Confucius Temple

Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

The Confucius Temple, also known as the Temple of Literature, was built in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1889), with the addition of the Kuixing Pavilion in the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945). It is a brick-and-wood courtyard complex facing south, consisting of four sections from front to back: the Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Rear Hall, and Kuixing Pavilion, flanked by side rooms. In front of the Dacheng Hall stands a four-pillar, three-door stone memorial archway inscribed with “Língxīng Gate.” In 1990, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit of Shaoyang City. In 19960, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

The Confucius Temple is located on the north bank of the Wu River, south of Rulin Town in the county seat, at longitude 110°10′ east and latitude 26°12′ north. It is 436 kilometers from Changsha, the provincial capital. To the east and west of the Confucius Temple are the foothills of the Xuefeng Mountain range — Qianfeng Mountain and Ma’an Mountain. To the south, it is about 100 meters from the Wu River. To the north are Chengnan Road and a printing factory. The temple faces south with its back to the north, situated on higher ground in the north and lower in the south. It is closely surrounded by schools and residential areas, and the entire structure is built in a trapezoidal shape.

The Confucius Temple was expanded from the Temple of Literature originally located in the northern part of the city by Gong Jichang, Commander-in-Chief of Yunyang in Hubei and a military official with a peacock feather decoration, when he returned to his hometown of Chengbu. The expansion was based on the Puhé Temple from the Song Dynasty. During the construction, architectural styles from the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong, the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the Hanshan Temple in Suzhou were referenced, while also incorporating the local ethnic architectural customs of Chengbu. In the 17th year of the Guangxu reign, the stone memorial archway “Língxīng Gate” was moved to the front of the Dacheng Hall, and in the 34th year of the Republic of China, the Kuixing Pavilion from the original Temple of Literature was relocated to the rear of the temple. The completed Confucius Temple faces south and is built in a trapezoidal form, consisting of four main halls, two central courtyards, and six side rooms. The wooden structures are all connected using mortise-and-tenon joints, featuring double-eave hip-and-gable roofs. The bases of the pillars are intricately carved with floral and bird patterns, and the upturned eaves are gracefully shaped, with vivid depictions of coiled dragons and colorful phoenixes, as well as lifelike floral and bird designs. In 1974, the Rear Hall and Kuixing Pavilion collapsed simultaneously due to wind and rain. Currently, two main halls and five side rooms remain, covering a total area of 3,100 square meters, with a built-up area of 2,828 square meters. In 1988, it was officially taken over by the county cultural relics management office and remains so to this day.

The Confucius Temple is a product of the fusion between advanced Han culture and local ethnic cultures, representing the wisdom and artistry of people from various ethnic groups. From its numerous wood carvings, stone engravings, sculptures, inlays, and other decorative elements and design features, it reflects not only the architectural styles and spiritual beliefs of the time but also the ancient architectural heritage of various ethnic groups.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan

Rulin Town: Located in the central heartland of Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, Rulin Town is the county seat of Chengbu Miao Autonomous County. It borders Lanrong Township and Baimaoping Township to the east at the foot of Qianfeng Mountain, Tingping Township to the south, and Maoping Town to the west. The eastern, western, and southern parts of the town are situated in high-altitude mountainous regions, while the northern part consists of low and gently sloping hilly terrain. The climate is mid-subtropical monsoon, with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, little severe cold in winter, and no intense heat in summer. Most areas are below 800 meters in elevation. The town government is located at an altitude of 446.08 meters. The total area of the town is 311 square kilometers, including 27,762 acres of arable land. ... More detailed information about Rulin Town++