Taichung Confucius Temple Introduction
The present-day Confucius Temple primarily promotes Confucianism, but it also accommodates other doctrines and venerates past sages. Visiting the Taichung Confucius Temple offers insights into its origins, architectural complex, the Confucius ceremony, the "Great Achievement Music," artifacts, historical figures honored at the temple, the "Li Yun Chapter," and the performance of the "Eight-Row Dance." The temple serves as an excellent venue for large-scale cultural and artistic events, film shoots, or workshops. The architectural style is based on historical records, yet, after careful consideration and consultation with scholars and experts, it draws references from the Qufu County records and various documents. To distinguish it from the adjacent Martyrs' Shrine (which features Qing dynasty palace-style architecture and decoration), it was ultimately decided to adopt the Song dynasty palace architectural style for its solidity, dignity, simplicity, and grandeur, with the layout being a scaled-down version adapted from the Qufu Confucius Temple's design. The total area of the temple grounds is 23,653.20 square meters, while the buildings cover an area of 2,363.88 square meters. As a classical structure showcasing one of the rare Song-style architectures in Taiwan, it features a complex and varied structure along with intricate decorations. The construction techniques, such as concrete pouring and assembling templates with reinforcing bars, required precise calibration in every detail, and the exterior finishes demanded meticulous craftsmanship. All the decorations in the temple's halls adopt the Song style, primarily using curled grass and flowers, employing varying shades of color to depict shapes. The construction is exceptionally delicate and intricate, making it a rare architectural model in Taiwan, worthy of research and appreciation by the public. The overall architectural complex of the Confucius Temple includes the following elements: archway (with two gates named "Dao Guan Gu Jin" and "De Piao Tian Di"), screen wall, Lingxing Gate, front courtyard of the Pan Pond, Guande Gate, Yucui Gate, Liao Pavilion, burial site, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, East and West Wings, and Chongsheng Shrine, making it one of the most complete Confucius Temples in Taiwan. Besides the layout mimicking that of Qufu, it also incorporates Qufu architectural terminology and elements, such as the Guande Gate and Yucui Gate, distinguishing them from the Min-Nan styled "Li Men" and "Yi Lu." Although it is a newly constructed building made of reinforced concrete, the Confucius Temple's retro spirit and overall image express its identity as a pioneer of new buildings in the classical Chinese architectural style.
