China: Pingyao – Confucian Temple

The Confucian Temple in Pingyao, also known as the Pingyao Wen Miao, is a vast complex that historically combined the functions of a temple for worship and a state-run school. Dating back to its reconstruction in 1163 during the Jin Dynasty, it is one of the oldest and best-preserved Confucian sites in China. The heart of the temple is Dacheng Hall (Great Achievement Hall). It houses one of the largest seated statues of Confucius in the country, flanked by his “Four Companions”. The surrounding side halls contain statues of all 72 of his most prominent disciples. Because Confucian temples were also centers of learning, Pingyao’s temple houses the Chinese Imperial Examination Museum, the largest exhibition of its kind in China.