Cangzhou Confucius Temple

Cangzhou Confucius Temple

Cangzhou Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

Cangzhou Confucius Temple, initially built during the Ming Dynasty, currently consists of three main halls and east-west corridors. It is the only remaining ancient building in Cangzhou with Ming Dynasty beam and bracket structures, and is designated as both a Cangzhou Municipal and Hebei Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The main buildings of Cangzhou Confucius Temple still preserve the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. Their layout and design embody the mainstream and essence of Confucian thought. They serve as physical materials for the study of Ming Dynasty architectural history and the development of Confucianism, and represent the finest of local architecture.

The Confucius Temple, also known as the Temple of Confucius, is located at the northern end of Xiaoshi Street in Cangzhou City. It stretches 110.5 meters from north to south and 37.2 meters from east to west, facing south. The temple complex has three courtyards. Originally, there was a 7-meter-long screen wall in front of the gate, with the Hall of Rites to the east and the Hall of Righteousness to the west. Entering the gate and moving northward leads to a single-arch stone bridge — the Pan Pond Bridge. To the west is the Animal Sacrifice Office, and further back lies the hip-roofed Ji Gate. The middle courtyard features corridors on both the east and west sides, with the main hall, Dacheng Hall, situated at the center. The Dacheng Hall measures 18 meters in width and 9 meters in depth, with five front gates, 24 interior pillars, a 2-meter overhang, and a green-glazed roof. The structure is majestic, featuring a hip-and-gable roof, double-eave brackets with five tiers and multiple upward curves, a five-bay wide and three-bay deep layout, eight bright pillars, lattice doors, and a roof covered with yellow and green glazed tiles. The rear courtyard’s northernmost building is the Mingzhu Hall with a flush gable roof. The exact date of the construction of the Confucius Temple is unknown. In 1993, it was designated as a Hebei Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Hebei Province.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units