Dujiangyan Confucius Temple

There are many Confucius Temples in China and Nanjing Confucius Temple, Qufu Confucius Temple, Beijing Confucius Temple and Jilin Confucius Temple are the four biggest ones. You may wonder why we should take a visit to the Confucius Temple in Dujiangyan? Though it is not in large scale, Dujiangyan Confucius Temple is the ONLY living Confucius Temple with a combination of temple and academy where travelers can experience traditional Six Arts - “Rites”, “Music”, “Archery”, “Charioteering”, “Calligraphy” and “Mathematics”, taking you feel, touch and experience Confucius’ life 2500 years ago.

Confucius (September 28, 551 - 479 BC)

Confucius, known as Kongzi, was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. He was the “Extremely Sage Departed Teacher”, “Great Sage”, “First Teacher” and “Model Teacher for Ten Thousand Ages”.

Lingxing Gate “棂星门”

Lingxing Gate originates from the history of the Song Dynasty. When the ancients worshipped gods, they offered a sacrifice to Lingxing Star first. Respecting Confucius means respecting gods. According to the record inscribed on the tablet of Confucius Temple, setting Lingxing Gate suggests that all the wise men in the world are welcomed.

Dacheng Gate “大成门”

Dacheng Gate gets its name from Dacheng Hall. “Dacheng” originates from Mencius “Confucius’ thoughts combine different opinions of sages and men of virtue”. Dacheng Gate is also called Dignified Door which means people should be neatly dressed with elegant appearance when entering by the door.

Dacheng Hall “大成殿”

It is the main hall of Confucius Temple. Dacheng Hall is translated as “Hall of Great Achievement”, “Hall of Great Completion”. This hall housed the Spitit Tablets of Confucius and those of other important sages and worthies.

Every spring and autumn, special grand ceremonies are held on the 2nd and the 8th month of Chinese lunar calendar in honor of Confucius which are called “Worship Confucius Ceremonies on Ding Days”. In front of the Dacheng Hall, travelers can know traditional Chinese rites, appreciate all kinds of traditional clothes, enjoy Six Yi Dances and classical court music and more.

In ancient Chinese culture, to promote all-around development, students were required to master Six Arts – “Rites”, “Music”, “Archery”, “Charioteering”, “Calligraphy” and “Mathematics”. The Six Arts have their roots in the Confucian Philosophy which were practiced by the 72 disciples of Confucius. Now, in Dujiangyan Confucius Temple, travelers can experience the Six Arts and learn Confucianism under the guidance of the masters.

Rites - Take Four-Worship to Confucius

Rite, Li in Chinese, embodies the entire web of interaction between humanity, human objects and nature. Li includes five aspects – Ji Li (rite for worship), Xiong Li (rite for funeral), Jun Li (rite for military and shooting), Bin Li (rite for meeting governors), Jia Li (rite for party and celebration). In front of Dacheng Hall, travelers will learn and take four-worship to Confucius.

Music – Enjoy Elegant Chinese Zither Music

During the Zhou Dynasty, a formal system of court and ceremonial music termed Yayue was established which involved instruments correlating to the five elements of nature and would bring harmony to nature. A famous saying of Confucius on music education is: “To educate somebody, you should start from poems, emphasize ceremonies and finish with music.” In other words, one cannot expect to become educated without learning music. In Dujiangyan Confucius Temple, travelers can catch the chance to enjoy Chinese Zither performed by graceful ladies.

Archery – Watch Archery Show & Practice

Archery is the sport, practice or skill of using a bow to propel arrows. Confucius is a zealous advocate of Sheli. He includes archery into his education system and says that “Noble men have nothing to compete, if really have to, let us compete in archery…and the archery contest should be decorous.” Confucius himself was also a great toxophilite and regularly demonstrated his archery shills. He regards the archery training as the important means to learn etiquettes and the moral standards. One of his famous phrase is “to look inside one’s moral through watching his archery skills”.

In Dujiangyan Confucius Temple, travelers will spend 10 minutes watching archery show performed by the trained bowmen and then the skillful bowmen will teach you how to use bow and arrows and practice archery by yourselves for about half an hour.

Charioteering – Experience Fun for Charioteering

Charioteering means skills for riding chariot. Though chariot is not used today but you may have seen the prototype about chariots and horses in Terracotta Warriors in Xian, yes, that’s it. In Dujiangyan Confucius Temple, there are other kinds of chariots you can experience – chicken buses, taking you back to childhood.

Calligraphy – Practice Calligraphy

The calligraphy in Six Arts means know the words. Chinese calligraphy is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing a person’s inner world in an aesthetic senses. It has developed into six style – oracle inscriptions, seal style, clerical style, semi-cursive style, cursive style and regular style.

Learn how to use “Four Treasures of the Study” including brush, ink, paper and ink stone and try to practice calligraphy under the instruction of an experienced calligrapher and enjoy different kinds of writing for the same words.

Mathematics – Q & A about Tao

Students were required to master Math during the Zhou Dynasty (1122-256BC). Travelers can learn some basic information about mathematics, astrology and I Ching (or Classic of Changes). Catch the rare chance to ask some questions about Tao and the master will give detailed explanation and useful suggestions based on I Ching.

Transfer to Confucius Temple from Chengdu:

1. During 06:20~21:25, there are 21 daily C trains from Chengdu Railway Station / Xipu Railway Station to Dujiangyan Railway Station, taking about 20~40 minutes. After getting off Dujiangyan Station, travelers can take both taxis and buses (take No.19/No.6 to Sichuan Agriculture University and then walk 300 meters ) to Dujiangyan Confucius Temple.

2. During 06:30~18:28, there are 5 C trains from Chengdu Railway Station to Dujiangyan Lidui Park Station, taking about 30 minutes. After getting off Lidui Park Station, travelers can take both taxis and buses (take No.19/No.1 to Sichuan Agriculture University and then walk 300 meters ) to Dujiangyan Confucius Temple.

If you want private transfer service to Dujiangyan Confucius Temple from Chengdu, please feel free to contact us and we are here ready to help you design a worry free Dujiangyan trip.