Qianzhou Confucius Temple

Qianzhou Confucius Temple

Qianzhou Confucius Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qianzhou Confucius Temple is located in the central part of Qianzhou Ancient Town, Jishou City, Hunan Province. It borders Wanrong River to the south and the ancient city wall to the north. Originally covering an area of more than 5,000 square meters, the temple features three architectural styles: pagoda-style, xieshan-style, and yingshan-style. The structure stands about 20 meters tall as a two-story wooden building, with its base made of blue strip stones and its roof covered with scalloped gray tiles. Supported by dozens of large red pillars, each of which stands on a drum-shaped stone base. The entire structure is built with brick and wood, surrounded by blue-brick courtyard walls, and is one of the three major ancient buildings in the ancient town (namely: Qianzhou Ancient City Wall, Chastity Archway, and Confucius Temple and Academy).

Qianzhou Confucius Temple was first built between the seventh and eleventh years of the Yongzheng reign in the Qing Dynasty (1729–1733). It was burned down in war during the sixtieth year of the Qianlong reign, leaving only the Chongsheng Shrine intact. It was rebuilt in 1801, and further expanded and renovated in 1810, 1836, and 1846. The pavilions of the Confucius Temple became increasingly refined, grand, and magnificent. A unique temple combining worship and education, dedicated to Confucius, stood proudly by the Wanrong River, and is regarded as the finest architectural complex in western Hunan.

Structure

On the left of Qianzhou Confucius Temple is the Confucius Temple, and on the right is the Academy. Along the central axis of the Confucius Temple, there is a screen wall at the front, with school gates on both sides. Further inside are the red stone Lingxing Gate, Moon Bridge (commonly known as the Number One Scholar Bridge), Pan Pond, and Ji Gate. To the left of the Ji Gate is the Temple of Eminent Officials, and to the right is the Temple of Local Sages—this constitutes the first courtyard. The second courtyard has the Dacheng Treasure Hall at its center, with the East and West Side Halls in front. Stone slabs are placed in the courtyard, and a stone path leads directly to the Moon Terrace. In front of the terrace is a five-dragon imperial path made of red stone. The Dacheng Hall is adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, featuring upturned eaves and wind chimes. Its arches, caisson ceilings, bracket arms, sparrow braces, and column bases are exquisitely crafted, and two osmanthus trees are planted nearby. The third courtyard is the Chongsheng Shrine, with the Academy, Minglun Hall, and Confucian Teaching Official Office (commonly called Teachers’ Government Office) on the right. Outside the screen wall to the south is the First Gate, then the Central Hall, with the Wenchang Palace on the left, the Minglun Hall in the middle, and the Teaching Official Office on the right (which served as the County Party Headquarters during the Republican era). Wing rooms are interspersed among them, with living quarters at the back. The "Qianzhou Hall Records" compiled during the Qing Dynasty described it as follows: “The Confucius Temple is within the earthen wall to the east of the city. The Dacheng Hall has five rooms, the East and West Side Rooms each have three rooms, the Ji Gate has three rooms, the Lingxing Gate has three rooms, the Pan Pond has one area, a circular arched bridge, one Scripture Pavilion, one Temple of Eminent Officials, and one Temple of Local Sages.” Though not particularly grand in scale, it served as a spiritual haven and historical treasure for the literati of western Hunan.

The Confucius Temple in Qianzhou was ingeniously conceived, with distinct features in its towers, halls, passageways, flower stands, and courtyards. The unique design of its brackets, upturned eaves, and cantilevered corners fully showcases the characteristics of folk architecture in western Hunan.

The currently restored main structure of the Confucius Temple, the Dacheng Hall, is a two-story wooden building supported by dozens of wooden pillars, with a green tile roof, upturned eaves, and bracket sets, all highlighting the charm of folk architecture in western Hunan. The existing Pan Pond and stone arch bridge remain, with the bridge over the pond known as the Number One Scholar Bridge. In ancient times, whenever a local scholar passed the imperial examination, they had to cross the Number One Scholar Bridge to enter the Dacheng Hall to pay homage to Confucius. Others were not allowed to use the bridge to enter the hall and had to walk around the sides of the Pan Pond instead.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units