Zizhong Confucius Temple

Zizhong Confucius Temple

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

Zizhong Confucius Temple is located outside the north gate of Zizhong County, Sichuan Province. Originally built during the Yongxi era of the Northern Song Dynasty (984–987) on East Street in the county town, it was relocated and reconstructed here in the ninth year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1829). Zizhong Confucius Temple covers an area of 7,035 square meters, with a building area of 2,191 square meters. The main structures and layout are modeled after the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong. The Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, and Dacheng Hall are arranged along the central north-south axis, while side rooms, the bell tower, the drum tower, the Shrine of Local Sages, and the Shrine of Eminent Officials are symmetrically distributed on both sides. It is famous for two unique features:

First, because a native of Zizhong named Chang Hong once served as Confucius’s teacher, an exception was made to carve his statue in commemoration. As a result, Zizhong Confucius Temple is home to a full-body standing stone statue of Confucius—the only one of its kind in China. Second, it houses the highest, largest, most exquisitely crafted, and most unique memorial tablet of Confucius among all Confucius temples in China. This tablet, featuring carved dragons and phoenixes encircling golden-black characters, is the largest Ming Dynasty “Shrine of the Greatest Sage and First Teacher, Confucius,” and is hailed as the “Foremost Tablet in China.” The “Imperial Edict Stele for Rebuilding the Confucius Temple” from the Ming Chenghua era and the “Great Learning Stele” inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty are also particularly precious. The most distinctive local feature is the seven perforated relief sculptures on the screen wall, which depict intricate patterns composed of ocean waves, crabs, shrimp, fish, dragons, pavilions, towers, stone trees, and fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, forming allegorical stories. These symbolize how ancient scholars, like fish in the river, could only achieve greatness by striving forward, receiving Confucian education, and eventually “leaping the Dragon Gate” to transform from fish into dragons and reach the pinnacle of life.

Protected Area: East to the eastern boundary of Wumiao Square, extending 10 meters outside the perimeter wall of Wumiao, up to the red line of residential buildings on the eastern side of Wenmiao Street; South to the southern end of Wumiao Square, continuing along the red line of the eastern roadside of Wenmiao Street to the western residential buildings, at a point 80 meters from the Wanren Palace Wall; West to 20–30 meters outside the western perimeter wall of Wenmiao; North to the road outside the northern perimeter wall of Wenmiao, extending to the red line of residential buildings on the eastern side of Chongsheng Shrine, and crossing Wenmiao Street to the boundary of the paddy fields.

Construction Control Zone: East to the road from Wumiao Square to Zhonglong Mountain (including part of the printing factory adjacent to Wumiao), extending to the current paddy field boundary; South to the northern side of the ring road; West to the planned road from the Light Machinery Factory to the Retired Cadres’ Dormitory, extending to the back hill of Wenmiao; North to the contour line of the back hills of Wenmiao (40–60 meters from the northern perimeter wall of Wenmiao), extending to the intersection of Wenmiao Street and Zhuangyuan Street, and further east to the newly planned Zhonglong Square.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units