Confucius Temple and Laoxiaoding

Confucius Temple and Laoxiaoding

The Confucius Temple and Laoxiaoding are cultural relic protection units of Sichuan Province.

The Leshan Confucius Temple is a key cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province, located at the foot of Laoxiaoding in the old city center of Leshan. According to historical records, the temple was originally built during the Wude era (618–626 AD) of the Tang Dynasty, situated on Yuxian Dam south of Leshan City, opposite the Giant Buddha.

The Confucius Temple complex covers an area of 1.13 hectares with a construction area of 3,136.97 square meters. The layout is largely intact, following the terrain and gradually ascending from west to east. The existing ancient structures were rebuilt during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722 AD). Key features include the Pan Pond, Lingxing Gate, Xian Guan, Sheng Yu, Ming Huang Shrine, Xiang Xian Shrine, East and West Side Halls, Zunjing Pavilion, Chongwen Pavilion, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Shrine. The most iconic building is the Dacheng Hall, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with glazed tubular tiles, upturned roof corners, and an air of solemn dignity. The side halls are also single-eave hip-and-gable structures with post-and-lintel wooden frames. From 1986 to 1989, the Leshan Municipal Cultural Authorities carried out major renovations of the ancient buildings. The site is now managed by Leshan No. 2 Middle School.

“Lofty and peerless,” the name Gaobiao Mountain, historically the highest point in Jiazhou, is no exaggeration. The Southern Song Dynasty’s Wang Xiangzhi wrote in his *Geographical Records of Triumphs*: “The main mountain of the prefecture stands firmly and towering, with all sights before it—endless views in the morning mist and moonlit evenings.” Later, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, locals commonly referred to Gaobiao Mountain as Laoxiaoding.

There have been structures at the mountaintop since ancient times. Historical research indicates that over 1,400 years ago, during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Hongming Taoist Temple was built on Gaobiao Mountain, the main peak of Jiazhou, and was known as a famous Taoist mountain. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple during the Tang Dynasty. Over time, the main hall was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and by the Song Dynasty, it was called the Shenxiao Yuching Wanshou Palace, also known as the Huguo Tianwang Temple.

The unique scenery inspired literati to compose famous works in its praise. The Northern Song Dynasty’s Zhang Junfang recorded in *A Brief Account of the Eastern Temple Affairs of Kaiyuan Temple in Jiazhou*: “Kaiyuan Temple in Jiazhou was established in the Later Zhou Dynasty and was originally named Hongming Temple. At the end of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty, the main hall was constructed, and a statue of the Flying Heavenly King, over two zhang tall and seated atop two demons, was placed in the western part of the hall.” “Kaiyuan Temple is situated on layered ridges, overlooking the city, gazing down at rivers and mountains, with two streams winding and peaks encircling it—a scenic gem of the prefecture.”

Due to warfare and weathering, only ruins remained of the Wanshou Palace. Later, during the Northern Song Dynasty’s Xuanhe era, Leshan Prefect Lü Youcheng built the Wanjing Tower on Gaobiao Mountain, greatly compensating for the decline of the Wanshou Palace.

Perched atop Leshan’s highest point, Wanjing Tower offers a sweeping, majestic view—east to the Nine Peaks of Mount Lingyun and west to the moon over Mount Emei. Fan Chengda, one of the Four Great Poets of the Southern Song Renaissance, praised it in verse: “If only we could rouse the Old Drunkard [Su Dongpo], he’d surely name it the Finest Tower in the Southwest.”

The ruins of the Shenxiao Yuching Wanshou Palace, once dominating the mountaintop, saw a new structure built upon its site in the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong era (1442 AD) by Prefect Duan Jian, who erected the Wanshou Temple there. Described as “spacious and magnificent, resembling imperial architecture yet on a smaller scale, serving as a place for Taoist rituals,” it officially became a Taoist temple from then on.

In ancient times, visiting Jiazhou and ascending Laoxiaoding to gaze at the vast landscape and compose poetry became a “must-do” for literati—leaving behind many widely celebrated verses. “Climb high to gaze afar, where the Ten Continents and Three Isles resemble Penglai.” “Holding bright yellow chrysanthemums, I ascend to mark this fine occasion.” “Now standing at the Finest Tower in the Southwest, alas, how mediocre the rest appear.”

The poetic lines of notable figures add even more charm to the beautiful scenery of Jiazhou.

Through the tides of time, only three structures remain on Laoxiaoding today: the Wanshou Temple Main Hall; the Wanjing Tower, located in front of the Wanshou Temple; actually the tallest building within the Wanshou Temple complex. Named “Wanjing” (Ten Thousand Sceneries) for its panoramic views of Mount Emei’s Three Peaks, Mount Lingyun’s Nine Summits, the Dadu and Min Rivers, and the cityscape below; and the Lingguan Tower, slightly lower than the other two, built during the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing era. Originally housing an iron statue of the Taoist deity “Lingguan,” the statue is now gone, but the tower remains well-preserved.

In 1962, 1985, 1993, 2003, and after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12th, the Leshan cultural and urban construction authorities carried out five rounds of restoration work on the Wanshou Temple, Wanjing Tower, and Lingguan Tower. In 1986, the ancient buildings of Laoxiaoding were designated as municipal cultural relic protection units by the municipal government; in 1991, the Confucius Temple and Laoxiaoding were jointly approved and announced as Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units by the provincial government.

Protected Area: East to Yue’ertang Street, South to the extension of the Confucius Temple wall to the sports field fence of Leshan No. 2 Middle School, West to Huangjia Mountain roadway, North to the Yue’ertang-Huangjia Mountain path.

Construction Control Zone: A 7-meter buffer extending outward from the protected area.