Penghu Confucius Temple (Wenshi Academy) Introduction
Wenshih Academy is the only academy in Penghu from the past and is the oldest school, founded in the 31st year of the Qianlong reign (1766). It was later destroyed during the Sino-French War. In the early period of Japanese rule, Wenshih Academy was converted into a field hospital, and after its withdrawal, the academy was rebuilt into the Penghu Confucius Temple. It is located next to the Penghu Living Museum on Xinxing Road in Magong City and is the birthplace of education in Penghu. Named after the abundant Wenshih stones in Penghu, the academy was initially dedicated to the deity of Kuaixing, hence also called "Kuaixing Lou." It has undergone several renovations over the years; in 1895, local residents transformed Wenshih Academy into a Confucius Temple to preserve the intrinsic culture of the Chinese people. In 1999, the Penghu County Government allocated a budget to reconstruct it, resulting in the present form, and it is now also referred to as the "Penghu Confucius Temple." Upon entering Wenshih Academy, one can immediately see the tall stone tablet at the edge of the wall, though the inscription on the Shilang Jing Tai tablet has been worn down. The architecture of Wenshih Academy is traditional Qing dynasty style, featuring a standard Chinese double-story loft; it includes Dasheng Hall, east and west wings, Dacheng Gate, Lingxing Gate, and Chongsheng Shrine, preserving the traditional architectural features. [Recommended visit time] 1 hour.
