The Confucian Temple of Linfen, Shanxi

The Confucian Temple in Linfen was built during the Song Dynasty, and was reconstructed during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Facing south with its back to the north, the temple currently only retains the Dacheng Hall. It is built on a brick base 0.4 meters high, with a platform set in front, and a double dragon stone carving imperial pathway in the center of the platform front. Stone watch pillars and railings are set around the platform, with carvings of figures, flowers, and other designs. The main body of the hall is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eaved Xieshan-style roof. The structure features a seven-purlin front and rear corridor-style framework, with triple-step bracket sets on the column capitals, a flat body with five-cluster brackets, and 45° oblique arches in the main bay, all on drum-shaped column bases. The existing building is a relic of the Qing Dynasty.