Confucius Temple in Changhua town, Western Taiwan

As usually we start with a facts: The Confucius Temple at Changhua was constructed by county magistrate Chang Kao in 1726, in the Ching dynasty. Its present appearance was attributed to a radical renovation in Tao-kuang 10 (1830). This temple undoubtedly is a very important symbol of central Taiwan's cultural development. It was originally conceived on a grand scale incorporating two further structures, the Paisha Academy and the Minglun Hall. Today, there only remain the Hall of the Sage, the East and the West Galleries, the Confucius Shrine forming the Rear Hall, the Halberd Hall, and the Ling-hsing Gate. It is unfortunate that some important features outside the Ling-hsing Gate, such as the Propriety Gate, the Righteousness Path, the Pool of Higher Learning, and the Palace Wall, were demolished during the Japanese occupation period (1895-1945). Today the temple is only two-thirds the size of the original construction. The last restoration was carried out in 1978.

For those, who expect virgin antique formosan views, the first disappointment comes  when you find the temple, in the city. Yes, it's literally surrounded by modern buildings, and you should be lucky enough to catch a view of it without a modern building or car in frame. I could not, and here is how it will look like, if you are not lucky:




Entering the temple is free for anyone who wish, and we are going in. This is how it looks like, just after you go in. Let's look around.

Model of the temple can be found inside, as we forgot home our helicopter today, to give you glance, how it looks like from birds eye view, I'll show this:







Now, you see the round hole type entrance there? We move in now. Take a look at video below, walk with me now...

Now, notice in the video building in a center of complex, also you can see in the model above. Separate photo of this central building is below:

It's Dacheng hall. Interior of hall consists of three bays. There is a wicked owl on the ridge, which symbolizes Confucius teaching any kind (also bad) students and can influence wicked owl. Podium is covered by special brick carving, including symbols of copper, incense burners.

Views from inside:

The back of the complex has a building with an original name Chisheng Shrine - it's a title of Confucius father, Su-liang-ge. In the first year of reign of Yongcheng Emperor Dynasty (1723) conferred suplementary titles to five generations of Confucius.