Fushun Confucius Temple

Fushun Confucius Temple

Fushun Confucius Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

For nearly 400 years from the establishment of the county in the second year of the Tianhe era during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the early Northern Song Dynasty (567–960), Fushun was located in a remote border area where ethnic groups such as the Liao and Han lived together. Despite a thriving salt industry, the region had not yet embraced a culture of scholarship. In the third year of the Jingyou era during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty (1036), the imperial court appointed the renowned scholar and Grand Sacrificial Official Zhou Yanjun to serve as the Prefect of Fushun. He was dedicated to promoting education, establishing schools, and nurturing scholars. In his sixth year in office, the second year of the Qingli era (1042), Fushun County produced its first successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations—Li Mian. The entire county rejoiced at this achievement. Under Zhou Yanjun’s advocacy, the local gentry pooled funds to construct a Confucius Temple in the fourth year of the Qingli era (1044) at the southern gate in the center of the county town. It was primarily dedicated to Confucius and was then called the “Temple of Literary Eminence.” A stone “Wild Goose Pagoda Stele” was erected within the temple to inscribe the names of all successful examination candidates throughout the county’s history. Thereafter, successive Prefects of Fushun were enthusiastic about education, personally serving as instructors of Confucian studies, and often used their spare time from governance to lecture students within the temple. As a result, a vibrant culture of learning flourished. During the Song Dynasty alone, as many as 67 successful examination candidates had their names engraved on the Wild Goose Pagoda.

Fushun Confucius Temple · West Lake — a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, is located in the core area of the ancient city district of Fushun County. The Tuojiang River flows from east to west around the scenic area, making it an integrated cultural and urban landscape that blends humanity, nature, folklore, and historic sites. It can be summarized as “half the city’s charm lies in its mountain hues and half in its river views, with a stretch of emerald water nestled in the heart of the town.”

The scenic area boasts excellent natural landscapes and profound historical and cultural heritage. One of its core attractions, Fushun Confucius Temple, is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Originally built in the fourth year of the Qingli era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1044), it covers an area of over 10 acres and is one of the 29 well-preserved Confucius Temples among more than 1,800 recorded in Chinese history, holding significant cultural and historical value. The temple features a grand and majestic architectural style, distinguished by its unique “Five Wonders.” Among them, the discovery of a nude boy statue on the solemn main ridge of the temple structure is the first of its kind found in any Confucius Temple in China or abroad. The reason for its placement remains speculative and continues to be an unsolved mystery to this day.

Adjacent to the temple lies West Lake, a naturally formed lake embellished during the Song Dynasty, covering an area of approximately 50 acres. The lake is surrounded by four hills—Zhongxiu, Shen Gui, Wufu, and Agate—forming the splendid natural landscape of “four hills surrounding one lake.” On the lake surface, structures such as the Red Lotus Pavilion, Azure Waves Pavilion, Zigzag Bridge, and Dragon-Phoenix Bridge create a scene of “each step revealing a new view, where culture and scenery intertwine.” The poet Guangdi once wrote: “Two verdant peaks and a lone boat, five miles of lotuses and twelve towers.” Together with the Confucius Temple, they complement each other and embody millennia of literary heritage. Visitors lingering here can admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape while reflecting on the heroic tales of Yang Shen, the top imperial scholar of the Ming Dynasty, who composed poetry while overlooking the winds from a high vantage point with wine in hand. They may also recall the heroic spirit of Fushun’s talented scholar Liu Guangdi, who advocated for reform and national strength with unwavering righteousness, awakening the conscience of the nation.

Other attractions within the scenic area—including the South Gate Tower, Duojin Platform, Century-Old Back Street, Bell and Drum Tower, Ancient County Yamen at Shengui Mountain, Qianfo Temple, Yanxiong Ancestral Hall, Xie Chi’s Former Residence, the First Mountain Stele, and the Tomb of Liu Guangdi—showcase the beautiful scenery of Fushun and stand as the finest testimony to its reputation as the homeland of talent.

Protected Area: An enclosed zone extending east to Zaojue Alley, west to the Confucius Temple courtyard wall, south to Jiefang Street, and north to the steep bank behind the Jingyi Pavilion.

Construction Control Zone: South to the northern bank of the Tuojiang River, west to Heping Street on the eastern shore of West Lake, east to the western wall of the Grain Bureau, and north to Xinsheng Street.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level