Lucheng Lizhuang Confucius Temple

Lucheng Lizhuang Confucius Temple

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

Lizhuang Confucius Temple is located to the west of Lizhuang Village, Huangniuti Township, about 15 kilometers east of Lucheng City. Nestled against a mountain and facing a valley, the temple was built along the contours of the hill. The exact date of its establishment is unknown. According to inscriptions on the wall plaques of the main hall and records on the roof tiles, it underwent renovations in the fifth year of the Xingding era of the Jin Dynasty (1221), the first year of the Yuanshi era of the Yuan Dynasty (1335), the first year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1341), and during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. The temple faces south and has a single-courtyard layout. To the south is a three-bay reverse-facing theater building, which was later converted into a three-bay Dacheng Gate. To the north is the three-bay Dacheng Hall, flanked by two two-bay side halls on the east and west, and five-bay wing rooms on both sides. Except for the Dacheng Hall, which retains architectural features from the Jin and Yuan periods, the other structures date back to the Qing Dynasty. The Dacheng Hall is three bays wide and six rafters deep, with through-tenons spanning front to back, using three central columns along the eaves, and topped with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The bracket sets atop the columns are of the four-purlin single downward-cantilever type, featuring diagonal brackets, and two layers of plain beams on the mud-rail. The column tops have smoothly curved edges, with architraves and purlins above. The exposed wooden framework inside the hall uses relatively neat materials. The roof is covered with glazed ridge ornaments and tubular plain tiles. The main ridge features dragons in motion, floral designs, and coiled dragon ridge beasts, with yellow and green glazed tiles alternating to create a solemn yet soft color scheme characteristic of the Yuan Dynasty. The center of the ridge features an inscription from the first year of the Yuanshi era of the Yuan Dynasty (1335) by Li Shitong of Luzhou, while the back bears inscriptions from the first year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1335) crediting Cheng Qingjie for constructing the temple and Li Junren for crafting the ridge beasts.

Glazed tile inscriptions with precise Yuan Dynasty dates and the names of the artisans who crafted them are still relatively rare in Shanxi. Twenty-three wall plaques are embedded below the window sills on the outer walls of the main hall, recording the merits of those who contributed to the temple’s renovation. The calligraphy, a mix of running and regular scripts, is neat and possesses historical value. The temple is a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

In May 2013, Lizhuang Confucius Temple in Lucheng was announced as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units