Taiwan Confucian Temple
Encyclopedia
The Taiwan Confucian Temple is a Confucian
temple on Nanmen Road in Tainan City, Taiwan
.
Confucius Temple, also called the Scholarly Temple was built in 1665 when Cheng Ching, son of Koxinga
approved of the proposal by Chief of General Staff Chen Yung-hua to construct the Temple on the right side and the National Academy(to be called "Guo Xue" hereafter) on the left side of a hill, with both of them facing the south. On the east(left) side stood Ming-Lun Hall (Hall of Ethics), built as a place for instructors to offer lectures and cultivate intellectuals. On the west(right) side was the sanctuary called Ta-Cheng Hall (Hall of Great Achievement), housing the mortuary tablet of Confucius, as well as those of his distinguished disciples. The Wen Miao and Guo Xue compound, the first of its kind in the history of Taiwan, was thus called the First Academy of Taiwan.
In 1685, when Taiwan
was annexed to the territory of the Qing Dynasty
, the first Taiwan Regional Chief Administrator Chou Chang and Taiwan Prefecture Magistrate Chiang Yu-ying began their efforts to have the Wen Miao renovated and the Ta-Cheng Hall reconstructed into Taiwan Prefecture Academy. Since then, the compound has been renovated and expanded several times. In 1712, following a major renovation by Taiwan Chief Administrator Chen Ping, the compound retained its original layout of Wen Miao to the right and Guo Xue to the left. In the Wen Miao, in addition to its Ta-Cheng Hall, a gate named Ta-Cheng Gate (Gate of Great Achievement) was erected at its front yard and a shrine named Chung-Sheng Shrine (Shrine of Confucius
' Ancestors) was built in its backyard. The Ta-Cheng Hall was flanked by East-Wu and West-Wu, two chambers in the worship of ancient scholars, while the Ta-Chen Gate stood between Wen-Chang Shrine (Shrine of Scholars) to the left and Tu-Di Shrine (Shrine of the Land) to the right. Also built on both sides of the yard of the Ta-Cheng gate were two walls with the addition of Li Gate (Gate of Rites) and Yi Road (Path of Righteousness). In the academy, a gate named Ju-Te-Chih-Men (Gate of Involving in Virtue) was erected as a main entrance to the Ming-Lun Hall, the main hall of Taiwan Prefecture Academy. Situated between the gate and the hall was a courtyard flanked by Chambers of the Six Arts, while seated behind the hall were residential chambers for faculty. To the east of the Ming-Lun Hall was the Chu Tzu Altar in worship of the scholar Chu Hsi. At this point, the construction of the Wen Miao had developed approximately into its current shape and scale.
The Wen Miao continued to undergo several renovations in the wake of major renovation by Chen Ping. In 1777, Taiwan Prefecture Magistrate Chiang Yuan-shu undertook a major renovation. However, because Taiwan was established as a province in 1887 and Taiwan Prefecture was renamed as Tainan Prefecture two years later, the Wen Miao was renamed Tainan Prefecture Academy. After 1895, when Japan
began its rule of Taiwan, the Wen Miao was once again used as a public school and military barracks and was considerably damaged. A major renovation in 1917, under which some parts of the construction were torn down, resulted in the scale and structure of the Wen Miao as it is today. The temple has been renovated several times over the past 300 years, most recently between 1987 and 1989.
Today the temple serves as a popular tourist attraction
and also preserves ancient Confucian ceremonies, which are conducted on a regular basis. The temple also includes storerooms for the ritual implements and musical instruments that are used in these ceremonies.
(台北孔廟) located on Dalong Street in Taipei
. 25°4′21"N 121°30′59"E The temple in Taipei was built between 1879 and 1884.
, the vice chairman of the Chinese Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), was attacked by Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) supporters during his visit to the Tainan Confucius Temple. The DPP city-councillor of Tainan City, Wang Ding-yu, who was believed to have summoned and led the protesters, deliberately knocked Zhang down and dragged him for several metres; however, he later denied any involvement in the incident. Three of Zhang's plainclothes police guards from Tainan Police Station had their arms folded and quietly watched the matter unfold. When Zhang entered his car and attempted to leave, one protester climbed atop the car and stomped on its roof while his colleagues cheered. Wang Ding-yu was later sentenced to 18 months in jail, with various lengths for other protesters.
Despite the above account of the event widely reported by supporters of the KMT (Kuomingtang) Party, video evidence readily available (this visit by Mr. Zhang was broadcast by television) shows a different story. Although Mr. Wang did lead a group of protesters who wished to voice their displeasure with Mr. Zhang in relationship to the unification policy of the ruling KMT party, the fall was clearly accidental as Mr. Zhang was stepping backwards from the protesters. This occurred while Mr. Wang was trying to slow down the protesters, and Mr. Wang immediately tried to help up Mr. Zhang, using his hands to hold Mr. Zhang. While this is clearly evident to any reasonable person viewing the video, the accident has been portrayed as "deliberate knockdown" and "dragging" of Mr. Zhang by KMT-friendly media. The immediate and harsh prosecution of Mr. Wang is also in contrast to the often judicial delay and lack of vigor when defendants are famous KMT politicians, illustrating the selectivenss and non-independence of the judiciary in the country. It could be reasonably argued that the protesters in this cases were too emotional in their expression, but to characterize their action as deliberate intent to harm a person is beyond what would be interpreted by a normal person. This entire event in a nutshell shows the bias influence that powerful media backed by wealthy political party can assert on a democratic population. However, this last part seems to be biased and doesn´t reflect the whole reality. Since 1987, the KMT does not own any media and is only partially backed by some less powerful media.Powerful media such a the Independent Post and Taiwan News maintain a critical line towards the KMT.
Image:Kongmiau.JPG|The gate of Tainan's Confucian Temple.
Image:臺南泮宮坊.JPG|The Paifang
which is across from Tainan Confucian Temple.
Image:KongmiaochishouTainanTaiwan.jpg|chiwen
at the Temple.
Image:Manchurian_Script_Confucian_Tainan_Taiwan.jpg|Dismounting stele
written in Manchurian and Chinese reminding people to dismount their horse.
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
temple on Nanmen Road in Tainan City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
History
The TainanTainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
Confucius Temple, also called the Scholarly Temple was built in 1665 when Cheng Ching, son of Koxinga
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
approved of the proposal by Chief of General Staff Chen Yung-hua to construct the Temple on the right side and the National Academy(to be called "Guo Xue" hereafter) on the left side of a hill, with both of them facing the south. On the east(left) side stood Ming-Lun Hall (Hall of Ethics), built as a place for instructors to offer lectures and cultivate intellectuals. On the west(right) side was the sanctuary called Ta-Cheng Hall (Hall of Great Achievement), housing the mortuary tablet of Confucius, as well as those of his distinguished disciples. The Wen Miao and Guo Xue compound, the first of its kind in the history of Taiwan, was thus called the First Academy of Taiwan.
In 1685, when Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
was annexed to the territory of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, the first Taiwan Regional Chief Administrator Chou Chang and Taiwan Prefecture Magistrate Chiang Yu-ying began their efforts to have the Wen Miao renovated and the Ta-Cheng Hall reconstructed into Taiwan Prefecture Academy. Since then, the compound has been renovated and expanded several times. In 1712, following a major renovation by Taiwan Chief Administrator Chen Ping, the compound retained its original layout of Wen Miao to the right and Guo Xue to the left. In the Wen Miao, in addition to its Ta-Cheng Hall, a gate named Ta-Cheng Gate (Gate of Great Achievement) was erected at its front yard and a shrine named Chung-Sheng Shrine (Shrine of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
' Ancestors) was built in its backyard. The Ta-Cheng Hall was flanked by East-Wu and West-Wu, two chambers in the worship of ancient scholars, while the Ta-Chen Gate stood between Wen-Chang Shrine (Shrine of Scholars) to the left and Tu-Di Shrine (Shrine of the Land) to the right. Also built on both sides of the yard of the Ta-Cheng gate were two walls with the addition of Li Gate (Gate of Rites) and Yi Road (Path of Righteousness). In the academy, a gate named Ju-Te-Chih-Men (Gate of Involving in Virtue) was erected as a main entrance to the Ming-Lun Hall, the main hall of Taiwan Prefecture Academy. Situated between the gate and the hall was a courtyard flanked by Chambers of the Six Arts, while seated behind the hall were residential chambers for faculty. To the east of the Ming-Lun Hall was the Chu Tzu Altar in worship of the scholar Chu Hsi. At this point, the construction of the Wen Miao had developed approximately into its current shape and scale.
The Wen Miao continued to undergo several renovations in the wake of major renovation by Chen Ping. In 1777, Taiwan Prefecture Magistrate Chiang Yuan-shu undertook a major renovation. However, because Taiwan was established as a province in 1887 and Taiwan Prefecture was renamed as Tainan Prefecture two years later, the Wen Miao was renamed Tainan Prefecture Academy. After 1895, when Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
began its rule of Taiwan, the Wen Miao was once again used as a public school and military barracks and was considerably damaged. A major renovation in 1917, under which some parts of the construction were torn down, resulted in the scale and structure of the Wen Miao as it is today. The temple has been renovated several times over the past 300 years, most recently between 1987 and 1989.
Today the temple serves as a popular tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
and also preserves ancient Confucian ceremonies, which are conducted on a regular basis. The temple also includes storerooms for the ritual implements and musical instruments that are used in these ceremonies.
Geographical clarification
The Taiwan Confucius Temple in Tainan should not be confused with the much newer Taipei Confucius TempleTaipei Confucius Temple
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province of China. It is located on Dalong Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic...
(台北孔廟) located on Dalong Street in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. 25°4′21"N 121°30′59"E The temple in Taipei was built between 1879 and 1884.
2008 unrest
On October 22, 2008, Zhang MingqingZhang Mingqing
Zhang Mingqing is, as of 2008, the vice chairperson of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits .On a visit to Taiwan in October 2008, Zhang was attacked by pro-independence protesters in Tainan . There was a scuffle during which he was pushed to the ground. The assault was filmed...
, the vice chairman of the Chinese Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), was attacked by Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP) supporters during his visit to the Tainan Confucius Temple. The DPP city-councillor of Tainan City, Wang Ding-yu, who was believed to have summoned and led the protesters, deliberately knocked Zhang down and dragged him for several metres; however, he later denied any involvement in the incident. Three of Zhang's plainclothes police guards from Tainan Police Station had their arms folded and quietly watched the matter unfold. When Zhang entered his car and attempted to leave, one protester climbed atop the car and stomped on its roof while his colleagues cheered. Wang Ding-yu was later sentenced to 18 months in jail, with various lengths for other protesters.
Despite the above account of the event widely reported by supporters of the KMT (Kuomingtang) Party, video evidence readily available (this visit by Mr. Zhang was broadcast by television) shows a different story. Although Mr. Wang did lead a group of protesters who wished to voice their displeasure with Mr. Zhang in relationship to the unification policy of the ruling KMT party, the fall was clearly accidental as Mr. Zhang was stepping backwards from the protesters. This occurred while Mr. Wang was trying to slow down the protesters, and Mr. Wang immediately tried to help up Mr. Zhang, using his hands to hold Mr. Zhang. While this is clearly evident to any reasonable person viewing the video, the accident has been portrayed as "deliberate knockdown" and "dragging" of Mr. Zhang by KMT-friendly media. The immediate and harsh prosecution of Mr. Wang is also in contrast to the often judicial delay and lack of vigor when defendants are famous KMT politicians, illustrating the selectivenss and non-independence of the judiciary in the country. It could be reasonably argued that the protesters in this cases were too emotional in their expression, but to characterize their action as deliberate intent to harm a person is beyond what would be interpreted by a normal person. This entire event in a nutshell shows the bias influence that powerful media backed by wealthy political party can assert on a democratic population. However, this last part seems to be biased and doesn´t reflect the whole reality. Since 1987, the KMT does not own any media and is only partially backed by some less powerful media.Powerful media such a the Independent Post and Taiwan News maintain a critical line towards the KMT.
Gallery of images
Image:Kongmiau.JPG|The gate of Tainan's Confucian Temple.
Image:臺南泮宮坊.JPG|The Paifang
Paifang
Paifang, also called pailou, is a traditional Chinese architectural gating style as an archway.The word paifang originally was a collective term used to describe the top two levels of administrative division and subdivisions of ancient Chinese city. The largest division within a city in ancient...
which is across from Tainan Confucian Temple.
Image:KongmiaochishouTainanTaiwan.jpg|chiwen
Chiwen
Chiwen is one of the Nine Young Dragons in Imperial roof decorations and an ornamental motif in traditional Chinese architecture and art.This Chinese dragon name chiwen 螭吻 compounds chi 螭 "hornless dragon; young dragon" and wen 吻 " mouth; lips; kiss"...
at the Temple.
Image:Manchurian_Script_Confucian_Tainan_Taiwan.jpg|Dismounting stele
Dismounting stele
A dismounting stele, in East Asian architecture, was a stele erected outside an important building or group of buildings giving notice for mounted travellers to dismount and for passengers of vehicles to exit the vehicle.-Locations:...
written in Manchurian and Chinese reminding people to dismount their horse.
External links
- Visiting PRC official mobbed in Tainan (English)
- Taiwan Confucian Temple official site - part of this relates to the temple in Taipei! (English)
- Taiwan Confucian Temple official site (Chinese)
- Taiwan Confucian Temple page, with many photos
- Taiwan Confucian Temple page
- History of the Taiwan Confucian Temple
- Article about Taiwan Confucian Temple