Foshan Confucian Temple
Overview
Foshan Confucian Temple (佛山孔庙) is located within the Zhumiao Park (祖庙公园) in Chancheng District (禅城区), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省). It was originally known as the Zun Kong Association (尊孔会) and was established in the third year of the Xuantong Era (宣统三年, 1901) during the late Qing Dynasty by a group of local Confucian scholars. The temple was constructed as a small-scale memorial and Confucian activity site rather than following the standard design of typical Confucian temples.
Originally, the temple included the Kong Sheng Hall (孔圣殿), reception rooms, administration offices, a small pavilion, and a lotus pond garden, covering an area of 2,000 square meters. However, only the Kong Sheng Hall has been well-preserved, while the rest of the buildings have disappeared.
Key Information
- Location: 21 Zhumiao Road (祖庙路), Chancheng District (禅城区), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省)
- Climate: Subtropical climate
- Opening Hours: Year-round, Monday to Sunday, 07:30 AM – 04:30 PM
- Ticket Price: 20 RMB
- Area: 2000 m²
- Famous Sites: Kong Sheng Hall (孔圣殿), Reception Hall (会客厅), Pavilion (亭子), and Garden (花园)
- Protection Level: Foshan Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit (佛山市文物保护单位)
- Category: Ancient Architecture (古建筑)
- Era: Qing Dynasty (清代)
Architecture Features
The Foshan Confucian Temple has a building area of nearly 300 square meters. The temple houses a “Kong Zi Stone Carving” (孔子石刻像) in the main hall, which is a reproduction of the original stone carving from the Confucian Temple in Qufu, Shandong. On the left and right walls of the hall are the “Kong Zi Temple Stele” (孔子庙堂碑) stone carvings, which are copies of the famous calligraphy by the Tang Dynasty calligrapher Yu Shinan (虞世南). The temple also features a large carved wooden screen and unique granite columns at the front eaves.
Restoration and Expansion
In 1981, to support the opening of the Zhumiao Park, the local government allocated funds for restoration. The temple was expanded with the addition of six groups of brick carvings collected from the Li Clan Ancestral Hall (李氏大祠) in Foshan. The restoration also included a renovated shrine and surrounding areas, as well as improvements to the garden. New structures such as the “Foshan Stele Corridor” (佛山碑廊), “Foshan Bell Corridor” (佛山钟廊), and the Ming Dynasty stone carving of a qilin (古洛芝兰) were added. Additionally, the temple now features bridges, pavilions, and winding corridors, enhancing its beauty with lush greenery and vibrant flowers. In 1984, it was designated as a Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.
Educational and Commemorative Significance
Historically, Foshan’s scholars were renowned for their achievements, with many influential figures emerging from the area. Notable personalities such as the philosopher Kang Youwei (康有为), the father of Chinese railroads Zhan Tianyou (詹天佑), novelist Wu Yanren (吴研人), and current Hong Kong’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Teresa Cheng (梁爱诗), all grew up under the influence of Foshan’s Confucian traditions.
Since 1980, Foshan has seen a rise in academic excellence, with students from the area excelling in national exams. The Zhumiao Park has established the “Top Scholar Wall” (状元榜) to motivate students to study harder. Additionally, the temple hosts a traditional ceremony called the “Opening of the Pen Ceremony” (开笔典礼), where children begin their formal education by writing the phrase “Academic Progress” (学业进步). During the ceremony, the children also make a wish under a “Lucky Tree” (吉祥树), touch the “Wisdom Bell” (启智钟), and take water from the “Top Scholar Well” (状元井). This ceremony has become an important educational tradition for local families.
Location
The Foshan Confucian Temple is located at 21 Zhumiao Road (祖庙路) within the Zhumiao Park (祖庙公园) in Chancheng District (禅城区), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省).
