Pujian Confucius Temple

Pujian Confucius Temple

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

The Dacheng Hall of the Pujian County Confucius Temple was built on East Street in Pujian County, adjacent to the East Gate. According to the *Pujian County Annals*: “The Pujian County Confucius Temple was built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, originally located south of the county government office. In the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1695), it was relocated and rebuilt on East Street, and then renovated again in the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign (1757) and the 25th year of the Jiaqing reign (1820).” At the junction of the temple and East Street, there is a tall stone screen wall, entirely constructed from blue stone pillars, with gaps left between the pillars. The stone wall is covered with glazed tiles and a decorative ridge. It is about 30 meters long and approximately 80 centimeters thick, presenting a majestic and spectacular sight.

The Origin of the Temple

On both sides of the temple, there is a gate each, and beside each gate stands a stone stele inscribed with eight large characters: “All civil and military officials must dismount here,” as a mark of respect for Confucius.

Between the two gates lies a flat open space, covering an area of about half a mu.

Heading north leads to the “Three Bridges and Nine Arches.” On both sides of the three bridges, there are rectangular stone railings. Below the bridges are pools, and during spring and summer, the sound of frogs can often be heard, rising and falling in waves, like celestial music. Beneath the nine arches, there are small pits dug, each collecting water, referred to as the “Pang Water.” During the Qing Dynasty, every time new scholars (“xiucai”) were admitted, they would be led by the “education officer” holding incense and walking around the Three Bridges and Nine Arches, a ritual known as “Incense over the Pang Water.”

To the north of the bridges is a small flat area, and to the north of that, the terrain rises slightly. There are more than ten stone steps leading up, and at the top is the front hall of the building. To the left (east) of the hall is the kitchen and dining area. The outdoor ground of the hall is paved with blue stone slabs, covering an area of about half a mu.

On the east and west sides, there are flat wing rooms, which during the Republican era served as classrooms for the junior classes of the “Pujian County Higher Elementary School.”

Going further north, the terrain rises again, and there are another ten-plus stone steps. Climbing these steps leads to the front hall of the main courtyard. The doors and windows are carved lattice designs, covered with glazed tiles. The central part of the main hall serves as the teachers’ office, the left side (east) is the classroom for the graduating class of the “Pujian County Higher Elementary School”; the left wing room is for second-term higher elementary students; the right wing room is for third-term higher elementary students. Inside the wing rooms, along the inner walls, there are long niches, each housing a plaque of a revered scholar. The plaques are wooden-framed, with the scholars’ names carved in them and painted in red lacquer with gold characters. The central flat area of the hall is entirely paved with blue stone slabs.

At the front edge of the Dacheng Hall, the terrain rises again, and there are more than ten stone steps leading up to the Dacheng Hall. The front edge of the Dacheng Hall has a sloped ramp. The central part of the ramp is paved with stone slabs, about two zhang high and two zhang wide, with carved patterns of dragons encircling pearls. On both sides of the central ramp, there are stone railings. Between the central ramp and the stone steps, there are several tiers of stone stairs, each carved with decorative dragon heads pointing south, their mouths holding pearls—exquisite and magnificent, though unfortunately destroyed after the liberation.

Above the ramp is another flat area, also paved with blue stone slabs, covering an area of about one-third of a mu. The current flat area in front of the Dacheng Hall has been destroyed. Tea houses have been set up in the corridor rooms on both sides of the Dacheng Hall, serving as resting areas for visitors.

The Dacheng Hall is a splendid structure with exquisite craftsmanship. Its eaves feature a dougong (bracket) framework, with slanted arms creating an ingenious structure and high, upturned corners, giving it a majestic presence. The hall is 20 meters long and 8 meters wide, consisting of five large bays supported by 32 large stone and wooden pillars, forming a sturdy structure. The roof of the Dacheng Hall is covered with glazed tiles, shining brilliantly. The ridge is adorned with glazed tiles, featuring sculpted finials, flying dragons, and mythical ao fish facing phoenixes, making it a palatial-style building. The walls of the Dacheng Hall are built with large blue fire bricks, the bricks polished smooth, with straight and even seams, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship. The doors and windows at the front of the hall are all carved lattice designs. Eight large octagonal stone pillars support the front of the hall. At the center of the hall is a shrine for Confucius, carved from stone with decorative patterns. The spirit tablet is made of rare nanmu wood, with its edges engraved and gilded with dragon motifs. The tablet surface is inscribed with: “Shrine of the Great Achiever, the Supreme Sage, and the Exemplary Teacher Confucius,” in red lacquer with gold characters. Beside the main tablet is the tablet of Mencius, the Second Sage, along with those of Zisi (also known as Kong Ji, the Narrator Sage), who wrote the *Doctrine of the Mean*; Zengzi (the Repeating Sage), author of the *Great Learning*; and the seventy-two disciples, including Yan Yuan, Zixia, Ziyu, Zigong, Zilu, Ran You, Ran Bouniu, Zhong Gong, Zizhang, Min Ziqian, and Zai Yu, all with tablets in red lacquer with gold characters.

Hanging prominently at the center of the Dacheng Hall is a plaque inscribed with “Exemplar for All Generations,” successively bestowed by Qing emperors as a mark of reverence. Entering the Dacheng Hall evokes a deep sense of solemn respect.

On the 27th day of the eighth lunar month in the 37th year of the Republic of China (1948), Confucius’ birthday was celebrated. The locals offered a grand sacrifice of a complete set of three animals (a cow, a pig, and a sheep) in front of Confucius’ spirit tablet. The ceremony master called for cannon fire outside the hall, and the deafening sound of iron cannons, along with the melodious and rhythmic playing of suona horns, filled the air. Participants bowed in reverence to Confucius’ spirit tablet. Scholars from the county, such as Li Xiangxian, who were well-versed in classical texts, were invited to speak about Confucius’ life and Confucian thought. Confucius’ philosophy, the doctrine of the Master: “Loyalty and reciprocity are the essence!” “Investigating things to extend knowledge, sincerity of intent, self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world.” “By investigating things, knowledge is extended; with knowledge, intent becomes sincere; with sincere intent, the heart is rectified; with a rectified heart, self is cultivated; with self-cultivation, the family is harmonized; with family harmony, the state is governed; with the state governed, the world is at peace. From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all must take self-cultivation as the root.” After the ceremony, a communal meal was held, and upon dismissal, each attendee received 2 jin of beef.

In April 1986, the People’s Government of Pujian County designated the Dacheng Hall as a county-level cultural relic protection unit and allocated funds for its restoration. The original structure was preserved, while the roof was newly tiled with greenish-blue glazed tiles, the ancient-style doors and windows were refurbished, the painted beams and carved rafters were renewed, and the entire structure was freshly painted.

Nowadays

The Dacheng Hall of the Pujian Confucius Temple has now been announced as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Protected Area: Within the surrounding walls of the Pujian Confucius Temple.

Construction Control Zone: 20 meters beyond the protected area.