Dacheng Hall of Luotian Confucius Temple (Luotian County Museum)

Dacheng Hall of Luotian Confucius Temple (Luotian County Museum)

Dacheng Hall of Luotian Confucius Temple (Luotian County Museum) is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

Luotian Confucius Temple was relocated from Jiuxianfan in Shiqiaopu to Fengshan Town, the county seat, in the eighth year of the Yuandade era (1304), boasting a history of 700 years. When first moved, the temple was initially built in the area of the current East Gate People’s Hospital. In the eighth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1375), it was rebuilt along the river near the South Gate of the county town, opposite the current old bus station. Unfortunately, in the fourth year of the Hongzhi era (1491), it was destroyed by a flood. It was not until the tenth year of the Jiajing era (1531) that the Confucius Temple was relocated to its current site (Luotian Museum). In the twenty-ninth year of the Jiajing era (1550), after another round of renovation, the site included the Temple of the First Sage, Minglun Hall, Jimen (Pillared Gate), Stone Ling, Xingmen (Star Gate), Floating Pool, Zhisheng Archway, Jinde Zhai (Virtue Advancement Chamber), Xiuye Zhai (Vocational Advancement Chamber), Zhixue Xuan (Scholarship Study Pavilion), and Jingyi Zhen Pavilion, forming a rectangular chessboard-like architectural complex. However, in the third year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1853), it suffered damage again during wartime. In the eighth year of the Tongzhi era (1869), County Magistrate Wu Fengsheng encouraged donations for its reconstruction, restoring it to its original appearance. During the Republican era, especially amid the chaos of wartime in the War of Resistance, most of it was destroyed again. By the early days of the founding of the People’s Republic, although badly damaged, from the Zhisheng Archway and Pan Pond to the Dacheng Hall, its original form was still preserved. In 1956, other auxiliary buildings of the temple were demolished one after another due to the construction of an auditorium. Today, only the main hall of the Confucius Temple—the Dacheng Hall—remains, now renamed as the Luotian Museum.

In September 2018, upon decision by the Chinese Museums Association, Luotian County Museum was designated as a National Third-Class Museum.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· China National Third-Class Museum