Jianshui Confucius Temple, Honghe

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Introduction

Jianshui Confucius Temple (建水文庙) is located in Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It was first constructed in the 22nd year of the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhiyuan period (1285 AD), making it over 700 years old. Over the centuries, the temple has undergone more than 40 expansions and renovations. Covering an area of 114 acres, its current scale, architectural level, and preservation are second only to the Confucius Temples in Qufu (曲阜) and Beijing (北京).

Historical Background

The Jianshui Confucius Temple was built in accordance with the style of the Confucius Temple in Qufu (曲阜), with a palace-style layout centered along the north-south axis. Several independent buildings are symmetrically arranged on both the east and west sides. The original main buildings included a pool, two halls, two wings, two pavilions, three towers, four gates, five pavilions, five shrines, and eight plaques, totaling 37 buildings. Today, except for the destroyed Xingtan (杏坛), Shepu (射圃), Zunjing Pavilion (尊经阁), Wenxing Pavilion (文星阁), Jingyi Pavilion (敬一亭), and Zhaiting Pavilion (斋亭), the other 31 buildings have been well-preserved.

On June 25, 2001, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China designated Jianshui Confucius Temple as a national key cultural heritage site.

Geographical Location

• Location: Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

• Era: Ming (明), Qing (清)

• Area: 114 acres

• Protection Level: Fifth batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Sites

• Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00

• Approval: State Council of the People’s Republic of China

Architectural Layout

The Jianshui Confucius Temple follows the architectural style of Qufu Confucius Temple. The temple features a strictly regulated and magnificent layout with the central axis running from north to south. Covering an area of 114 acres (76,000 square meters) and with a depth of 625 meters, the temple is divided into six spatial sections. The main buildings include:

• One Pool (泮池)

• One Platform (杏坛)

• One Garden (射圃)

• Two Halls (大成殿, 崇圣殿)

• Two Wings (东庑, 西庑)

• Two Pavilions (东明伦堂, 西明伦堂)

• Three Towers (尊经阁, 奎文阁, 魁星阁)

• Four Gates (棂星门, 大成门, 金声门, 玉振门)

• Five Pavilions (敬一亭, 思乐亭, 斋宿亭, 西碑亭, 东碑亭)

• Six Shrines (仓圣祠, 忠义孝悌祠, 名宦祠, 崇圣祠, 景贤祠, 乡贤祠)

• Eight Plaques (太和元气坊, 洙泗渊源坊, 礼门坊, 义路坊, 道冠古今坊, 德配天地坊, 圣域由兹坊, 贤关近仰坊)

The temple’s layout is intricately designed, with a harmonious blend of dense and sparse arrangements, high and low levels.

Major Buildings

Pan Pool (泮池)

The Pan Pool, historically known as the “school pool,” is an essential feature of the Confucius Temple. The term “Pan” signifies the school’s grandeur, but people commonly call it the “Sea of Learning” (学海) to symbolize endless learning. Unlike the semi-circular pools in most Confucius Temples nationwide, Jianshui’s Pan Pool is uniquely elliptical and covers 45 acres (29,700 square meters), making it the largest and most distinctive of its kind in the country.

Zushi Yuan Source Plaque (洙泗渊源坊)

Located in the center of a crescent-shaped terrace, the Zushi Yuan Source Plaque is inscribed with the phrase “万世宗师” (“Master of All Generations”). “Zushi” refers to the two rivers, the Zushu and the Sishu, near Confucius’s birthplace. The plaque commemorates the profound and enduring influence of Confucianism. Built in the 43rd year of the Qianlong period (1778), this traditional five-opening, three-arch gate is made of wood and stone, with a total area of 180 square meters. The plaque is flanked by stone carvings of dragons, kylins, lions, and elephants.

Lingxing Gate (棂星门)

The Lingxing Gate, also known as the “Heavenly Field Star” (天田星), honors the star that governs the selection of scholarly talent. The gate’s unique feature is the four central pillars that protrude through the roof, rising more than two meters above the roofline. These pillars are adorned with blue-and-white porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty. The gate is a three-bay single-eave structure rebuilt in the 50th year of the Qianlong period (1785). The roof is covered with green tiles, and the structure is 14.6 meters wide, 3.6 meters deep, and 6.8 meters high.

Kuixing Pavilion and Wenchang Pavilion (魁星阁, 文昌阁)

On the east and west sides of the garden stand the Kuixing Pavilion and Wenchang Pavilion. Kuixing, one of the twenty-eight constellations, is responsible for the examination of scholars, while Wenchang symbolizes the prosperity of education. The Wenchang Pavilion is a two-tiered, double-eaved, gable-and-pitch roof structure, rebuilt during the 13th year of the Yongzheng period (1735). It houses the statue of Wenchang Dijun, the ancient Chinese deity who governs success in exams and career.

Xingtan (杏坛)

The Xingtan is said to be the site where Confucius taught his disciples. Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, it was destroyed and later rebuilt in 2000. The current structure is a three-bay single-eave pavilion with a height of 10.3 meters and a width of 7.12 meters. The pavilion is surrounded by stone railings, each adorned with traditional Chinese auspicious patterns. Inside, the pavilion features exquisite carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and flowers.

Jinsheng and Yuzhen Gates (金声玉振门)

The Jinsheng and Yuzhen Gates, built in the 18th year of the Jiaqing period (1813), are named after the praise for Confucius by Mencius, who said, “The sound of gold begins the order; the sound of jade finishes it.” These gates represent the progression of Confucian teachings. The two gates are each 5.3 meters wide, 5.3 meters deep, and 5.8 meters high, with blue-tiled roofs.

Dacheng Gate (大成门)

Rebuilt during the 18th year of the Jiaqing period (1813), the Dacheng Gate is a three-bay, single-eave structure with a tiled roof. It is 13.31 meters wide, 5.5 meters deep, and 7.4 meters high. The gate is an imposing structure, and the phrase “Dacheng” (大成) refers to Confucius’s concept of achieving the highest moral and intellectual accomplishment.

Xianshi Temple (先师庙)

Also known as the Dacheng Hall, the Xianshi Temple is the main hall where sacrifices to Confucius are made. The hall’s three gold characters “Xianshi Miao” (先师庙) were written by Wang Wenzhi, a calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. Supported by 28 large columns, the hall features intricate carvings and a roof decorated with yellow glazed tiles. The hall is a five-bay structure with a deep interior, measuring 26.95 meters in width and 18.5 meters in depth. The hall is adorned with detailed carvings, including images of dragons, birds, and auspicious symbols.

Historical and Cultural Heritage

The Jianshui Confucius Temple (建水文庙) is a cornerstone in the study of Confucianism in southern Yunnan, earning the city the accolades of “Famous Literary State,” “Southern Yunnan’s Zoulu,” “Poetry and Calligraphy County,” and “State of Ritual and Music.” The temple’s role in “educating and transforming” has shaped the glorious cultural history of ancient Jianshui, significantly influencing the development of politics, economy, culture, religion, and architecture in southern Yunnan over a period of seven centuries. The Confucius Temple has become an essential part of the cultural heritage that underpins Jianshui’s status as a national historical and cultural city, with its rich historical deposits and profound cultural connotations.

Banyan-Cypress Symbiosis Tree

The Banyan-Cypress Symbiosis Tree, locally known as “Wan General Holding Bai Xian Bai” (万将军抱白小姐), is a unique and famous tree in the temple’s vicinity. According to legend, General Wan returned from a long military campaign and was reunited with Bai Xian Bai, a lady he deeply loved. Overcome with joy, they embraced tightly, vowing never to be apart. The tree symbolizes this vow, where Bai Xian Bai, a small-leafed Banyan tree, lovingly holds the ancient and sturdy Cypress tree. Over time, the two trees grew intertwined, with their branches and leaves interwoven, symbolizing eternal love. In reality, it is a robust, ancient Cypress tree embraced by a small-leafed Banyan tree, forming a unique spectacle in nature.

Cultural Relics Value

The Jianshui Confucius Temple is an important historical and architectural site for the study of Confucian culture in Yunnan Province and even across China. The “East Corridor of Steles” (东碑廊) houses the imperial edict from Emperor Wuzong of the Yuan Dynasty, which posthumously awarded Confucius the title “Great Sage and Literature King” (大成至圣文宣王) in 1308. This corridor also contains over thirty stone inscriptions from various dynasties, documenting repairs to the academy, temple landholdings, and sacrificial rites. The “West Corridor of Steles” (西碑廊) preserves inscriptions from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including scholarly examinations and moral governance steles, as well as local historical records and teachings from Confucian classics such as the Four Maxims of Chengzi (程子四箴). These stele inscriptions are highly valuable for academic and historical research, particularly for the study of ancient borderland culture and education.

Preservation Measures

In March 1983, the Jianshui Confucius Temple was designated as the first batch of county-level cultural heritage protection units in Jianshui County (建水县).

In January 1984, the temple was listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit.

On June 25, 2001, the Jianshui Confucius Temple was declared a National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Unit by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.

Tourist Information

Location

The Jianshui Confucius Temple is located in Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Address:
268 Lin’an Road, Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Transportation Information

• By Train:
  Take a train to Lin’an, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Jianshui. After arriving, you can walk or take a taxi to the scenic area (taxi fare is approximately 5 yuan).

• By Car:

1. From Kunming or Yuxi:
   Take the Kunming-Mo Highway → S304 or S214 → Cui Da Line to Tongjian Expressway, exit at Jianshui Toll Station → Yinghui Road → Lin’an Road.

2. From Honghe:
   Take Honghe Avenue → Jishi Expressway → Jianshui Interchange → Tongjian Expressway, exit at Jianshui Toll Station → Yinghui Road → Lin’an Road.

3. From Pu’er:
   Take Kunming-Mo Highway → Tianhou Expressway → Jishi Expressway → Jianshui Interchange → Tongjian Expressway, exit at Jianshui Toll Station → Yinghui Road → Lin’an Road.

Ticket Information

• Recommended Visit Duration: 2 hours

• Opening Hours: 08:00 AM – 06:00 PM

• Ticket Price:
  Combined ticket for Confucius Temple, Zhu Family Garden, and Swallow Cave: 133 yuan per person.
  Adult single ticket: 60 yuan.
  Children’s ticket: 30 yuan.