Taiwan 12-Day Vacation - Day 5 Koxinga’s Shrine, Tainan

After we have rested ourselves adequately from the walk in the Confucious Temple, we hopped over to the nearby Koxinga’s Shrine, Tainan.


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Koxinga or Zheng Cheng Gong, was a general of the Ming dynasty who arrived in Taiwan in 1661, a time when Dutch colonists were in control of Tainan. After nine months of fighting, the Dutch conceded defeat to Koxinga and his army.

During this time, the Manchurian Qing dynasty had overthrown the Ming back in China. Koxinga planned to rebuild his army in Taiwan, then return to retake the mainland. Sadly for him, this never happened as he died of malaria only a year later.

Some 21 years later, Koxinga’s grandson, who was only 14 years old at the time, ceded the island to the Qing dynasty. Koxinga's Shrine was built in 1875 by imperial edict from the Manchu Qing court. It was destroyed by Japanese occupation and rebuilt in the 1960s by the KMT - and it still retains a regal feel.

Koxinga is considered to be the founder of Tainan and the rich cultural heritage of not only the city, but also the island. Unfortunately, Koxinga only lived for one year in Taiwan before dying and passing on his throne. The city was surrendered to the Manchus by his grandson in 1683.

A landscape garden before the entrance

Statue of  Koxinga

The serene gardens within

Temple grounds

The main entrance and bus loads of tourists from the mainland

Some beautiful decos

Replica of a cannon

Beautiful gardens

Enjoy the serenity

To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link

Taiwan 12-Day Vacation - Day 5 Confucius Temple, Tainan

After breakfast, we took a walk to another must-see structure in Tainan, 孔子庙 Kong Zi Temple or Confucius Temple.


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The Confucius Temple in Tainan was built in 1666, it was the first Confucius Temple, before the end of Manchu Dynasty, it was the location of the highest official institute of higher learning in Taiwan. The Taiwan Palace of "Confucianism Study", it owned the incompatible position of culture and education, and was called "The Highest Institute".

The Confucius Temple has been through more than thirty times of reconstruction, a part of the building was destroyed during the wars or ruined by nature disasters; the present scale of the Confucius Temple was the look after reconstructing during the time when Japanese were ruling (1917), its elegant and simple localization characteristic takes a distinctive attitude of its own among the Confucius Temples buildings in Taiwan.

There are fifteen structures inside the Confucius Temple, the primary sacrifices in the palace is to Confucius divine tablet, on both sides, the sacrifices are to the sixteen pupils of Confucius.

Visit the Confucius Temple and try to find which of his students excel the "six arts"－rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and mathematics. If you have any tests coming up in the near future, you might also consider visiting the temple to honor Confucius like most local college students do around finals!

Beautiful and serene grounds at the outer courts of the temple

The small entrance to the temple

The Confucious Temple

Guarded by twin lions

Elegant Chinese calligraphy

A closer view

Simple elegance

A resting point for some ..

Intricate roof structures and decorations

The sage himself

Walking the grounds of the temple

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To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link