Confucius Temple

Author: Shanyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Nanjing Confucius Temple is a temple dedicated to and honoring the ancient Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius. Its full name is "Temple of the Most Sage Confucius, Literary and," and is commonly known as "Confucius Temple." Confucius has been revered as "Master Kong" since ancient times, hence the temple's colloquial name "Confucius Temple." Nanjing Confucius Temple was first built in the first year of the Jingyou era (1034 AD) during the Song Dynasty and was expanded from a school established during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Today, the temple has been thoroughly renovated and is celebrated as a scenic area of Qinhuai, becoming a distinctive landmark of ancient Nanjing and a world-famous tourist attraction. The Qinhuai River Scenic Belt within Confucius Temple includes numerous cultural relics, historical sites, and attractions: the ancient Peach Leaf Ferry, where the love story of calligrapher Wang Xianzhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and his concubine Tao Ye is said to have taken place; Wuyi Lane, where the prominent families of Wang Dao and Xie An once resided; the ancient architectural complexes of the Confucius Temple and the school, built in the first year of the Jingyou era during the Renzong era of the Song Dynasty; the Chinese Gate Fortress, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the East and West Gardens of the residence of the Ming Dynasty hero Xu Da (now Bailu Island Park and Zhan Garden); the Imperial Examination Hall, which was the largest in the country during that time; the former residence of the author of "The Story of the Scholars," Wu Jingzi, known as Qinhuai Shuiting; the Wendebiao Bridge, built four hundred years ago, where on the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, one can view half the moon from the bridge; the former residence of the famous courtesan Li Xiangjun, known as Meixiang Pavilion; and many others.