Temple of Confucius
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Temple of Confucius | |||||
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Hán-Nôm 文廟 | 文(聖)廟 | ||||
Literal meaning | Temple of (the Sage of) Literature | ||||
Korean name | |||||
Hangul | 문묘 공자묘 | ||||
Hanja | 文廟 孔子廟 | ||||
Literal meaning | Temple of Literature Temple of Confucius | ||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 聖廟 聖堂 | ||||
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Indonesian name | |||||
Indonesian | Boen Bio | ||||
Manchu name | |||||
Manchu script | ᡴᡠᠩᡶᡠᡯ ᡳ ᠮᡠᡴᡨᡝᡥᡝᠨ | ||||
Möllendorff | kungfudzi-i muktehen |
A temple of Confucius or Confucian temple is a
There is a 72-meter-tall statue of Confucius made of brass and reinforced with steel. The giant statue is located in Qufu, Shandong province, birthplace of the ancient Chinese educator and philosopher.
Names
The temples are known by a variety of names throughout East Asia. The two greatest temples in Qufu and Beijing are now known in Chinese as "Temples of Confucius" (Kǒngmiào, 孔廟). In some localities, they are known as "Temples of Literature" (文廟) (Chinese: wénmiào; Vietnamese: văn miếu; Korean: munmyo; Indonesian: boen bio) or "Temples of the Sage of Literature" (Vietnamese: văn thánh miếu). In Southern China, however, temples by that name generally honor Wenchang Wang, a separate deity associated with the scholar Zhang Yazi. In Japan, they are usually known as "Temples" or "Halls of the Sage" (Japanese: seibyō or seidō, respectively).
History
The development of state temples devoted to the cult of Confucius was an outcome of his gradual canonisation. In 195 BC,
In 454, the
The largest and oldest Temple of Confucius is found in Confucius' hometown, present-day Qufu in Shandong Province. It was established in 479 BC, one year after Confucius's death, at the order of the Duke Ai of the State of Lu, who commanded that the Confucian residence should be used to worship and offer sacrifice to Confucius. The temple was expanded repeatedly over a period of more than 2,000 years until it became the huge complex currently standing. There is another temple in Quzhou. In addition to Confucian temples associated with the state cult of Confucius, there were also ancestral temples belonging to the Kong lineage, buildings commemorating Confucius's deeds throughout China, and private temples within
Structure
Beginning in the Tang dynasty (618–907), Confucian temples were built in prefectural and county schools throughout the empire, either to the front of or on one side of the school.
Unlike Taoist or Buddhist temples, Confucian temples do not normally have images. In the early years of the temple in Qufu, it appears that the spirits of Confucius and his disciples were represented with wall paintings and clay or wooden statues. Official temples also contained images of Confucius himself. However, there was opposition to this practice, which was seen as imitative of Buddhist temples.[2] It was also argued that the point of the imperial temples was to honour Confucius's teachings, not the man himself.
The lack of unity in likenesses in statues of Confucius first led Emperor Taizu of the Ming dynasty to decree that all new Confucian temples should contain only spirit tablets and no images. In 1530, it was decided that all existing images of Confucius should be replaced with spirit tablets in imperial temples in the capital and other bureaucratic locations; nevertheless many modern Confucian temples do feature statues. Statues also remained in temples operated by Confucius's family descendants, such as that in Qufu.
Worship
The worship of Confucius centred upon offering sacrifices to Confucius's spirit in the Confucian temple.
A dance known as the Eight-Row Dance (八佾舞), consisting of eight columns of eight dancers each, was also performed. Originally this was a Six-Row Dance, as performed for the lesser aristocracy, but in 1477 Confucius was allowed the imperial honour of the eight-row dance since he posthumously received the title of king. Musicians who accompanied this dance played a form of music termed yayue.
In addition to worshipping Confucius, Confucian temples also honour the "
By the
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Prayer plaques in a temple of Confucius
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The Temple of Confucius inimperial examformerly administered at the temples.
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The Hall of Great Achievement of the Temple of Confucius in Harbin, Heilongjiang.
Outside mainland China
With the spread of Confucian learning throughout East Asia, Confucian temples were also built in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Starting in the 18th century, some were even built in Europe and the Americas. At their height, there are estimated to have been over 3,000 Confucian temples in existence.
Hong Kong
The bill allowing for the building of the very first Confucian temple in Hong Kong, proposed by the Confucian Academy, passed in September 2013. The location of the temple was decided to be near the famous Taoist temple, Wong Tai Sin Temple, in Wong Tai Sin District.[3]
Taiwan
The first Confucian temple in
Vietnam
A Confucian temple in Vietnam is called Văn Miếu.
Korea
Outside China, the largest number of Confucian temples is found in Korea. Temples as part of schools were first built during the
Historically, Korea had a total of 362 temples devoted to Confucianism. After
Japan
Confucian temples (孔子廟, kōshi-byō) were also widely built in Japan, often in conjunction with Confucian schools. The most famous is the
Other well-known Confucian temples are found in
Indonesia
Confucian temples are also found in Indonesia, where they are often known as "Churches of Confucius" as Confucianism is a recognised religion in that country. In Chinese, these establishments are known as
Malaysia
The first Confucian temple in Malaysia was built within a primary school known as
There are also two Confucian schools in Kuala Lumpur, namely SMJK Confucian and Confucian Private School, and a Confucian school in Malacca where ceremonies in honour of Confucius are held annually.
List of temples
- Temple of Confucius in Qufu, China (Confucius's home town)
- Temple of Confucius in Beijing, China
- Temple of the Master in Nanjing, China
- Temple of Confucius in Shanghai, China
- Temple of Confucius in Suzhou, China
- Temple of Confucius in Jianshui, Yunnan, China (建水文庙)
- Temple of Confucius in Daixian, Shanxi, China
- Temple of Confucius in Taipei, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Taichung, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Tainan, Taiwan ("Taiwan Confucian Temple")
- Temple of Confucius in Changhua, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Chiayi, Taiwan
- Temple of Confucius in Nagasaki, Japan
- Shiseibyō, the Temple of Confucius in Naha, Okinawa, Japan
- Seibyō, the Temple of Confucius in Taku, Japan
- Yushima Seidō, the Temple of Confucius in Tokyo, Japan
- Munmyo, the Temple of Confucius in Seoul, South Korea
- Văn Miếu in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Văn Miếu in Hưng Yên, Vietnam
- Văn Miếuin Hải Dương, Vietnam
- Văn Miếu in Bắc Ninh, Vietnam
- Văn Miếu in Nghệ An, Vietnam
- Văn Miếu in Khánh Hòa, Vietnam
- Văn Miếuin Đồng Nai, Vietnam
- Văn Miếu in Vĩnh Long, Vietnam
- Boen Bio in Surabaya, Indonesia
See also
- Confucian churches
- Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius
- Wenchang Dijun(文昌帝君)
- Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia
- Taoist temples
- Buddhist temples
References
- ^ Liu, Xu. Tang shu 唐書. Beijing: Zhonghua shuji. p. 15.373.
- ^ Sommer, Deborah (2002). "Destroying Confucius: Iconoclasm in the Confucian Temple". On Sacred Grounds: Culture, Society, Politics and the Formation of the Cult of Confucius: 95–133.
- ^ "孔廟黃大仙新地標" [Wong Tai Sin Temple of Confucius landmark]. The Sun (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Dịch hai chữ Văn Miếu ra tiếng Tây". Archived from the original on 2016-08-17.
- ^ "대성전(大成殿) Daeseongjeon". encykorea.aks.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ^ Ahn, Myeong-ho. "대성전(大成殿) Daesongjeon". encykorea.aks.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-10-29.
External links
- Images of the Temple of Culture, with detailed history of Confucian temples
- Full Virtual Walk & Info on Confucius Temple, Beijing
- Asian Historical Architecture: Fuzimiao in Nanjing
- Asian Historical Architecture: Confucian temple in Suzhou
- The Confucian temple in Tainan
- Surabaya, with description of Boen Bio
- The Taipei Confucius Temple