Huoshan Confucius Temple

Huoshan Confucius Temple

Huoshan Confucius Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site protected by Anhui Province.

Huoshan Confucius Temple, formerly known as the Holy Temple, also called the Holy Palace, Confucius Temple, or the Temple of the Sage, is located in the middle section of Wensheng Street, Chengguan Town, Huoshan County. It was first built in the fifth year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty (1492 AD). The temple covers an area of approximately 4,027 square meters, with a current building area of 2,052 square meters. The main surviving structure is the Dacheng Hall (also known as the Holy Hall). The hall has five bays in width and three in depth, featuring a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. Behind the hall are the Chongsheng Shrine and the Minglun Hall; to the rear left is the Scripture Storage Pavilion. To the left of the hall is the East Corridor, and to the right is the West Corridor. In front of the hall is the Jimen Gate, with the Minghuan Shrine on the left and the Xiuxian Shrine on the right, totaling 45 rooms. All are constructed with small tiles, bricks, stone, and wood, and are largely well-preserved. The entire architectural complex is simple and elegant, dignified and grand, embodying typical Ming and Qing architectural features.

Huoshan Confucius Temple served as the site for worshipping Confucius from the Ming and Qing dynasties onward. It was also an educational venue for students to study, promoting “respect for ancient sages,” “valuing Confucian teachings,” and “advancing education and moral cultivation,” hence it was also called the “Academy.”

In front of the Jimen Gate, there used to be a Pan Pond, Pan Bridge, and palace walls, all of which were demolished in January 1967. To the left of the Pan Pond was the Earth God Shrine, and to the right was the Animal Sacrifice House. To the east of the palace walls was the “Rites Gate,” and to the west was the “Righteousness Path.” At the entrance of each stood a “Sacred Edict Stele” inscribed with the words: “By imperial decree, all civil and military officials, scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, soldiers, and civilians must dismount here.” These steles were erected during the Qianlong reign but no longer exist.

Huoshan Confucius Temple underwent major repairs in the 29th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1601 AD), “restoring its grand structure and brilliance, instantly transforming the appearance of the county.” In the 8th year of the Chongzhen reign (1653 AD), it was restored to its original scale. In the 18th year of the Qianlong reign (1753 AD), local scholars and residents generously donated funds to expand and extensively renovate the entire temple complex. Further renovations were carried out during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras, and another restoration occurred in the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945 AD).

In 1984, the provincial cultural relics bureau funded a complete renovation of the leaning Dacheng Hall. Later, the national and provincial cultural relics bureaus, along with the Huoshan County People’s Government, provided continuous funding to restore key structures including the Scripture Storage Pavilion, Chongsheng Shrine, Minglun Hall, East and West Corridors, Jimen Gate, various shrines, and other main buildings.

In 1981, Huoshan Confucius Temple was designated a county-level key cultural relic protection unit by the Huoshan County People’s Government. In July 1988, it was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the Anhui Provincial People’s Government.

Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi, Changping, State of Lu (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong). He was a philosopher, 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 influence extends globally, especially across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons.

Confucius’ ancestors were nobles of the Yin-Shang dynasty. His earliest known ancestor was Weizi Qi, the half-brother of the last Shang ruler, Zhou, who continued the Shang ancestral worship 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 eventually settled in Zouyi, Lu... More detailed information about Confucius++