Zhanghua Confucius Temple Introduction
Changhua Confucius Temple was founded in 1726 during the reign of the Qing Dynasty's Yongzheng Emperor. The current layout is the result of major renovations carried out during the Daoguang period, with the most exquisite carvings found in the main hall, "Dacheng Hall." Inside the hall, there are tablets of revered sages, and at the center is a shrine dedicated to Confucius, above which hang two plaques inscribed with "Dao Guàn Gǔ Jīn" and "Yǔ Tiān Dì Cān," the former awarded by Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo and the latter granted by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The temple is an important symbol of cultural and educational development in central Taiwan. Originally grand in scale, in addition to the Confucius Temple, it included facilities such as the Baisha Academy and Minglun Hall. Currently, the remaining structures include Dacheng Hall, the eastern and western aisles, the rear hall and the Shrine of the Ancestors, the ceremonial gate, and the Lingxing Gate. Unfortunately, many parts, including the ceremonial gate, righteous path, Panchi Pond, and palace walls, were destroyed during the Japanese colonial period. Today, the Changhua Confucius Temple retains only about two-thirds of its original size, and it was restored to its original state in 1978.
