The Confucius Temple in Tainan was established in 1665. Over the past 300 years, the temple has undergone several major renovations and stands as a magnificent Confucian temple in Taiwan, recognized as a first-class cultural relic. In addition to tourists, the majority of visitors are students who pray for academic success. The temple maintains the traditional layout of ‘left school, right temple’, with the left side featuring the Minglun Hall complex and the right side centered around the Dacheng Hall. The main structure within the temple is the Dacheng Hall, which is remarkable for its lack of pillars and corridors, supported only by the beams outside the thick walls, making it a unique structure and a typical representative of ancient Chinese architecture. The temple primarily worships the spirit of Confucius, with the eastern and western corridors dedicated to other ancient sages. The annual Confucius memorial ceremony is held in the temple square. On September 28th each year, the ceremony is presided over by the Mayor of Tainan, conducted according to ancient rites, creating a solemn and grand atmosphere. The ancient trees beside the temple evoke a sense of history. Among the temple’s displays is a genuine plaque reading ‘First School of Taiwan’, with no signature indicating the author, beneath which stands a statue of Chen Yonghua, a military advisor. He was the one who persuaded Zheng Jing, the son of Zheng Chenggong, to ‘establish a sacred temple and build schools’, and is praised by later generations as ‘the advocate of Taiwan’s education’. This temple was also the first institution of higher learning established after Zheng Chenggong reclaimed Taiwan, and it was the place where all children in Taiwan began their studies in the early Qing Dynasty, hence the title ‘First School of Taiwan’. The temple is open all year round from 8:30 to 17:30, closed on Chinese New Year’s Eve, with specific business hours subject to the day’s opening status.
Confucius Temple in Tainan
The Confucius Temple in Tainan was established in 1665. Over the past 300 years, the temple has unde[...]
