Taipei Confucius Temple (台北市孔廟)

“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.

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

2026 Forecast

Taipei 101 first flowers

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Taipei Flower Test Center

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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 Sansheng Trail

Sakura Series - Taiwan

Nei Cuo Stream

Orange Garden Cafe

Sansheng 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

Yehliu to Jiufen? Yehliu to Shifen? Cheaper than yellow taxis

The "Taipei kong mahal" (My beloved Taipei)

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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

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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

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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

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Elephant Rock SUP/kayaking

Meteor Garden school

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