Temple of Literature

The Shimen Confucian Temple was built in the Yuan Dynasty. In the fourth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1371), the county magistrate Liu Dengding led the reconstruction of the Confucian Temple. The temple is divided into three entrances, symmetrically arranged according to the central axis, horizontally with each place. In the 45th year of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1780), it was moved from the original site (now the medicinal material company) to this place. Due to its hundreds of years of history, the Confucian Temple has been repeatedly destroyed. In 1983, the county government decided to hand over the Confucian Temple to the cultural department for management and maintenance. In May 1984, the county government listed the Confucian Temple as the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in Shimen County. After more than ten years of repairs, the Zhuangyuan Bridge was rebuilt, the bell, the drum tower and the east and west rooms were restored. In 1999, before the 8th Ming History International Symposium was held in Shimen, the Lingxing Gate was rebuilt, the stone railings were repaired, and the beams, columns and doors and windows were repainted. Today, the Confucian Temple has a new look, with carved beams and painted buildings, which contrast with the display in the room. Complementing the greenery of the courtyard, Mr. Tang Enjia, Director of the Hong Kong Confucius Institute, donated a bronze statue of the Confucius, standing in front of the Dacheng Hall, which is spectacular. Today, the Confucian Temple is magnificent in scale, rigorous in structure, carved beams and painted buildings, and rich in displays. It is a beautiful place for sightseeing and seeking knowledge.