Temple of the Sage of Literature

　　The Temple of the Sage of Literature is an ancient architectural complex. Its construction began in April of the fifth year of the Hongwu era during the Ming Dynasty (1372) and was completed in February of the sixth year. In the ninth year, it was designated as the prefectural school. In the tenth year, Magistrate Jin Defu further embellished it. There were numerous subsequent renovations. The Guangxu-era *Mianyang Prefecture Annals* contains a woodblock-printed panoramic illustration of the sacred temple, revealing its full appearance. The image shows the temple covering half a hectare, facing south with its back to the north. In front of the gate lies an outer ceremonial pond, beyond which stretches a stone-paved official road running east–west, with archways at both ends inscribed with “Civil officials dismount, military officials dismount.” Beyond the road lies a grand stone staircase, atop which stands the Lingxing Gate, bearing the inscription “Great Harmony and Vital Force,” with “Virtue Surpasses Antiquity and the Present” on the left and “Morality Matches Heaven and Earth” on the right. Entering the gate is the inner ceremonial pond, spanned by the Number One Scholar Bridge. Beyond the bridge lies the Dacheng Hall, where the spirit tablet of Confucius was enshrined, behind which is the Chongsheng Hall. Other auxiliary structures include the Minglun Hall, Xingshi Studio, Chengyue Studio, and Archery Field. The entire sacred temple complex features majestic halls and soaring pavilions, making it the grandest of the ancient buildings in Miancheng.

　　 In December 1994, the Confucian Society of Miancheng was established. Through fundraising efforts, over 80,000 RMB was raised from local and overseas donors, including a solo donation of 40,000 RMB from Mr. Xiang Qingfeng, a fellow villager residing in Taiwan. In the spring of 1995, the Miancheng Confucian Society commissioned the Huashan Granite Products Factory in Miluo City, Hunan Province, to create a statue of Confucius. The statue, measuring 3.5 meters in height and weighing 8 tons, was carved from granite, with its design based on the standards of the Confucius statue at the Confucius Mansion in Qufu...

　　...and subsequently enlarged. In September of the same year, the statue was transported back. Later, supporting structures such as the “Literature Sage Tower,” “Flower Garden,” “Bamboo Garden,” “Stele Forest,” “Ceremonial Pond,” “Ornamental Columns,” and “Sage-Contemplation Pavilion” were successively built on the original site of the sacred temple (now adjacent to the Hui People’s Primary School).

　　 The statue of Confucius is clad in a long robe, hands clasped in salute, with kind and serene features. It stands atop a roughly 3-meter-high stone pedestal, facing the ceremonial pond to the south, the stele forest to the north, the Sage Tower to the west, and the bamboo garden to the east. The Literature Sage Tower is a faux-ancient structure that cost over 300,000 RMB to build, consisting of three stories. With its carved railings, painted beams, upturned eaves, and classic elegance, it is a majestic and imposing sight. The first floor houses the Confucius Memorial Hall, featuring four sets of sculpted group scenes based on the *Illustrated Biographies of Confucius*, including Zigong Taking Leave, Inquiring About Governance at Mount Tai, The Four Disciples in Discussion, and Zigao’s Benevolence and Forgiveness, as well as other related images of Confucius. The second floor is an exhibition hall for calligraphy and painting works.

　　The exhibits include works by Yu Peiyun and Zheng Yunling from the National Calligraphers Association, Chen Yijing and Zhong Mingtian from the Provincial Calligraphers Association, as well as contributions from Chinese-American and Hong Kong–Taiwan compatriots. The artists range in age from over 90 years old to as young as 10. Each brushstroke captures a unique charm and profound meaning. The third floor is an exhibition hall for cultural relics from the ancient city. It houses over 200 artifacts collected since the Neolithic Age, including stone tablets, carvings, pottery, porcelain, ancient bricks, and coins. Notable items include a Neolithic clay bowl, Tang Dynasty ceramic jars, Song Dynasty bronze mirrors, Yuan Dynasty “Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness” bowls, bricks from the late Yuan Dynasty inscribed with Xu Shouhui’s reign title “Heavenly Mandate,” Ming Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain bowls, and Qing Dynasty Yongzheng-era “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl” bowls.

　　 Throughout the Literature Sage Park, spring brings shade from slender bamboos, summer offers the refreshing breeze of lotus flowers, autumn surrounds the stage with golden chrysanthemums, and winter is graced by towering pines and cypresses. Surrounded by flowers and trees, with spacious grounds and level paths, visitors can pause to admire the grand visage of the sage. Scholars gather here to explore the roots of Confucianism; the young may receive moral instruction, and the elderly may pass on virtue. Being in this place inspires one to pay reverence to this sage whose “morality matches heaven and earth, and whose teachings surpass antiquity and the present.”

　　 Today, the Literature Sage Park has become a sacred site for students seeking academic blessings. Whenever college entrance exams approach, students and their parents kneel devoutly before the statue of Confucius, praying for success and top honors. Strangely enough, in recent years, the number of students from Miancheng Senior High School who have passed the national college entrance exams has risen sharply, surpassing the 1,000 mark. As the saying goes: Worship the sages in the Literature Sage Park, and beneath Confucius’ feet emerge top scholars.