Mingxin Academy. Mingxin Academy is a traditional three-section courtyard building with a simple and ancient appearance, featuring a three-bay main hall in the center, surrounded by red brick walls on three sides. Mingxin Academy is a traditional three-section courtyard building with a simple and ancient appearance, featuring a three-bay main hall in the center, surrounded by red brick walls on three sides. In the early years of the Guangxu reign, due to the development of the Central Mountain Range and the flourishing camphor industry, the streets became prosperous, and cultural activities were vibrant. Thus, local gentry advocated for the construction of Mingxin Academy in Chaiqiao Village. Coincidentally, in the ninth year of Guangxu, the Zhuoshui River flooded, bringing down numerous large logs, which were then used to build the temple. The main deity enshrined in the altar is the God of Literature (Wenchang Dijun), accompanied by the deities of the God of Writing (Zhi Zi Sheng) and Master Ziyang (Zi Yang Fuzi), as well as the Great Accomplishment Supreme Sage Confucius (Da Cheng Zhi Sheng Xian Shi Kong Fuzi). Couplets adorn the altar, hanging plaques, the entrance hall, and side corridors, all reflecting Mingxin Academy's grand aspiration to inherit the legacy of Confucian masters. In recent years, in conjunction with festivals and ceremonies, a series of folk customs and cultural festivals have been organized, not only serving artistic and cultural functions but also driving local industrial culture and tourism. The main hall of the academy, where lectures are held, is tall and imposing. The roof ridge is adorned with lively sculptures of children riding qilin, with a pair of dragons on either side. Floral patterns, four-legged ornaments, and symmetrical designs with vivid expressions are present. Mingxin Academy was designated as a third-class historic site by the Ministry of the Interior in 1985. Its restoration meticulously uses ancient building materials and reflects a Japanese architectural style, serving as a testament to the historical facts of the Japanese colonial era. However, its simple and ancient layout represents the spiritual core of Han Chinese immigrant settlements.
Address: 南投縣集集鎮東昌巷4號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
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