subject: Confucian Temple - One Of The Largest Architectural Works Completed By Chinas Ancients [print this page] Tianjin city is one of the fastest expanding cities and major commercial hubs of China; yet the historic city does not appear to have completely shed its atmosphere of faded yet dreaming regality. This is due in part to the city being endowed with a proliferation of historical and cultural monuments, advantages to its developing tourist industry.
The Confucian Temple of Tianjin is one such monument, being one of the largest complexes built by the ancients in China. When exactly it was built remains a matter of debate although it is commonly agreed that the temple is at least 500 years old and that it became a popular place of pilgrimage and worship in the 18th century. Having been renovated over a dozen times since its initial construction, this palace-like temple complex dedicated to the teachings of the philosopher Confucius was only opened to viewing by the general public in 1993, following Chinas Cultural Revolution.
The twelve thousand square foot temple, located on the Dongmennei Street of Tianjins Nankai City, is noted for its traditional architectural style known as Siheyuan. This literally means courtyard which is the central feature of compounds built around this time whose layout consisted of buildings extending from north to south and east to west surrounding a large central courtyard. The building facing the north is generally considered the main hall; in this case it is the Fu Miao Temple which houses an ancestral hall which was built in homage to the great Chinese thinker and scholar. There is also a Dacheng Hall which was reserved for students praying for success in their studies.
The temple is a well-laid out composition of ornately carved walls, serene ponds and exquisite curios with dragons protruding from its roof. The colour and grand elegance of the building appear to be more evocative of a palace than a simple place of worship and this might have actually been the case; evidence suggests that the temple was not only a religious shrine but also a training ground for high-ranked state officials.
This temple and many others in the same vein can be explored while staying at one of the numerous Tianjin hotels which cater to the citys burgeoning tourist industry. The Raffles Tianjin in particular is a hotel in Tianjin which appears to have been designed for the express purpose of recreating the luxury and elegance of the bygone monarchial eras with the added advantage of being placed right at the heart of the city center. Boasting a spa, world-class restaurants and 24 hour service, this hotel is an award-winning accommodation option which the discerning traveler should seriously consider.
