Taichung Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple and Martyr's Shrine are built adjacent to each other, situated at the intersection of Shuangshi Road and Lixing Road. The Confucius Temple adopts a square palace architectural style, mimicking that of the Song Dynasty. Its main entrance is the Lingxing Gate, in front of which stand two towering white archways, creating a solemn and grand ambiance. Behind the gate is a crescent-shaped Pan Chi (purification pond), with a Jade Water Bridge spanning it. Following the tree-lined path behind the pond leads to the temple's central structure, the Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Completion). Its roof features a hip-and-gable double-eave style, lending it a majestic and dignified appearance. The dougong brackets and pillars are all adorned with Song Dynasty polychrome paintings, creating a highly elegant aesthetic. Inside the hall, Confucius and his 72 disciples are enshrined. On either side of the Dacheng Hall are the East and West Wus (side halls), which enshrine the spirit tablets of past Confucian scholars. These two Wus connect to the Rites and Music Room, and behind them is the Chongsheng Shrine, where the ancestral tablets of Confucius are honored. The Martyr's Shrine was originally the site of a Japanese Shinto shrine during the Japanese colonial period. After World War II, it was converted into the Martyr's Shrine. Its architectural style, predominantly yellow and white, is quite similar to that of the Confucius Temple. Above the main entrance hang horizontal plaques inscribed with 'Cheng Ren' (Achieve Benevolence) and 'Qu Yi' (Uphold Righteousness). The main hall primarily enshrines the spirit tablets of revolutionary martyrs, and tall green trees stand beside the hall.