The Dacheng Hall of the Pingxiang Confucius Temple

The Dacheng Hall of the Pingxiang Confucius Temple

The Dacheng Hall of the Pingxiang Confucius Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Dacheng Hall of the Pingxiang Confucius Temple is located at Xuepuqian in Pingzhen Town, Pingxiang County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province. The hall was originally built during the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008–1016) of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. As the main building of the Confucius Temple, the Dacheng Hall, according to the Xuegong diagram in the Pingxiang County Annals, was positioned at the center of the central axis of the western section, while the eastern section housed auxiliary structures. Although the total area of the entire Confucius Temple complex is no longer clear, it was once grand in scale. The Dacheng Hall alone covers a construction area of 315 square meters and features the architectural style of the Yuan Dynasty. It has a single-eave, hip-and-gable roof covered with green-glazed tiles, a width of five bays (25.8 meters), a depth of three bays (11.27 meters), and a height of 12 meters. The structure employs four pillars to support the four-rafter beams opposite the two-rafter beams, with five sets of bracket arms (dougong) featuring double upward angling, placed atop the plate sill. The layout is comprehensive and clearly organized in primary and secondary sections. Currently, other structures of the Confucius Temple have been lost, leaving only the Dacheng Hall intact.

Since its initial construction, the Dacheng Hall has undergone seven major renovations and reconstructions, respectively in the first year of Daguan under Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the seventh year of Hongwu under Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, the third year of Yongle under Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, the sixth year of Zhengtong under Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, the fifteenth year of Zhengde under Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty, the ninth year of Longqing under Emperor Muzong of the Ming Dynasty, and the sixteenth year of Qianlong under Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty. It served as the site of the county school and functioned as the highest educational institution and educational administrative body in the county throughout successive dynasties. During the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese aircraft bombed Pingxiang County and damaged the northwest corner of the hall’s roof. In the early 1960s, the wooden screen was reinforced into a brick wall, and the building was repurposed as a grain storage facility for over 30 years. In 1993, the county government coordinated the relocation of the grain storage. Due to long-term neglect, some wooden structures have decayed, and the roof’s green-glazed tiles and bracket arms on all four sides are severely damaged, though the overall structure remains relatively well-preserved and still holds significant historical and artistic value. In 1993, the People’s Government of Hebei Province designated the hall as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Historical Background: The Dacheng Hall of the Pingxiang Confucius Temple was originally built during the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008–1016) of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. The Xuegong diagram recorded in the Pingxiang County Annals provides an accurate account of the architectural layout, scale, and functional zoning of the Confucius Temple. The main structures of the Confucius Temple (Xuegong) were located in the western section, with auxiliary buildings in the eastern section. The western section consisted of four courtyards and a front plaza. The Lingxing Gate, situated at the southernmost end of the Confucius Temple, served as the first gate. Directly in front of this gate was the “Ten-Thousand-Ren Palace Wall,” with the Divine Kitchen on the west side and the Officials’ Hall on the east. Access to the front plaza was through side gates on the east and west. Passing through the Lingxing Gate led into the first courtyard of the Confucius Temple, with the Examination Rooms on the east, the Local Sages Hall on the west, and the second gate—the Jiemen (Ranked Gate)—directly ahead. Flanking the Jiemen were side gates. Beyond the Jiemen lay the third courtyard, where the Dacheng Hall was positioned along the central axis. The Eastern Corridor and Western Corridor were situated on the east and west sides of the Dacheng Hall, with side gates providing access to the third courtyard from either side. The Minglun Hall stood along the central axis of this courtyard, with the Preserve-the-Heart Studio on the east and the Nurture-the-Heart Studio on the west. Behind the Minglun Hall was the Zunjing Pavilion. The entire western section was enclosed by walls, with connectivity running from north to south.

The eastern section comprised six relatively independent courtyards. The Zhongyi Shrine, the Wenchang Three-Generation Shrine, and the Wenchang Pavilion were aligned side by side at the southern end of the eastern section. The Chongsheng Shrine was located to the north of these three courtyards, followed further north by the Residential Quarters of the Education Instructor and the Disciplinary Instructor, which occupied a larger area. At present, most of the Confucius Temple structures have been destroyed, leaving only the imposing Dacheng Hall.

Additionally, the Daguan Sacred Edict Stele has been preserved. It was erected in the second year of Daguan (1108). The front of the stele features the imperial edict issued by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty regarding the “Eight Virtues”—Filial Piety, Fraternal Duty, Harmony, Marriage Alliance, Trustworthiness, Compassion, Loyalty, and Peace—for selecting scholars. In practice, it served as a supreme feudal educational policy and school regulation issued through imperial authority. The text was copied in the “Slender Gold” script of Emperor Huizong by Li Shiyong, a Doctor of Calligraphy Studies, under imperial decree, with elegant brushwork. The carving technique and knife work are masterful, evoking the feeling of silver hooks and iron strokes. The stele contains a total of 1,021 characters, of which 729 remain today.

In the first year of Daguan of the Northern Song Dynasty (1107), Zheng Juzheng, Scholar of the Zizheng Hall and Attendant Reader, petitioned to have the Eight-Virtue imperial edict inscribed on stone and erected in the Xuegong (Imperial College), then extending to the Imperial University, the Biyong (National Academy), and eventually to commanderies, counties, and towns across the realm. In the second year (1108), in August, by imperial order of the Ministry of Rites Minister and Attendant Lecturer Zheng Jiuzhong, it was directed that “the bestowed stone inscription be erected.” The stele stands 5.14 meters tall, 1.38 meters wide, and 0.38 meters thick. The top section (beam) is 1.40 meters tall, 1.50 meters wide, and 0.47 meters thick, featuring relief carvings of seven dragons encircling the top. The front of the stele beam bears six seal characters in clerical-style regular script reading “Daguan Sacred Edict Stele,” inscribed by the powerful minister Cai Jing. The characters are strict, orderly, and majestic, making it a fine piece of calligraphy. The stele is currently located in Ping’an Park, Fengzhou Town, Pingxiang County. In 2008, the People’s Government of Hebei Province designated it as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Historical Value: Since its initial construction, the Dacheng Hall has undergone seven renovations and reconstructions during the first year of Daguan of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the seventh year of Hongwu of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, the third year of Yongle of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, the sixth year of Zhengtong of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, the fifteenth year of Zhengde of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty, the ninth year of Longqing of Emperor Muzong of the Ming Dynasty, and the sixteenth year of Qianlong of Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style primarily retains characteristics of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, with some beam components still reflecting Song Dynasty architectural elements. The design is exquisitely beautiful, with rigorous layout and grand structure. It carries abundant cultural and architectural information from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, making it of high historical value for the study of ancient architecture. The Daguan Sacred Edict Stele also holds significant historical value for supplementing and correcting historical texts.

Artistic Value: The overall architectural form of the Dacheng Hall and the artistic components attached to it possess considerable aesthetic and appreciation value.

Scientific Value: The design concept and construction techniques of the Dacheng Hall exhibit a high level of technical sophistication. Historically, it has withstood major natural disasters such as the Xingtai Earthquake, accumulating important seismic damage data, which holds significant scientific research value for the study of seismic analysis in early Chinese architecture.

In 1993, the People’s Government of Hebei Province designated the Dacheng Hall as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In 2013, it was listed among the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Pingzhen Town: Located in the southwestern part of the county, it covers a total area of 52.7 square kilometers, with a population of 35,800 people, and administers 42 administrative villages. It has 54,000 mu of arable land, 92% of which is irrigated. The economy is primarily agricultural, with crops including wheat, corn, and chili peppers. Annual grain output is 21,300 tons. There are 10 orchards, 5 specialized fruit-growing villages, and 2 specialized livestock villages. Industrial and sideline businesses include six key enterprises in construction, building materials, machinery and hardware, plastic processing, chili products, and chemical paints, with more than 2,960 business units. There are three industrial zones, one specialized market, and an economic... [More detailed information about Pingzhen Town]

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units