Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple

Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple

The Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism site.

The Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple is located in Pan Palace on Zhongshan Middle Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province.

The temple was first built in the late Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty. In the early years of the Taiping Xingguo reign during the Northern Song Dynasty, the Confucius Temple was relocated here. In the seventh year (982 AD), it was established as a state school, later moved elsewhere, then returned in the third year of Daguan (1109 AD). It was rebuilt in the seventh year of Shaoxing during the Southern Song Dynasty (1137 AD).

The main structure, the Dacheng Hall, is a typical example of Song Dynasty double-eaved hip-and-gable roof architecture. It spans seven bays in width and five in depth, featuring a dougong (bracket set) and beam-lifting wooden structure supported by 48 white stone columns. The front has eight carved stone columns with relief dragon designs, showcasing an ancient style that is quite rare among existing Confucius Temples nationwide. In front of the hall lies a terrace paved with bluestone, embedded with carvings of lotus (upward and reverse), hibiscus, camellia, peony, and lotus flowers. Beneath the terrace are passageways and a worship courtyard, flanked by ancient banyan trees providing shade. Outside the courtyard is a semicircular Pan Pond, spanned by the Pan Bridge built during the Yuan Dynasty. The bridge is a beam-style stone structure with a raised center and stone railings on both sides. On the east and west sides of the Dacheng Hall are the East and West Side Halls, stretching 112 meters in length and 10 meters in width. At the front center of the two side halls is the three-bay Dacheng Gate, with a depth of two bays. To the left is the Jinsheng Gate, to the right the Yuzhen Gate; the three gates form a unified structure, 60 meters wide and 10 meters deep. Outside the gate is a 66-meter-wide and 60-meter-deep open plaza that can accommodate thousands of people, with the Ritual Gate and Righteous Path on either side. The temple also houses the “Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall,” the “Quanzhou Historical Figures Memorial Hall,” and the “Quanzhou Ancient Education Exhibition Hall.” On the west side, facing Zhongshan Street, is the Pan Palace Gate. To the east of the temple is the Minglun Hall, with seven bays, 36.8 meters wide, and a depth of five bays totaling 21.4 meters. In front is a 36-meter-wide and -deep open plaza, along with east and west study rooms. The plaza features a square pond 29 meters wide and 43.8 meters long, with a 4-meter-wide stone bridge in the center surrounded by stone railings. Outside is the Yuying Gate; originally to the east were the Zunjing Pavilion and the Memorial Halls for Distinguished Officials and Local Worthies.

The Quanzhou Confucius Temple complex is grand in scale and rich in cultural significance. It is the most renowned and largest Confucius Temple architectural complex in southeastern China, embodying an organic fusion of Central Plains culture from the Song Dynasty and the ancient Minnan architectural art. In 2001, the Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple was listed by the State Council as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units for its historical architecture dating from the Song to the Qing Dynasties.

In January 1927, the Quanzhou Special Branch of the Chinese Communist Party was established at the Minglun Hall of the Quanzhou Prefectural Confucius Temple. Li Songlin served as the head, with a total of six party members. The Quanzhou Special Branch was under the leadership of the CCP Minnan Regional Committee and was responsible for guiding the peasant and labor movements across counties under Quanzhou jurisdiction. The six party members were: Li Songlin (also known as Tang Shabai), Gu Zhongzhao (also known as Lin Chaoran), Zuo Mingliang (also known as Zuo Guangliang), Lin Huandao, Xie Qi, and Yang Jun.

The Prefectural Confucius Temple was first built in the late Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (741 AD) and relocated to its current site in the early years of the Taiping Xingguo reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD), covering an area of 90 mu. To the east of the temple is the Minglun Hall, with seven bays, 36.8 meters wide, and a depth of five bays totaling 21.4 meters, with a 36-meter-wide and -deep open plaza in front. In June 2003, the Quanzhou Cultural Relics Management Committee erected a stone stele outside the Minglun Hall inscribed with “Site of the Quanzhou Special Branch of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Location

Zhongshan Middle Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (by Baiyuan Chuan Pond)

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units