Hsinchu Confucius Temple Introduction
The original site of the Confucius Temple is located in Chenggong Village and was established in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing era during the Qing Dynasty. It consists of the Dacheng Hall, Lingxing Gate, and the east and west corridors. Inside the hall, the spirit tablet of Confucius is enshrined in the center, with the Sub-sage and the 72 worthy disciples enshrined on either side. Each year, during the Teacher's Day ceremony, local gentry and agency heads attend to witness the event, making it a significant cultural center in Hsinchu. It is the first building in the city of bamboo erected through private donations, taking eight years to complete with a cost of approximately twenty thousand taels of silver. It also served as an academy for the Tamsui District, and since the 23rd year of Jiaqing, it has held entrance exams, alleviating the need for students from the Zhucheng area to travel to Changhua, which positively impacted the cultural and educational development in the area. During the Japanese occupation period, it became the founding site for many schools in Hsinchu, such as Hsinchu Girls' School, Jianhua Junior High School, Hsinchu High School, Hsinchu Girls' High School, and Hsinchu Vocational High School. In 1956, the Hsinchu County Council approved the plan to relocate the Confucius Temple, and on September 28, 1958, it was rebuilt and completed to the left side of Zhongshan Park, currently located in the Civic Park II in Hsinchu City, near the gymnasium. In front of the temple, there is a crescent-shaped pool, and the commemorative monument for the relocation is situated to the left front of the temple. Currently, visitors can only admire the Hsinchu Confucius Temple during the sacrificial ceremonies; at other times, it is only possible to view the exterior, which is a regrettable aspect.
