[2025 Kaohsiung Attraction] Travel Guide for Qishan Confucian Temple (Updated Aug)

Located in Kaohsiung City, Qishan Confucius Temple is the largest Confucius temple in Southeast Asia. The place inside the Confucius Temple is really very big, unlike the usual temples that are relatively small. The design and decoration inside the temple are very antique, as if it takes people back to ancient times. In addition to worshiping Confucius in the temple, you can also feel the cultural atmosphere here, and the architecture in the temple is also very suitable for taking pictures, 10 points recommend you come. #OverseasTravel #OverseasTravel

#AugustDestinations2025 This Confucius Temple, located atop Gushan Park in Qishan, covers approximately 4.1 hectares, making it the largest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Built in the style of the Song Dynasty, its yellow glazed tiles, vermilion beams, and white jade railings exude a magnificent grandeur. Located at the highest point of Gushan Park, the Confucius Temple offers exceptional views, encompassing not only the breathtaking scenery but also the entire Qishan area. The main complex of the Confucius Temple consists of the Lingxing Gate, the Dacheng Gate, the Dacheng Hall, the East and West Verandas, and the Chongsheng Shrine. The exhibition hall displays ritual instruments, utensils, and artifacts used in ceremonies dedicated to the great sage Confucius. While Confucius Temples elsewhere typically feature a "Nine-Ren Palace Wall" or "Ten-Ren Palace Wall" screen wall (also known as a screen wall, located in front of the main entrance of a building, used for visual obstruction, decoration, and to ward off evil spirits), the Qishan Confucius Temple lacks this screen wall. The Confucius Temple, built in 1984, was temporarily closed due to severe cracking and damage caused by an earthquake. After renovations, it reopened in 2004. The predecessor of the Qishan Confucius Temple was the Qishan Shrine, built during the Japanese colonial period. The shrine was bombed during World War II, and the Confucius Temple was built on its site. The temple's prime location and scenic beauty attract many tourists from around the region. It also serves as a relaxing space for Qishan residents and a great spot to enjoy the night view.

#AugustDestinations2025 This Confucius Temple, located atop Gushan Park in Qishan, covers approximately 4.1 hectares, making it the largest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Built in the style of the Song Dynasty, its yellow glazed tiles, vermilion beams, and white jade railings exude a magnificent grandeur. Located at the highest point of Gushan Park, the Confucius Temple offers exceptional views, encompassing not only the breathtaking scenery but also the entire Qishan area. The main complex of the Confucius Temple consists of the Lingxing Gate, the Dacheng Gate, the Dacheng Hall, the East and West Verandas, and the Chongsheng Shrine. The exhibition hall displays ritual instruments, utensils, and artifacts used in ceremonies dedicated to the great sage Confucius. While Confucius Temples elsewhere typically feature a "Nine-Ren Palace Wall" or "Ten-Ren Palace Wall" screen wall (also known as a screen wall, located in front of the main entrance of a building, used for visual obstruction, decoration, and to ward off evil spirits), the Qishan Confucius Temple lacks this screen wall. The Confucius Temple, built in 1984, was temporarily closed due to severe cracking and damage caused by an earthquake. After renovations, it reopened in 2004. The predecessor of the Qishan Confucius Temple was the Qishan Shrine, built during the Japanese colonial period. The shrine was bombed during World War II, and the Confucius Temple was built on its site. The temple's prime location and scenic beauty attract many tourists from around the region. It also serves as a relaxing space for Qishan residents and a great spot to enjoy the night view.

Located at the highest point of Gushan Park, the Qishan Confucius Temple is the largest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and even in Southeast Asia, covering an area of ​​about 4.1 hectares. It is not only a place for worshipping Confucian sages, but also a Confucian world that integrates faith, architectural aesthetics and mountain landscapes. 🌿 Historical context: From Japanese-occupied shrines to Confucian temples 1. Former Qishan Shrine During the Japanese occupation, the Qishan Shrine was built in Gushan Park (formerly known as Zhongshan Park) in 1936 to worship the royal family and Japanese gods. 2. Post-war demolition and reconstruction plan After World War II, the shrine was demolished and the site was abandoned. In 1983, Kaohsiung County Magistrate Tsai Ming-yao promoted the reconstruction and converted it into a Confucius Temple, which was completed and opened in 1985. 3. Confucius worship and status update Since 1985, the Qishan Confucius Temple has become the main venue for Confucius worship. After the merger of Kaohsiung County and City in 2010, it took turns with the Zuoying Confucius Temple to hold Confucius worship ceremonies . 4. Reconstruction after the Richter 6.6 earthquake The 2016 earthquake damaged the structure of the Dacheng Hall. The following year, 1.2 million yuan was invested to complete the repair and reopen it . 🏛️ Architectural style and spatial features Song Dynasty palace-style design Following the architectural vein of the Song Dynasty, the temple adopts elements such as double-eaved hip roofs, yellow glazed tiles, vermilion columns and beams, and white jade railings. It is carved with beams and painted with buildings, solemn and imposing . Embedded in the mountain, with a special layout The temple was built according to the terrain of the hillside, sitting west and facing east. There are two "Lingxing Gates", Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, East and West Verandas and Chongsheng Temple. It lacks the traditional Panchi and Wanren Palace Wall, but the space is still open . Five-opening archway and "Dao Guan Gujin" plaque The first Lingxing Gate is a seven-bay five-opening archway, including the "Dao Guan Gujin" plaque, which is said to be written by Chiang Ching-kuo; the history of the temple is engraved next to the lintel, integrating cultural and political history memories . 🎓 Rituals and ceremonies: the solemn scene of the Eight-Legged Dance The Qishan Confucius Temple holds a Confucius birthday (Teacher's Day) ceremony every year. Due to the large area, the Eight-Legged Dance is held on site, with a total of 64 people participating (8 rows × 8 columns), which is more spectacular than the Six-Legged Ceremony of ordinary temples . During the ceremony, the procedures of plucking the wisdom hair and passing through the smart gate follow the ancient system and are transformed into etiquette performances with educational implications. 🌄 Tour experience and quiet atmosphere • Quiet trails and stairs: Walk more than 500 stone steps from the foot of the mountain, step by step, and after climbing to the highest point of Zhongshan Park, you can see the Qishan Plain. • Observation platform: From the first platform, you can overlook Qiwei Mountain, Qiwei River, Pingtung Plain, and the mountains in the distance. • Night outing: The Confucius Temple is surrounded by dense greenery and the trails are gentle. It is a favorite place for local people to go outing in the mountains and enjoy the night breeze. The Qishan Confucius Temple is not only a regional religious building, but also a Confucian church that integrates history, architecture and natural scenery. From the remaining memories of the Japanese-ruled shrine, the Confucian spirit is reconstructed in a modern way. This is a space for thinking about cultural heritage and time and space memory. Whether you are a Confucian student, an architecture fan, or just want to slow down in the mountains and forests, the Qishan Confucius Temple is worth a day of quiet tour to experience the Confucian charm of "tranquility leads to far-reaching". #5月好去处2025