Taiyuan Confucian Temple: Pan Pond and Pan Bridge

In the front courtyard of Taiyuan Confucian Temple, there is a crescent-shaped pond called "Pan Pond" with an arch bridge over it called "Pan Bridge." In the past, when a scholar was newly admitted to school, he would be led by a local official to cross Pan Bridge and Pan Pond, pass through Dacheng Gate, enter Dacheng Hall to worship Confucius, and then visit the instructor at the Confucian Academy. This ceremony was called "Ru Pan" or "You Pan," which means entering the gate of Confucianism.