“Confucius Confused”, I still remember the title of the story in my Reading Marvels book during my grade school days. It was the first time I learned about the wise man named Confucius. Fast forward, I’m in Taiwan where the teachings of Confucius are very important like filial piety. I decided to visit the Taipei Confucius Temple to give me a new perspective about the great sage.
My Travel Buddy that day was Rakesh (Indian) and he is a first year PhD student. Having a Travel Buddy in my Taiwan Day Adventures is like having a ‘guest’ in my weekly ‘travel show’. haha! We boarded the MRT to Yuanshan Station and walked to find Dalong Street where the temple was located.
We noticed a red wall while walking in Kulun Street. The wall is called Wanren Gongqiang. Wan means 10,000 while Ren is a unit of measurement. Based on the pamphlets that we got from the Visitor Information Center, it is known as the Wall of Supreme Knowledge.
We entered through the Hong Gate (Gate of Learning) and then the Li Gate (Gate of Rites). The Li Gate stands on the west side of the temple while the Yi Lu (Path of Righteousness) stands on the east side. A Pang Gong (Side Gate) also exists on the east side of the wall complex. All visitors to the Temple Confucius Temple must pass first either through the Li Gate or Yi Lu before entering the main gate. It means that the path of learning must start with righteousness and rites.
We noticed the Pan Pond with a big painting of a Chinese unicorn called Qi Lin. The unicorn represents the coming of the birth of Confucius. We also took pictures in the Lingxing Gate. Yellow protruding studs made the doors attractive while the dragon stone pillars were amazing. The stone drums were also interesting to touch.
We entered the Lingxing Gate and there was another gate! It is called the Yi Gate and was decorated with “hornless dragon encircling” windows. The Yi Gate was very beautiful on the outside. We entered it and found two large musical instruments. It was a big red drum called Jin Gu and a large bronze bell called the Yong Zhong. I love the red color of the Jin Gu and it was my first time to see such large percussion instrument.
The Dacheng Hall (Great Achievement) is the heart and soul of the temple. A large stone platform is very noticeable and is the venue of a Confucian ceremony which happens every Sept. 28 (the birthday of Confucius). A special dance called the Yi dance is presented on his birthday.
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| free playing cards as souvenirs for the visitors |
The Taipei Confucius Temple is not just a temple and it’s also a museum. Lots of information can be learned from the interactive displays inside the East Side-Buildings, West-Side Buildings and Chongsheng Shrine while the 4D Theater in Minglun Hall will give the visitors a free 30 minute movie about the history of the temple and the Six Arts (Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy and Calculation). The 3D movie is accompanied with environmental effects.
A thousand years have passed but his teachings are still remembered. A lot of temples were built for him in Taiwan and I will visit them someday. If you come to visit Taipei, don’t forget to visit the Taipei Confucius Temple. You will discover here the wisdom of the ages. It is just right to call this place as “The House of Confucius”.
THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI
Sakura Series - Taiwan
2024 Forecast
Taipei 101 first flowers
Tianyuan Palace backyard
Taipei Flower Test Center
Pingjing St. Lane 42
Broadwood Park
Sunshine Sports Park kawazu sakura
Wuling Farm (武陵農場)
SYS kawazu sakura
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
CKS Memorial Hall
Shibafen Yoshino Sakura
Hope River
Dongfang Temple
Tianyuan Palace
Neicou Stream Trail
Orange Garden Cafe
Yangming Park Visitor Information Center
Yangming Park Service Center Bus Stop
Huashan Road
Qianshan Park
Zhongshan Hall Entrance
Tenglong Sakura Farm
Flower Test Center Shōwa Sakura
Neihu Creek Trail
Shulin Land Office
Xióng Kōng Cherry Blossom Forest
Lung Yen Sakura Forest
Yangming Park cherry stream
Yangming Park fountain
CKS Memorial Hall Tairyō sakura
Wugu District Tianyi Road
CKS Memorial Hall yaesakura
Loving Farm
Yong Long Farm
Zhongbaling Sakura Road
Sun Link Sea
Tai'an Police Station
Cherry Hill Slope
Hsinchu Park
Taipei 101
Kāng Gào Kēng Creek
New Garden City
Broadwood Park
Tianyuan Palace backyard
Pingjing St. Lane 42
Alishan Ranger Station
Alishan House
Alishan Police Station
Alishan Forest Railway
Alishan Station
Alishan Entrance
Alishan Gou Hotel
Alishan Magnolia Garden
Wulai tour
Wun Chang Elementary School
Bishanyan
Sanzhi Sansei Trail
Sakura Series - Taiwan
Nei Cuo Stream
Orange Garden Cafe
Sansei Trail
Tenglong Sakura Farm
Yangming Park Cherry Stream
Yangming Park Fountain
Flower Test Center
Broadwood Park
New Garden City
Yinghua Park
Pingjing St. Lane 42
Yangmingshan Visitor Center
Taipei 101
Tianyuan Palace backyard
Sakura Series - Japan
Kamonyama Park
Near the Nippon Maru Memorial Park
Shinko Park
Minato-mirai 21 area
Tokyo Tech Suzukakedai Campus
Onda River
Tenryuji
Byodoin
Kiyomizudera
Himuro shrine and Yakushi-ji Temple
Hōryū-ji Temple
Nara Park attractions
Tokyo Tech Ookayama Campus
Sumida River
Tsuruma Park
Gion
Maple Series
Taipei Aowanda
Shimen Dam
Alishan
Aowanda
Shanlinxi
Taoyuan Valley Garden
Fushoushan Farm
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| Yehliu to Jiufen? Yehliu to Shifen? Cheaper than yellow taxis |
The "Taipei kong mahal" (My beloved Taipei)
Always in my heart
MRT birdman
Valentine's Day
Tulips Festival
2018 Taipei Lantern Festival
City of Azaleas
Linji Huguo Temple
Nanjichang Night Market
Gudetama Chef restaurant
Dalongdong Bao'an Temple
Shilin hollyhocks
Ningxia Night Market
Ximending graffiti
Discovery Center of Taipei
Chunghwa Postal Museum
Double-Decker Bus
Shilin Cold Balls
Jingimoo
GomanMango
mud volcanic ice
Fire and Ice Dumpling
Opium Fen-Yuan
Ichiran Ramen
Liu Shandong Beef Noodles
hydrangea flowers
National Palace Museum
Other attractions in Taipei
Taipei on a budget
Japanese buildings
Dāoxiāomiàn beef noodles
Presidential Office Building
Yongkang St. and Elephant Mountain
CKS and SYS Hall
City tour
Beitou ramen
MRT Monopoly Game
Winter city tour
Zhicheng Park
Shilin Plum Blossom
Art museums
Shopping in Taipei
Summer desserts
Qingtiangang
Qixingshan hiking
2015 Calla lily
2016 Calla lily
Beitou tour
Beitou-Zhuzihu tour
NTU
Confucius Temple
2015 Dadaocheng Festival
Puppet Museum
Fantasy Ice World
2016 Bread Show
Strawberry picking
2015 Rose Garden
Modern Toilet
Shilin Night Market
NASA Exhibit
Raohe Night Market
Longshan Temple
2013 Taipei Zoo
Maokong Gondola
Lupin flowers
Taipei 101 day visit
Taipei 101 night visit
Tiger Mountain
Din Tai Fung
Taipei Story House
2014 Flower Show
Chrysanthemum Show
Miramar Ferris wheel
Miniatures Museum
Archery
1600 Pandas
Wulaoguo hot pot
Upside Down House
2016 101 Fireworks
New Taipei
Tamsui Pumpkin Tunnel
Shifen Waterfall
2017 Sand Sculpture
Dragon Caves
New Taipei tour
2016 Kite Festival
Pingxi Crags
Bitou Cape
2016 Sand Sculpture
2015 Christmasland
Juming - Jinshan
Houtong - Pingxi
Sandiaoling Waterfall
Jiufen foodtrip
Guanyinshan hike
Yehliu Ocean World
2014 Kite Festival
Pingxi Rail tour
Jinguashi tour
Vigor Kobo Pineapple
British Consulate
Yehliu Geopark
2014 Sand Sculpture
Paragliding
2014 Christmasland
2014 Pingxi Lantern
firefly watching
Yingge Ceramics Street
Jiufen tour
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