Zhengzhou Confucian Temple

Zhengzhou Confucian temple was built in Yongping period of Ming emperor in Eastern Han Dynasty. It was built on a large scale in Qianlong's third year and burned in Guangxu's second year. After liberation, Dacheng hall was built in Qing Dynasty. The Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong, Confucius Temple in Nanjing, Confucius Temple in Beijing and Confucian temple in Jilin are known as the four major Confucian temples in China. In terms of structure and scale, the reputation of Zhengzhou Confucian temple in front of the "four brothers" will be slightly inferior, but if the history of the temple is more than 1900 years ago, Zhengzhou Confucian temple is not a "junior".

Confucious'Temple

synonym

Zhengzhou Confucian temple generally refers to Confucian Temple (Zhengzhou Confucian temple, Henan Province)

Zhengzhou Confucian temple was once the oldest, most extensive and largest ancient architectural complex in Zhengzhou. According to the records of Zhengzhou compiled by the Ming Dynasty, Zhengzhou Confucian temple was founded in the Yongping period of the Ming emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it is the second oldest Confucian temple in China after Qufu Confucian temple. In the early Yuan Dynasty, Zhengzhou Confucian temple, covering an area of 37 mu, was composed of front courtyard, middle courtyard and back courtyard. There are Lingxing gate, panchi gate and halberd gate in the front yard.

The central courtyard of Confucian temple has Dacheng hall and east-west corridor. There are Minglun hall, Jingting and Zunjing Pavilion in the backyard. In addition, there are land ancestral hall, Qisheng ancestral hall, Xiangxian ancestral hall, jinshengyuzhenfang, jurenmen, yourenmen, sacrificial ware storehouse, musical instrument storehouse, Shenchu, yudecang, Yicang, shepu hall, zasha hall, jindezhai, xiuyezhai, cunchengzhai, etc. Later, a fire caused great damage to the Confucian temple. In 1346, the government office was rebuilt according to the original style. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was rebuilt many times. However, in 1896, the Confucian temple was burned again and the building was completely destroyed.

Although the Confucian temple was restored later, its scale was far less than before. Later, there were only two ancient buildings, Dacheng hall and Jimen, and a few small rooms.

historical origin

Zhengzhou Confucian temple is located in the north of the east section of the East Street in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, 200 meters east of the first people's hospital. It was first built in 58-75 ad (Yongping reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty). There are more than 200 halls, corridors and pavilions, covering an area of about 50000 square meters. There are one memorial archway crossing the street in the East and the West. It was built on a large scale in Qianlong's third year and burned in Guangxu's second year.

Cultural relics protection

Dacheng hall, a Qing Dynasty building, survived after liberation. Because of its great historical, artistic and scientific value, it was declared as a provincial cultural relic protection unit by Henan Provincial People's Government in June 1963.

Historical records

Zhengzhou Confucian temple was the oldest, most extensive and largest ancient architectural complex in Zhengzhou. According to the records of Zhengzhou compiled by the Ming Dynasty, Zhengzhou Confucian temple was founded in the Yongping period of the Ming emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it is the second oldest Confucian temple in China after Qufu Confucian temple.

Layout structure

In the early Yuan Dynasty, Zhengzhou Confucian temple, covering an area of 37 mu, was composed of front courtyard, middle courtyard and back courtyard. There are Lingxing gate, panchi gate and halberd gate in the front yard. There are Dacheng hall and east-west corridor rooms in the central courtyard. There are Minglun hall, Jingting and Zunjing Pavilion in the backyard. In addition, there are land ancestral hall, Qisheng ancestral hall, Xiangxian ancestral hall, jinshengyuzhenfang, jurenmen, yourenmen, sacrificial ware storehouse, musical instrument storehouse, Shenchu, yudecang, Yicang, shepu hall, zasha hall, jindezhai, xiuyezhai, cunchengzhai, etc.

Later, a fire caused great damage to the Confucian temple. In 1346, the government office was rebuilt according to the original style. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was rebuilt many times. However, in 1896, the Confucian temple was burned again and the building was completely destroyed. Later, although it was restored, the scale was far less than before. Later, there were only two ancient buildings, Dacheng hall and Jimen, and a few small rooms.

look south

Dacheng hall faces south. It is majestic and solemn. Its architectural form is ancient "Xieshan style" architecture, and its top structure is complex and exquisite. The highest part of the main hall is called "ridge", and there are two meter high dragon head shaped components at both ends of the ridge, which are called "kiss". Its meaning is long Si rainfall, which is a sign of fire prevention. In the center of the ridge stands a double-layer pavilion with auspicious ornaments such as unicorn and elephant.

On the ridge surface, there are auspicious patterns such as "Erlong Xizhu", "spider pan silk" and "Phoenix peony", which are beautiful and vivid. The top of the hall is covered with green glazed tiles, which reflect the brilliance of the ridge ornaments. The East and west sides of the hall are "two mountains". On the "Bofeng" (the name of ancient building components) of the two mountains, there are patterns such as the Jade Emperor, the Tathagata, the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, opera characters, etc., with exquisite composition and meticulous production.

cultural meaning

Under the eaves of the hall is a dazzling "five step heavy angdou arch" (the name of ancient building components). The complex woodworking structure and complicated painting show the superb craftsmanship of ancient craftsmen. The wood carvings and color paintings on the beams, rafters and purlins in the hall are even more ingenious. The designs of green mountains and wild deer, flying horses, Phoenix perching in the forest, dragon rising, shepherd boy bullfight, swordsman dancing and so on make the hall gorgeous and magnificent.

Address: East Street, Guancheng Hui District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province

Longitude: 113.688599

Latitude: 34.748722

Tel: 0371-66322939

Tour time: 1-2 hours

Traffic information: take bus No.85 or K805 at the east gate of Zhengzhou Confucian temple.

Ticket information: usually free, 10 yuan during the temple fair

Opening hours: 8:00-17:30