The Crown of Longyou Schools: Discovering the Architectural Majesty of Wuwei Confucian Temple

A Monument to Ancient Scholarship

1.The Wuwei Confucian: Temple, also known as the Holy Temple or the Confucius Temple, is a majestic architectural complex situated in the southeast corner of Wuwei City. Built in the 4th year of the Zhengtong era during the Ming Dynasty (1439), it has earned the prestigious title of the "Crown of the Schools in Longyou" due to its grand scale and historical significance. This site serves as a vital center for the veneration of Confucius and stands as a testament to the deep-rooted influence of Confucianism in the Hexi Corridor during the Silk Road era.

Architectural Grandeur and Layout

The temple complex is meticulously organized along a central axis, facing south and spanning an area of approximately 30,000 square meters. It is structurally divided into three primary sections: the Wenchang Palace to the east, the Confucian Temple in the middle, and the Liangzhou Prefecture School to the west. The core building, the Dacheng Hall, is constructed on a wide stone platform and maintains the majestic architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This main hall features a double-eave hip roof with nine ridges and is decorated with intricate lotus-patterned bricks. Behind the hall stands the Zunjing Pavilion, a prominent two-story structure and the tallest ancient tower remaining in Wuwei, which was used for housing sacred texts.

The Xixia Stele: A National Treasure

Beyond its architectural beauty, the Wuwei Confucian Temple houses the Wuwei City Museum, which preserves over 30,000 historical artifacts. The museum’s most renowned artifact is the Xixia Stele (Celestial People's Peace Year Stele), a first-class national treasure discovered at the nearby Guozang Temple. This stele is unique for its bilingual inscriptions in the Xixia script and Han Chinese, making it a critical "encyclopedia" for deciphering the lost language of the Xixia (Western Xia) Kingdom. This artifact highlights Wuwei's historical role as a multicultural intersection where different ethnic scripts and beliefs coexisted along the ancient Silk Road.

A Living Cultural Heritage

The temple grounds are filled with ancient cypresses and locust trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, adding an aura of solemnity and peace to the scholarly sanctuary. For centuries, the temple has been a site of significant cultural gatherings, including traditional sacrificial rituals that celebrate the heritage of the Hehuang and Hexi regions. For modern travelers, the temple offers a profound connection to China’s academic past, blending the rigid structures of imperial governance with the spiritual pursuit of wisdom.