum was established and opened to the public in October of the same year. The museum displays exhibits such as the “Restored Prefecture Temple Dacheng Hall Exhibition” and the “Confucius Life Exhibition.” Its collection mainly includes ritual instruments and musical instruments used for Confucius worship. Notable items include bianqing (chime stones), guqin (ancient zither), guqin (ancient se), jian’gu (war drum), yinggu (response drum), bo’gu (striking drum), as well as bronze jue (wine vessels), bamboo fang (bamboo containers), and bamboo bian (bamboo offering trays). These artifacts reflect two thousand years of traditional Chinese culture and Confucian philosophy. The museum also occasionally hosts performances of “Ancient Music for Confucius Worship.”

Related Information:

Daily hours: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM; ticket sales stop 30 minutes before closing; closed on Mondays

Admission: 4 RMB per adult

2 RMB per student

Accessible via bus routes 1, 4, 15, 24, 609, 904, 611, 632, 633, 641, 642, 693, 878

Address: No. 31, Nanmennei Street, Nankai District, Tianjin

Postal Code: 300090

Address: Tianjin, China

Phone: 022-27356475