Exploring the Confucius Temple 文庙 in Pingyao 平遥

A Millstone at the Confucius Temple 文庙 at Pingyao 平遥

A Millstone at the Confucius Temple 文庙 at Pingyao 平遥

I remember I wanted to visit a Confucius Temple in Haerbin when I visited a week ago but I somehow couldn’t find it. I instead ended up in a Buddhist temple that was just as interesting. Needless to say there are probably hundreds or even thousands of Confucius Temples in China as a large part of the population reveres the great teacher as a saint. I have been to what probably is the most important Confucius Temple in China, that one in Qufu in Shandong province where the man was born and I thought that temple was quite impressive. Visiting another Confucius Temple in China seemed to be just another thing to keep me busy.

Dragon Carving at Confucius Temple 文庙 in Pingyao 平遥

Dragon Carving at Confucius Temple 文庙 in Pingyao 平遥

As I stumbled into a Confucius Temple in Pingyao, I noticed how different this Confucius Temple is from the one in Qufu. This one seem to be much more modern, not surprising since the one in Qufu was already several hundred years old, even the trees there were just as old. The Confucius Temple in Pingyao doesn’t pretend to be the historical heavyweight but it is just a place to honor Confucius who has influenced millions of Chinese over the millennia.

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