Taipei Confucius Temple Introduction
The Taipei Confucius Temple began construction in 1927 and is located within the culturally vibrant Dalongdong Old Street. Under the urban renewal plan promoted by the Taipei City Government, it forms a cultural park with Dalong Elementary School and Bao'an Temple, symbolizing a combination of "temple, school, and palace." The temple serves multiple purposes as a ceremonial location, a symbol of Confucianism, and a designated historic site. The architecture of the Taipei Confucius Temple is based on the design of the original temple in Qufu, featuring plain and solemn beams, columns, and windows without inscriptions. Its layout includes the imposing "Wànrèn Palace Wall," "Pan Pond," "Lingxing Gate," "Ritual Gate," "Dacheng Hall," and "Chongsheng Shrine." Notably, all pillars, doors, and windows inside the temple are devoid of couplets, as it is said that no one dares to show off their literary skills before the revered Confucius. Moreover, as a product of local initiative, the temple incorporates regional decorative styles, particularly the unique Vietnamese ceramic and cut-and-paste decorations found in the Minnan region, with the ceramic decorations being especially distinctive in Taiwanese temple architecture. The main hall, Dacheng Hall, enshrines the tablet of Confucius in the center, with a black plaque inscribed with the words "You Teach Without Discrimination" hanging above. The left and right walls contain tablets honoring the Four Companions (Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius) and twelve philosophers, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and respect. The temple's ambiance evokes a sense of reverence and dignity, reflecting the principled spirit of Chinese Confucian culture. Furthermore, the rich decorations of Vietnamese ceramics in Dacheng Hall are a unique characteristic of this temple, worthy of detailed appreciation. Though the temple lacks numerous deities and ritual implements, it possesses various ceremonial vessels and musical instruments adhering to ancient traditions. During the sacrificial ceremony on September 28, music and dance are performed, along with offerings of animals and wine to express reverence for Confucius. This annual event attracts numerous visitors from both domestically and internationally, providing an opportunity to experience the solemnity of traditional Confucian rituals. In recent years, the Confucius Temple has actively revitalized the historic site, establishing artifact exhibition rooms and multimedia display facilities to help better understand the beauty of the temple and its various sacrificial instruments and musical instruments. It has also set up an innovative display center for the bacchic instruments, where visitors can hear the diverse sounds of the instruments with a gentle touch on the illustrated guide. This allows everyone to appreciate the sounds of the bacchic instruments in their daily lives. The temple has also implemented a unique multilingual audio guide system in Mandarin, English, Japanese, and Korean to serve international visitors. Additionally, the temple frequently holds innovative activities that combine traditional and modern art, and the annual Dalongdong Cultural Season series of events enhances the understanding of sacrificial culture and Confucianism, captivating new waves of visitors to the Confucius Temple. Moreover, a 4D virtual reality theater has been established in the Minglun Hall of the temple, showcasing the historical evolution of the temple and the life of Confucius through high-tech imaging techniques accompanied by immersive effects. This allows the audience to understand the stories of Confucius and the Confucius Temple, adding fun while continuing the educational significance represented by the temple in a novel format.
