The Taipei Confucius Temple was constructed in 1927, located in the old street of Dadaoqiong, where the cultural atmosphere is very strong. Under the urban renewal plan by the Taipei City Government, it has formed the Dadaoqiong Cultural Park together with Dadao Elementary School and Bao'an Temple, which is called the "Temple, School, and Palace" cultural area. It has multiple meanings such as a ceremonial site, a symbol of Confucianism, and a city-recognized historical site.
The Taipei Confucius Temple adopts the architectural style of the original temple in Qufu. The beams, columns, doors, and windows are not inscribed, which makes it simple yet solemn. Its layout is in order: the Wall of Ten Thousand Feet, the Panshi Pool, the Lingxing Gate, the Yimen Gate, the Da Cheng Hall, and the Chongsheng Shrine. Additionally, all the columns, doors, and windows inside the Confucius Temple are different from those in other temples, as they do not have couplets. It is said that this indicates no one dares to show off their literary skills in front of the Master Confucius. Also, since it was built by the local people, besides the standard form and specifications, it also incorporated regional decorative styles, such as the unique Fujian Southern-style Jiaozhi Tao and Jianzhan decorations. The Jiaozhi Tao decoration is a relatively special example among Confucius temples in Taiwan.
The rich Jiaozhi Tao water carvings in the Da Cheng Hall are a unique feature among all Confucius temples in Taiwan, and are worth carefully appreciating the beauty of the architecture.
The Da Cheng Hall is the main hall of the Confucius Temple, where the tablet of the Sage Confucius is enshrined. In the center of the Da Cheng Hall, the tablet of the Sage Confucius is enshrined in the central altar. Above it, a black wooden plaque with golden characters reads "There is no distinction in education." On the left and right walls, the tablets of the Four Assistants (the Sage Yanzi, the Sage Zengzi, the Sage Zisi, and the Sage Mencius) and the twelve sages are enshrined, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere. The atmosphere of the Confucius Temple gives people a sense of reverence and solemn beauty, which is also the spirit of the Chinese Confucian culture, which is upright and just.
Although the Confucius Temple does not have many deities or ritual objects, it has many ritual objects and musical instruments made according to ancient systems. During the ritual ceremony on September 28th, music and dance performances are presented, and sacrifices such as animals and wine are offered to show respect for Confucius. Every year, it attracts a large number of domestic and foreign visitors, allowing them to experience the solemn atmosphere of the traditional Chinese ritual ceremony for Confucius.
In recent years, the Confucius Temple has actively revitalized the historic site, establishing facilities such as the cultural relic exhibition room and the multimedia exhibition room, allowing people to understand the beauty of the Confucius Temple and the various ritual objects and musical instruments used in the ceremony. It also has a new and interesting Eight-Interesting Musical Instruments Exhibition Center. By simply touching the description, you can hear the diverse sounds of these instruments, some deep, some bright and high-pitched, allowing visitors to experience the sounds of the Eight-Interesting Musical Instruments even on ordinary days. In addition, it has set up the only four-language (English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) tour guide system in all Confucius temples in Taiwan, to serve tourists from various countries. Moreover, the Confucius Temple frequently holds innovative events combining traditional and modern art. The Dadaoqiong Cultural Festival series held every year allows people to experience the ritual culture and enhance their understanding of Confucianism, bringing a new wave of visitors to the Confucius Temple.
In addition, the Minglun Hall inside the Confucius Temple has a 4D virtual reality theater, which uses high-tech imaging technology and immersive special effects to present the history of the Confucius Temple and the life of Confucius, allowing the audience to understand the story of Confucius and the Confucius Temple. In addition to adding fun, it also continues the educational significance represented by the Confucius Temple in a new way.