Liaoyang Confucius Temple

Liaoyang Confucius Temple

The Liaoyang Confucius Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple is located in Wenmiao Square on East Avenue, Wensheng District, Liaoyang City. Originally built in the 15th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1382), it features a rigorous layout with structures such as the screen wall, Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond, Jijin Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Qisheng Shrine all aligned along the same north-south central axis. It is divided into three courtyards: the first courtyard has a screen wall at the front, with bilingual Manchu and Han steles for dismounting on both sides, facing the memorial archway-style Lingxing Gate, which is enclosed by walls with side gates in the east and west corners; the second courtyard features a Pan Pond at the front, with visitors crossing the Pan Water Bridge to reach the five-bay Jijin Gate, which has a flush gable roof covered with gray tiles, a central corridor, the Loyalty and Filial Piety Shrine on the east, and the Chastity Shrine on the west, enshrining revered scholars and teachers; the third courtyard houses the main structure, the five-bay Dacheng Hall, which has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof, upturned eaves, gray tiles, and red pillars. At the center of the hall is the statue of Confucius, the Supreme Sage; to the east are statues of Yan Hui, the Second Sage, and Zisi, the Descendant Sage; to the west are statues of Zeng Shen, the Expository Sage, and Mencius, the Second Sage. Two pavilions on the east and west display the virtuous disciples of Confucius, while the side halls on both sides of the main hall enshrine 116 ancient Confucian scholars.

Behind the Dacheng Hall is an earthen mound with the Chongsheng Shrine, which enshrines the five generations of Confucius’s ancestors. The temple also includes an incense pavilion, scripture tower, stele pavilion, and several plaques inscribed by Qing emperors. In 1900, it was looted by the Russian invaders. Although it was partially restored in 1934, it was later destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. It has now been rebuilt as Wenmiao Square.