Temple of Confucius in Xiaoxian County

Temple of Confucius in Xiaoxian County

The Temple of Confucius in Xiaoxian County is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Temple of Confucius, also known as the Holy Temple, Confucian Temple, or Academy, is commonly referred to as the Imperial College.

It was built in the 46th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1618). The Shunzhi-era "Xiaoxian County Annals" describes its architectural layout as follows: “At the center is the Hall of the First Teacher, flanked by east and west wings. In front is the temple gate, with the Temple of Meritorious Officials on the east side and the Temple of Local Worthies on the west side outside the gate. In front is the Pan Pond, crossed by a stone bridge, and further ahead is the Lingxing Gate. In front of the Lingxing Gate is a screen wall, with the western side of the Lingxing Gate being the main gate of the Confucian Academy. Going straight north from the main gate, the eastern entrance leads to the Ceremonial Gate. Behind the Hall of the First Teacher is the Hall of Enlightenment, with the Chongde Studio to the east and the Guangye Studio to the west, the Qisheng Shrine to the northeast, and the Jingyi Pavilion to the northwest of the hall.”

The Dacheng Hall of the Confucian Temple was originally built during the Shaosheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1094), when its location was in the old city north of the present site. It was destroyed during the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the early years of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, and underwent subsequent renovations during the 16th year of the Yongle reign (1418), as well as the Chenghua and Jiajing eras. In the 5th year of the Wanli reign (1577), due to the destruction of the old city by flooding, it was relocated to the current site in the new city and reconstructed. Further repairs were made during the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty.

The Confucian Temple once had structures such as a stone memorial archway, the Lingxing Gate, the Education Office, the Instructor’s Office, the Dacheng Hall, the Chongsheng Shrine, and the Hall of Enlightenment. The stone archway bore the inscription “Supreme Harmony and Vital Energy,” of which the four characters still remain. The Lingxing Gate and the two offices were damaged during the Republican era, while the Chongsheng Shrine and the Hall of Enlightenment were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Today, only the Dacheng Hall survives.

Protected area: 80 meters east of the eastern wall of the Chongsheng Shrine, 80 meters west of the western corridor, south to the northern edge of Minzhi Street, and north to the southern edge of Datong Street from the Dacheng Hall.

Construction control zone: Outside the protected area, east to Jia Alley, west to Jiankang Road, south to 10 meters south of Minzhi Street, and north to 10 meters north of Datong Street.

Main Hall of the Temple of Confucius

In ancient times, it was a place for worshipping Confucius and served as the highest educational institution in the county during the imperial examination era. Due to weathering, war damage, and destruction during the “Cultural Revolution,” only the Dacheng Hall of the Temple of Confucius remains today. It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in 1980.

- Travel Tips:

Opening hours: 8:00 – 17:30

Address: Within Xiaoxian County, Suzhou City

Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi, Changping, in the 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 impact extends globally, particularly across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons.

Confucius’ ancestors included Weizi Qi, the half-brother of King Zhou of Shang, who presided over the worship of 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, Mu Jin Fu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled in Zouyi, Lu… More details about Confucius ++