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 Qing Dynasty's Jiaqing period. It features the Dacheng Hall, Lingxing Gate, and the east and west wings, with a central altar dedicated to Confucius and adjacent altars for his disciples and the 72 sages on either side. Each year, during the Teacher's Day ceremony, local gentry and government officials attend, making it a cultural stronghold of Hsinchu. It was the first building in Zhuqian City funded by private donations, taking eight years to complete at a cost of over 20,000 taels. It also served as the academy for the Tamsui District, allowing Zhuqian students to enroll without traveling far to Changhua starting from the 23rd year of Jiaqing, thus positively impacting cultural education in the Zhuqian area. During the Japanese colonial period, it was the founding site for several schools in Hsinchu, such as Hsinchu Girls' Public School, Jianhua Junior High School, Hsinchu High School, Hsinchu Girls' High School, and Hsinchu Vocational High School. In 1956, the Hsinchu County Council approved a plan to relocate the temple, and it was rebuilt and completed on September 28, 1958, to the left side of Zhongshan Park, now situated within the Hsinchu City Gong Er Park near the gymnasium. In front of the temple is a semi-circular pond, and a monument commemorating the relocation is located to the left front of the temple. Currently, visitors can only view the Hsinchu Confucius Temple from the outside except during the sacrificial ceremonies, which is a regrettable aspect.
