Taipei Confucius Temple

The Taipei Confucius Temple (traditional Chinese: 臺北孔子廟; simplified Chinese: 台北孔子庙; pinyin: Táiběi Kǒngzǐ Miào; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-khóng-chú-biō) is a Confucian temple in Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan.

Taipei Confucius Temple
臺北孔子廟
Location
LocationDatong, Taipei, Taiwan
Geographic coordinates25°4′22.57″N 121°30′59.8″E
Architecture
Typetemple of Confucius
StyleFujian architecture
Completed1879 (original building)
1930 (current building)

History

Qing Dynasty

The Taipei Confucius Temple was built in 1879 during the Qing era, after Taipeh Prefecture was established in 1875.

Empire of Japan

During the Japanese era, the temple was demolished, but was rebuilt in 1930 by Wang Yi-Shun. The newly completed temple had only been in use for a few years when World War II broke out. The Japanese ordered an end to traditional Chinese ceremonies, and Japanese Shinto ritual music was played in the temple for a brief period until 1945 when Taiwan was handed over from Japan to the Republic of China.

Republic of China

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, the temple was temporarily used to house the Examination Yuan until 1951 when the office was moved to Muzha District.[1] During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, visitors to the temple are required to maintain social distance and their numbers are regulated to ensure safety.[2]

Architecture

The temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic adornments. At the main hall of the temple one can see a black plaque with gold lettering which was inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek that reads "Educate without Discrimination." The temple features 4D theater which showcases the journey of Confucius and the history of the temple.[3]

Events

Every year on September 28, a ceremony with traditional music and stylized dancing is held at the temple in honor of Confucius. The temple is also the place where students, accompanied by their parents, pay a visit before their college entrance exam to seek for blessing.[2]

Transportation

The temple is accessible within walking distance West from Yuanshan Station of the Taipei Metro.

See also

References
  1. "A Brief History of the Examination Yuan". Examination Yuan of ROC. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  2. Liao, George (28 April 2020). "Taipei Confucius Temple ready to bless students taking exams". Taiwan News. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. "Taipei Confucius Temple". RoundTAIWANRound. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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