Confucius Shrine

 

The Nagasaki Confucius Shrine is the world’s only Confucian

shrine built outside China by Chinese hands. First constructed

in 1893 by Chinese residents of Nagasaki with the support of

the Qing Dynasty government, the shrine was designed to

serve as a place of worship and learning for the Chinese

community, housing both a Confucian sanctuary and a primary

school.

 

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The buildings were severely damaged by the Atomic bomb explosion

on August 9, 1945 and were not restored and opened to the public

until September 1967. The shrine was extensively renovated in 1982. 

Standing outside the shrine are 72 statues representing the 72

followers of Confucius.

 

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A building at the rear of the shrine houses the Museum of Chinese

History and Palace Museum. It features large illuminated photographs

of the old Silk Road and models of early Chinese inventions such

as the world’s first seismograph. Displayed on the second floor are

more than 80 treasure-class articles of varying antiquity on loan

directly from the Chinese National Museum and Palace Museum 

in Beijing.