Chuxiong Confucius Temple

Chuxiong Confucius Temple

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

Chuxiong Confucius Temple is now located within Lucheng Primary School on Zhongda Street in Chuxiong City, Yunnan Province. Historical records indicate that the county-level Confucius Temple was relocated here in the 17th year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty (1504); the prefectural-level Confucius Temple was moved to the archery field to the right of the county temple in the 6th year of the Jiajing reign (1527).

The county-level Confucius Temple was relocated here in the 17th year of the Hongzhi reign (1504); the prefectural-level Confucius Temple was moved to the archery field to the right of the county temple in the 6th year of the Jiajing reign (1527).

In the 19th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1680), an earthquake caused the temple to collapse, and it was rebuilt by imperial decree in the 22nd year (1683), resulting in a unified layout. Its structure and architectural style align with national standards, divided into eastern, central, and western sections—namely the east and west wings, with the central area featuring the Chongsheng Hall, Cangqin Hall, Dacheng Hall, Dacheng Gate, Lingxing Gate, Sanyuan Bridge, and Ban Pond. “Its vast and open grounds rivaled those of Lin’an Prefecture (present-day Jianshui), earning its reputation as the finest in all of Yunnan.”

In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), it was damaged again, and was repaired once more during the Tongzhi era. Although its scale was far smaller than before, “the steps were fitted with Chu-style stone railings, pine and cypress trees were planted, and the halls appeared even more magnificent.” After liberation, due to years of neglect, parts of the Confucius Temple had fallen into disrepair. Today, only the Cangjie Hall, Dacheng Hall, Dacheng Gate, Sanyuan Bridge, and Ban Pond remain, among which the Dacheng Hall is relatively well-preserved.

Although Chuxiong Confucius Temple was initially built during the Yuan Dynasty, it was relocated during the Ming Dynasty. Due to its specific function in Confucian worship, it did not differ much from other Confucius Temples of the time. At that period, Chuxiong was an important stop along the Southern Silk Road, and though it started with a grand scale, it gradually shrank over time.

Today, the main areas of Chuxiong Confucius Temple are primarily used and managed by Lucheng Primary School and the Chuxiong Teachers Training Center. Passing through the main gate of Lucheng Primary School, the first thing you see is the Zunjing Pavilion. The Zunjing Pavilion faces south and sits to the north, being the northernmost building of the entire Confucius Temple complex. To the south lie the Dacheng Hall and the Dacheng Gate in sequence; in front of the Dacheng Hall is the Tianzi Platform, surrounded by stone railings and equipped with stone steps. In front of the platform stands a memorial plaque marking it as a Yunnan Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with the East and West Side Halls on either side. Beyond the Dacheng Gate are the Minghuan Shrine and the Xiuxian Shrine on both sides, and further south are the Sanyuan Bridge and Pan Pond, collectively referred to as the “Three Mountains and Four Seas.” The Pan Pond is covered with lotus leaves, and the three single-arch stone bridges designed over five hundred years ago still serve as important pathways for Lucheng Primary School students and teachers heading to the sports field. The bridge decks of the eastern and central bridges have been renovated by the school—although covered with cement, the stone structures of the bridges and the unrenovated eastern bridge reveal ancient blue flagstones and faintly visible inscribed bricks and stones, quietly telling old stories. The ancient buildings within the temple are symmetrically arranged, shaded by towering old cypresses and lush greenery, with the interplay of bluestone slabs and lotus leaves creating a delightful scene.

The Confucius Temple is a feudal official-style building constructed with high-quality timber, which has helped it survive to this day. The Dacheng Hall appears to have two layers of eaves but is actually single-storied. Its use of the double-eave hip-and-gable roof design is also typical of imperial architecture, with hollow-carved woodwork and painted patterns featuring traditional Chinese auspicious motifs such as dragons, mythical beasts, and peonies. The main gate of the Dacheng Hall consists of six panels in a three-fold arrangement, with the upper part featuring hollow carvings and the middle and lower sections displaying reliefs. The carvings on the gate depict the first half of the ancient Confucian classic “The Great Learning”: “The Way of Great Learning lies in illuminating virtue...”

Among the materials used in the Confucius Temple, timber is the most common. Easy to carve and hollow out, it has become the preferred choice for official buildings and Confucius Temples. The column bases beneath the wooden pillars and the supporting Sumeru pedestals are typical of Ming Dynasty architectural styles. Having endured the test of time, the patterns carved on these bases and pedestals have become partially blurred and worn. An industry expert well-versed in Confucius Temples and traditional homes remarked: “The wear and aging are authentic—the brand-new parts are later restorations, not original.” Time is like a knife, and even stone cannot withstand its ravages.

Today, having undergone multiple renovations, Chuxiong Confucius Temple retains few early Ming Dynasty structures. In comparison, the Dacheng Hall is relatively well-preserved. Additionally, the Pan Pond is large in scale, rationally designed, functionally practical, and uniquely styled, representing a mid-Ming Dynasty construction.

Nowadays, Chuxiong Confucius Temple is jointly used and managed by Lucheng Primary School and the Chuxiong Teachers Training Center. In fact, the integration of the Confucius Temple with the school, making them “one entity,” has historical roots. Historical records state that the temple was originally built in the Yuan Dynasty, relocated to its current site during the Ming Dynasty, and further developed in the Qing Dynasty. After 1932, the temple was used successively as a primary school, Chuxiong County Middle School, an air station, and an air force school, and continued as a primary school after liberation. In 1932, the predecessor of Lucheng Primary School, Chuxiong First Higher Primary School established in 1906, moved into the Confucius Temple, where it remains today. Now, Lucheng Primary School is a first-class, second-grade model school in the province. In 1978, the western section of the Confucius Temple became the precursor to today’s Chuxiong Teachers Training Center—the Chuxiong County Teachers Further Education School. Since then, the temple’s eastern and central sections have been managed by Lucheng Primary School, while the western section is largely overseen by the Chuxiong Teachers Training Center. The only part of the Confucius Temple open to the public is the Zunjing Pavilion, which is kept locked, with a “Library” sign added to its lintel. It has now become the school library.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units