There are words in the painting (22) 丨 Look forward to the Xiangtan Confucian Temple to regain its glory

Text/Yang Wei Photo/Liu Wen

See a message in xiangtan daily: "(2021) On December 13, the Cultural Research Center of the Confucian Temple of Hunan University of Science and Technology and the Management Office of the Xiangtan Confucian Temple were unveiled. The author suddenly felt a burst of joy, and a heart that had been hanging for many years finally fell back into his stomach.

Few people in old Xiangtan do not know the Temple of Literature. Xiangtan Confucian Temple is located in Chengzheng Street, Xiangtan City. The earliest Temple of Literature was built in the early years of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty, the original site was on the side of the small east gate of the ancient city of Xiangtan, and was destroyed by war in the fourteenth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1354). In the second year of Ming Hongwu (1369), the Temple of Literature was rebuilt on its current site. At present, the Temple of Literature still exists in Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Chongsheng Temple, Bell and Drum Pavilion, which belong to the buildings within the scope of the South Courtyard of Hunan University of Science and Technology.

In ancient Chinese society, the Temple of Literature has a special status, not only is it a special place to worship Confucius, but also the seat of the official schools of various prefectures and counties, so it is also known as the Temple of Literature, the Temple of Confucius, the Palace of Learning, etc., and is the highest place of etiquette and culture in a place.

When I was a child, my family lived not far from the Temple of Literature, and whenever I saw this red-walled glazed tile building, I often felt reverence. However, the author has never entered the main hall for a look, and I do not know the pattern inside, because every time I pass by, I always see the gate closed and there is no reason to enter. Wild grasses are common in the ping, and small trees grow on the glazed tiles on the top of the temple, and even once passing by, I saw someone pulling a net to play badminton in the apse, and I couldn't help but feel sorry.

Now that the Management Office of the Temple of Literature has been inaugurated, how can it not be rejoiced that in the future, the Temple of Literature will be protected without worry and the temple will be expected to visit?

However, after the excitement, there was a hint of unfounded worry. Ancient architecture and modern architecture are technically very different. For example, the steps along the temple of literature are all made of rammed earth, which is not smooth and tidy now, and there are small gaps, and when it is repaired in the future, will it be dug up and replaced by cement steps or modern stone floors? Will the old wooden columns and beams be replaced by reinforced concrete columns that will not decay? Will the entire Temple of Literature be "reborn" and renewed?

The worries of the layman, stop the laughter. I believe that the protection of the Temple of Literature will be as introduced by the leaders of HKUST, and HKUST will appoint experts and scholars who have long been engaged in traditional culture research and are full of affection and passion for cultural relics to manage the Temple of Literature, and turn the renovation project of the Xiangtan Temple of Literature into a high-quality project and a model project.

It would be a beautiful vision.

Look forward to the day when the Xiangtan Confucian Temple will return to glory!

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