The Confucian Temple of Datong Mansion is the first Confucian Temple in China.

Many readers may disagree with this title. The first Confucius Temple dedicated to Confucius is clearly in Qufu, Confucius' hometown. How could it be in Datong, Shanxi? There are two concepts to be clarified here. Qufu is a Confucian temple dedicated to Confucius and mainly engaged in sacrifice. Confucian temples in various places are not only dedicated to Confucius, but also the highest local institution of learning, that is, the so-called county schools and government schools. Therefore, Confucian temples are mainly engaged in teaching. So we can distinguish the Confucian Temple from the Confucian Temple, right?

In the fifth year of Yongxing in the Northern Wei Dynasty (413), the emperor issued an edict to "offer sacrifices to Confucius in Guoxue and match with Yan Yuan". According to Records of Emperor Shizu of the Wei Dynasty, in February of the third year of Emperor Shizu's reign (426), "the Imperial College started to study in the east of the city, worshipped Confucius, and matched Yan Yuan". It is the first institution in Chinese history to set up a school to worship Confucius. It can be seen that the origin of Chinese government schools roughly started from the calligraphy school in Pingcheng (now Datong) of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the inheritance of the Confucian Temple in Datong Mansion is the first in the world.

The highest school of calligraphy in the Northern Wei Dynasty was the Imperial College in the Liao Dynasty, and it was renamed "Imperial College" in the Jin Dynasty. It was also the highest school, and its position has remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

But in the Ming Dynasty, the position changed. When Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he made his sons vassals everywhere. Zhu Gui, the 13th generation king, granted a vassal to Datong. At first sight, he had a crush on the geomantic treasure land in the northeast of Datong City, which had gone through the Northern Wei Dynasty Chinese calligraphy, the Liaoxi Beijing Imperial College, the Jin Tai Xue, the Yuan County School, and the Ming Government School. He wanted to dominate this culture to expand his palace. Zhu Gui was arrogant and overbearing, and his palace screen wall, Jiulong Screen Wall, was more than the Beijing Emperor's Jiulong Screen Wall. Such arrogance was nothing.

However, in the face of Confucius saints respected by emperors of all ages, King Zhu had to pay some attention. If they occupy the land of others' Confucian Temple, they will find another place to compensate for a larger Confucian Temple. So, on the old site of Yunzhong Posthouse, a larger Confucian Temple rose, which is today's Confucian Temple of Datong Mansion. Until 2008, the Confucian Temple of Datong Mansion was still the location of Datong No. 6 Middle School.

In 2008, Datong City started the protection and restoration project of Fuwen Temple. On July 20 of the same year, Datong No. 6 Middle School moved out of Fuwen Temple. The teaching buildings that have been built for less than 15 years have also been demolished.

Then the Datong Municipal Government invested 30 million yuan. After nearly two years of construction, it rebuilt the Sutra Pavilion, east and west side halls, east and west corridors, stele pavilions, stele corridors, Panchi, Lingxing Gate, and Yimen of the Confucian Temple according to the original historical records, and repaired the remaining six ancient buildings, making the entire Confucian Temple cover an area of 40000 square meters. At the same time, the surrounding environment of Fuwen Temple has been renovated, and Yunlufang, Dacheng Square, Yilufang and Limen Square in the south, north, east and west of the central axis of Fuwen Temple have been rebuilt. In November 2010, the Fuwen Temple was officially completed.  

The main existing ancient building in the Confucian Temple is Dacheng Hall, which was built in the Ming Dynasty and repaired many times during the Shunzhi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty.   Five rooms wide, three rooms deep, single eaves resting on the top of the mountain. North facing south, Built on the high platform, A statue of Confucius is provided inside.

Behind the Dacheng Hall is the newly built antique building Zunjin Pavilion, in front of which stands a white marble statue of Confucius. Zun Jing Pavilion is a beautiful attic with two statues in it. Confucius saluted with both hands and asked me, and I stretched out a finger, as if saying something.

Standing on the high platform of Zunjing Pavilion, you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding ancient buildings and antique buildings. Under the blue sky and white clouds, you seem to have passed through the ancient Datong.