Confucius theory can be said to be the most influential school in China, and Confucius is also the greatest figure in more than 2000 years. Confucian temples are places where Confucius is worshipped. There are many Confucian temples in China. In Fujian Province, there are also famous Confucian temples in Zhangzhou Prefecture and Changtai County. There is also a Fuwen Temple in Quanzhou, which is not only a place for Confucian worship, but also a high-level educational institution in Quanzhou, reflecting the economic and cultural prosperity brought by the marine trade to Quanzhou. Talents from all fields who have gone out from Quanzhou Fuwen Temple have widely participated in all aspects of the country’s social life, especially in the promotion of marine trade, which has played a positive role in promoting the unprecedented prosperity of marine trade in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, as well as the development of the country’s social economy and culture.
Located on Zhongshan Road, Fuwen Temple was built at the end of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. It covers a vast area and is the largest existing ancient Confucian temple complex in southeast China, including the architectural forms of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. There are Dacheng Gate, Jinsheng Gate, Yuzhen Gate, East and West veranda, Dacheng Hall, etc., all of which retain the stone building foundation and platform foundation of the Song Dynasty, and the building wooden components are rebuilt according to the original appearance in the Qing Dynasty.
Among them, the most noteworthy is the Dacheng Hall, which has a double-eaved veranda roof with a width of seven rooms and a depth of five rooms. It uses forty-eight stone columns to support the beam-lifting wooden frame, and the front six eaves columns are embossed with dragons. After entering the hall, I looked up and saw that the painted hall and double-eaved veranda structure were the only existing architectural structure in Quanzhou, which represented the highest architectural specification at that time and was magnificent!
In addition to the architectural and cultural details, the courtyard wall of Fuwen Temple is also a good place to take photos and punch cards, especially for film production.
As the first-level Confucian temple of the state government, Quanzhou Confucian Temple has high regulations that are inconsistent with its own level. Building practices such as double-eaved veranda roof, yellow glazed tile, dragon grain column body, and decorative painting show extraordinary architectural specifications, reflecting the cultural prosperity and special political status of Quanzhou brought by overseas trade in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It is also listed as one of the 22 heritage elements of “Quanzhou: the World Marine Trade Center of China in the Song and Yuan Dynasties”.
Tourism strategy information:
Quanzhou Fuwen Temple
Address: Zhongshan Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian
Opening Hours: 8:00~17:30
Admission: free