The Temple of Literature in Taihe

The Temple of Literature in Taihe

The Temple of Literature in Taihe is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Adjacent to a park, the Temple of Literature in Taihe features a plaque on its main gate inscribed with the four large characters “Tai He Yuan Qi” (Great Harmony and Vital Energy). The square in front of the gate is known as the Temple of Literature Square, which boasts a grand memorial archway. Inside the courtyard are temple structures.

Historical county records from earlier times and recollections from elderly locals also reveal that the main buildings of the Temple of Literature included a dismounting stele, the “Tai He Yuan Qi” memorial archway, the Ten-Thousand-Ren Palace Wall (Red Screen Wall), the Lingxing Gate Tower, the Pan Pond, the Pan Bridge, the Dacheng Hall, the Zunjing Pavilion, and the east and west wing rooms. These formed a palace-style architectural complex centered around the Dacheng Hall and symmetrically arranged along the north-south central axis. Today, the Temple of Literature is not only surrounded by high-rise buildings but also, during the expansion of the Temple of Literature Square, a replica stone sculpture of a Han Dynasty inkstone unearthed in Taihe—known locally (in the dialect) as a “mo zhuo zi” (a tool for blocking the hole in a millstone)—was placed on the central axis of the square. This sculpture has been enlarged proportionally several times over. Even most locals in Taihe today find it difficult to understand its significance. It is said that this was intended to showcase the profound cultural heritage of the region known as the “Home of Calligraphy and Painting.”

The Dacheng Hall of the Temple of Literature is located on the north side of Hongxue Street in Taihe County, Anhui Province. It was originally built in the 8th year of the Yuandade era (1304) and was damaged during wartime. It was reconstructed in the 5th year of the Ming Hongwu era (1372). The Dacheng Hall of the Temple of Literature in Taihe County is 20 meters wide with five bays and 10 meters deep. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with glazed tiles and is constructed with a wooden framework that combines the raised-beam and through-tenon styles—showcasing characteristics of both northern and southern architectural styles. It is a type of large hall structure built on a wooden rafter-frame platform beam system. The roof is covered with glazed tiles, the ridges are adorned with decorative ridge beasts, and the four corners feature flying eaves—making for a grand and majestic sight. The hall underwent comprehensive restoration in 1992.

Confucius (551–479 BCE), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi in Changping, the State of Lu (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong Province). 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 worldwide, particularly across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons.

Confucius’s ancestors were the younger half-brother of King Zhou of Shang, Weizi Qi, who presided over the ancestral sacrifices of the Shang 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, Mu Jin Fu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled in Zou, Lu… More detailed information about Confucius ++