|
The Confucius Temple lies on the north bank of Qinhuai River, which was built in the early 11th century and had been destroyed many times in throughout history. In 1034 (the Song Dynasty), it was enlarged into 3 architectural complexes and has been the commercial and cultural center ever since. In front of the temple, an 110-meter long stone and brick screen wall had been built on the southern bank to form a semi-circle around the river. It is the longest screen wall in China. There are also Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Kuixing Tower and Juxing Pavilion within the temple. In 1985,the government of Nanjing City rebuilt the street by the river in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and turned the Imperial Academy into a commercial and entertainment place with tea houses, restaurants, movie theatres, opera theatres, peddler markets and many other kinds of recreational facilities.
The Confucius Temple has the largest screen wall in China, which is ten-meter-high and 110-meter-long. The main structure is Dacheng Hall, seated on a 1.5-meter-high base and measuring 16.22 meters in height, 28.1 in width and 21.7 in depth. In front of the hall, there is a platform where ancient sacrificing, dancing and singing were performed. These acitivities have been revived. On the sides of the pathway leading to the hall, eight Confucius' disciples, sculptures of white marble, stand. On a stand before the hall, there is a 4.18-meter-tall bronze sculpture of Confucius, the largest of its kind within the nation. Inside of the hall, four white marble saints flank a huge portrait of Confucius hung at the center, which is also the largest of its kind. On the walls inside, there are 38 pictures recording Confucius' deeds. The pictures are decorated with various gems, gold and silver.
|
