Wenxi Confucius Temple

　　Wenxi Confucius Temple is located in the northeast corner of Wenxi County. It was rebuilt in the fourth year of the Xianping era of the Song Dynasty, but collapsed due to an earthquake in the seventh year of the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1303). It was reconstructed in the fourth year of the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty (1491). Covering an area of 38 mu, it faces south with its back to the north. The central axis from south to north includes the Dacheng Gate, Pan Pond, Jimen (Pike Gate), and Dacheng Hall.

　　On the right side are the Chuandao Zhai (Preaching Studio) and Shouye Zhai (Teaching Studio). In front of the Dacheng Gate is a Five-Dragon Screen Wall, behind which lies the Inkstone Pond. The Dacheng Hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with five-tiered double-ang bracket sets and a glazed hip-and-gable roof. There are over two hundred structures in total, including the Jixing Gate, Chaomen (Morning Gate), Dacheng Gate, Pan Pond, Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall (Hall of Ethics), Xuegong (Academy), and corridors.

　　The Five-Dragon Screen Wall in front of the gate is made of multicolored glazed tiles, featuring vivid shapes and simple, lustrous colors. The Dacheng Hall is magnificent and solemn, with a well-organized structure and dazzling glazed ridge ornaments. The temple houses numerous stone carvings, including the Xuan Sheng Miao Stele written and inscribed by Sima Guang of the Song Dynasty, a line-engraved portrait of Confucius from the Ming Dynasty, and over forty steles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties—all well preserved. It is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

　　Tel: 0359-7028752

　　Address: Dangzheng Street, Wenxi County

　　

　　Confucius (551 BC~479 BC)　　 Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong), Changping District, the State of Lu. He was a philosopher, educator, and statesman in the late Spring and Autumn period, the founder of Confucianism, and one of the most influential figures in Chinese history and culture. His influence extends globally, particularly across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons. Confucius’ ancestors included Weizi Qi, the half-brother of King Zhou of Shang in the late Yin Dynasty. Weizi Qi presided over the worship of the Shang and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation descendant, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt the surname “Kong.” His fifth-generation descendant, Mu Jin Fu, fled to the State of Lu during times of turmoil and eventually settled in Zouyi. His father, Shuliang He, was a renowned warrior of Lu known for his bravery and strength among the feudal lords. In his later years... More+