Xinyu Confucius Temple

Xinyu Confucius Temple

Xinyu Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Xinyu Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple, with the Kuixing Pavilion to its east and the Yuan River to its south, is located within the campus of Xinyu No. 2 Middle School. It was first built during the Dali era (766–779) of the Tang Dynasty by then-county magistrate Du Zhen, featuring a Hall of Great Achievement with five bays and eight central pillars. Over time, it experienced multiple cycles of prosperity and decline. To promote scholarship and reverence for Confucius, it underwent nineteen renovations from the Song to the Qing dynasties, with records left by twelve individuals including Li Dayou, Xie E, and Zhang Ying. The temple complex includes the Lingxing Gate, Zhuangyuan Bridge, Pan Pond, Dacheng Gate, east and west side halls, the Hall of Great Achievement, administrative offices, and the Minglun Hall, all enclosed within a palace wall. The main structure, the Hall of Great Achievement, features a plaque in front inscribed with the characters “Dacheng Hall” (Hall of Great Achievement). Hung high above the hall’s beams are seven imperial plaques bestowed by seven emperors from the Kangxi to the Tongzhi reigns, inscribed with phrases including “Model Teacher for All Ages,” “Never Before Seen Among the People,” “Equal to Heaven and Earth,” “The Sage Who Embodies Perfection,” “The Sage in Harmony with Time,” “Virtue Vast as the Heavens,” and “Divine and Heaven-Sent.” The two gates of the palace wall are respectively hung with plaques reading “Sage of All Times” and “Virtue Matching Heaven and Earth.” Since the late Qing Dynasty, the Confucius Temple gradually fell into disrepair. By the time of the 1982 cultural relics survey, apart from the Hall of Great Achievement, the Dacheng Gate, and the side halls, most auxiliary buildings and cultural relics had been destroyed. To prevent the temple’s complete disappearance, restoration began in April 1987. The restored temple has a total width of 21.5 meters, a depth of 60.25 meters, and a height of 14.6 meters. The main structure, the Hall of Great Achievement, covers an area of approximately 500 square meters. The architectural style of the entire Confucius Temple retains the characteristics of Qing Dynasty Confucian temple design.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units