Anren Confucius Temple

Anren Confucius Temple

Anren Confucius Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Wenchang Temple and Guan Di Temple, dedicated to loyalty and filial piety respectively, were places where grand ancient ceremonies were held. The Wenchang Temple in Anren County was first built during the Jianyan era of the Song Dynasty (1127–1130), when Magistrate Wang Qi established a school at Yucail Square in the east of the county (now the site of Yujiang No. 2 Middle School). Later, in the Yuan Dynasty, a local resident named Wang Pu built the “Dacheng Hall” and founded the “Minglun Hall”. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple underwent several cycles of decline and revival. In the eighth year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1869), Acting County Magistrate Yao Jiong and later County Magistrate Zhu Tong initiated major renovations with the support of local gentry. By then, the Confucius Temple (Kong Temple) could be accessed via the Xingxian Gate and featured, in ascending order, the Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Shrine. It also connected the Wenchang Palace and Minglun Hall, with rows of small rooms on the east and west sides serving as shrines for Famous Officials, Local Sages, Loyalty and Righteousness, and Chastity and Filial Piety. A new “Kui Star Pavilion” was built to the east of the Kong Temple. All halls were painted red, resplendent with gold decorations, dragon and cloud carvings, upturned eaves, and soaring rafters, presenting a majestic sight that complemented the grandeur of the Confucius Temple. The Kui Star Pavilion stood in distant contrast to the Yixian Pavilion, creating a spectacular view. Anren Confucius Temple is situated against a mountain and facing water, exuding an imposing aura like a crouching tiger or coiled dragon. The temple grounds are shaded by ancient locust trees, forming a lush, verdant canopy. On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of the Daoguang reign (1825), a hurricane blowing from the west uprooted large trees on the hills. Parts of the Kong Temple bore the brunt of the storm, and the ancient locust tree in the courtyard was toppled. County Magistrate Chen, together with local gentry, raised funds for repairs and replanted the ancient locust tree in its original spot, nurturing it carefully. The following year, it sprouted new leaves. This thousand-year-old locust tree still stands tall and reaches for the sky. During the Republican era, Anren Confucius Temple was used continuously as a school. After the liberation, it served as office space for Yujiang Middle School (later renamed Yujiang No. 2 Middle School). In 1977, the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple was converted into a two-story office building, while the base of the hall and the window sills retained their original appearance.