Jian Shui Confucian Temple (Chinese: 建水文廟) is located in the western part of Jian Shui (建水) County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (紅河哈尼族彝族自治州), Yunnan (雲南) Province, China. The Temple is one of the popular tourist attractions in Jian Shui.
There is a big wooden Pailou (牌樓; decorated archway) in Jian Shui Confucian Temple, the plinths are decorated by elephant carvings.
Constructed in the Yuan Dynasty (1285), Jian Shui Confucian Temple was expanded during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Now the temple covers a total area of around 76,000 square meters, it is the biggest Confucian Temple in Yunnan Province.
In ancient China, all Confucian temples were not only the temple buildings but also served as gymnasiums and middle schools.
The main building, situated in the inner courtyard with entry via the Dachengmen (大成門), is called Dachengdian (大成殿), literally means ‘Hall of Great Achievement’.
Inside the hall there are some decorations, but the decorations look new, not the original antique.
Jian Shui Confucian Temple is the country's second grandest Confucian temple in China, after the one in Qufu (曲阜), the Confucius 's birthplace in Shandong (山東) Province.
