Jizhou Confucius Temple

Jizhou Confucius Temple

Jizhou Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin Municipality.

Jizhou Confucius Temple

Age: Qing Dynasty

Address: Northwest corner of Jicheng Town, Jizhou County

Category: Ancient Architecture

The Confucius Temple is located in Jizhou County, Tianjin, within geographical coordinates of 39°45′ to 40°15′ north latitude and 117°05′ to 117°47′ east longitude, at an altitude of 18.5 meters. It lies at the northwest corner of Jicheng Town, with the county government and the County Party Committee located within 100 meters to the south. Approximately 500 meters to the southwest is the Dule Temple, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, while 300 meters to the south stands the Drum Tower, a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin. Fifty meters to the east is the Lu Ban Temple, also a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin. The main surviving structure of the Jizhou Confucius Temple is the Dacheng Hall, which features five bays in width, corridors in the front and rear, and is supported by seven rafters. Its roof is covered with hard mountain-style barrel tiles, and the platform is built from strip stones. In front of the hall is a moon platform, serving as the site for Confucius worship ceremonies. Stone steps and a path in front of the platform connect to the Jiemen (Weapon Gate). The Jiemen has three bays, supported by five rafters, with a hard mountain-style roof and barrel tiles; the platform is constructed from large bluestones. The platforms of the east and west side halls are level with the moon platform, each featuring five bays and a hard mountain-style roof with clay tiles. The Dacheng Hall, side halls, and Jiemen form a traditional Chinese courtyard. Within the courtyard are five ancient pine trees. Though compact in size, the space exudes a sense of grandeur, refinement, and dignity. To the east of the Jiemen is the Memorial Hall of Meritorious Officials, with three bays and walls inlaid with a stone tablet inscribed with Ouyang Xiu’s "The Pavilion of the Drunken Old Man," calligraphed by Zhao Mengfu. To the east is the Memorial Hall of Local Sages. In front of the Jiemen lies the Pan Pond, spanned by three parallel stone arch bridges called Dengying Bridge, built in the 34th year of the Kangxi reign (1695 AD). In front of the Pan Pond is the Lingxing Gate, made of stone with four pillars and three gates. The overall layout of the Confucius Temple complex follows a traditional courtyard design and remains well-preserved to this day. Existing structures include the Jiemen (3 bays), the Hall of the First Teacher (5 bays), the east and west side halls (5 bays each), the Lingxing Gate, the Pan Pond, the stone bridges, and the front corridor of the Dacheng Hall with a moon platform. In front of the platform are ancient pines, ancient locust trees, and stone tablets. The layout is rigorous and the spatial hierarchy clear.

Confucius was a renowned thinker, educator, and founder of Confucianism in Chinese history. Prior to the Republican era, the Jizhou Confucius Temple held large-scale ceremonies to worship Confucius twice a year, in spring and autumn.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Tianjin Municipality