澧(li)州文廟(miao)始建于宋代,距(ju)今有500多(duo)年(nian)歷史。它坐落在澧(li)州古(gu)城,占地(di)8000平方(fang)米,建筑(zhu)(zhu)面積3500平方(fang)米,是湘(xiang)北大而(er)且保(bao)護完美(mei)的古(gu)建筑(zhu)(zhu)群(qun)。自明清以來,廟(miao)宇(yu)經(jing)過了十多(duo)次的重(zhong)建和維修。使之成(cheng)為了湘(xiang)鄂邊署目前保(bao)存(cun)完好、規模宏偉(wei)的仿故(gu)宮式古(gu)建筑(zhu)(zhu)群(qun)。
現存(cun)的(de)澧州文廟占(zhan)地8000多平方米,建(jian)筑布局在(zai)(zai)南北中軸線上,自(zi)南往(wang)北依次是頭門、狀元橋、欞星門、大(da)成門、大(da)成殿、崇圣祠六進,大(da)成殿前置(zhi)有(you)東、西二(er)(er)廂(xiang)房和鐘鼓(gu)二(er)(er)樓亭(ting),所(suo)有(you)建(jian)筑被高大(da)宮墻(qiang)環繞,整個布局整齊、嚴(yan)謹、合理,廊廊相(xiang)通、檐檐相(xiang)連、其(qi)(qi)勢恢弘、其(qi)(qi)構精(jing)巧、其(qi)(qi)彩(cai)富麗。現在(zai)(zai)除欞星門不復存(cun)在(zai)(zai)外,其(qi)(qi)它的(de)建(jian)筑依然如(ru)舊(jiu)。
頭門,早修(xiu)于(yu)1882年,后被毀。2005年在(zai)(zai)縣(xian)委、縣(xian)政府的(de)(de)精心組織(zhi)和社會各界人士的(de)(de)支(zhi)持下,文(wen)廟經(jing)(jing)過較大規模的(de)(de)修(xiu)復(fu),頭門也(ye)在(zai)(zai)這次維修(xiu)中恢復(fu)。門前的(de)(de)一對石獅(shi)是(shi)明代華陽王府的(de)(de)遺物。華陽王是(shi)明太祖朱元璋的(de)(de)孫子(zi),曾經(jing)(jing)謫守在(zai)(zai)澧州。
東邊(bian)的字幅“德(de)侔天(tian)(tian)地”是(shi)說孔子的思想主張給人類(lei)的好處如同天(tian)(tian)高地厚,功(gong)德(de)能同天(tian)(tian)地相比(bi)。西邊(bian)的字幅“道冠古今”,是(shi)贊(zan)孔子思想、言行都是(shi)蓋世之冠。
狀(zhuang)元(yuan)橋(qiao),是(shi)文廟的重要組成部(bu)分,置于泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池之上,泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池取名(ming)為論(lun)語中“重游古(gu)泮(pan)(pan)(pan)”之句,古(gu)泮(pan)(pan)(pan)也(ye)就(jiu)是(shi)學校的意思。相傳(chuan)只有當地(di)中了狀(zhuang)元(yuan)回家朝拜孔(kong)子(zi),或皇帝巡視(shi)祭孔(kong)子(zi)時,才能踩過(guo)此(ci)橋(qiao)。橋(qiao)孔(kong)是(shi)半圓形,它聚天地(di)之靈氣(qi),采日月之精(jing)華,從這座橋(qiao)上走過(guo),可以(yi)增(zeng)長智慧(hui)。
大成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)是(shi)(shi)(shi)文(wen)廟(miao)的(de)(de)第三道(dao)門(men)(men)(men),又稱戟門(men)(men)(men),系(xi)道(dao)光帝時修建,其結構為(wei)(wei)單檐硬山式(shi),門(men)(men)(men)面(mian)寬三間。平(ping)時只能開(kai)啟(qi)東西(xi)二側(ce)門(men)(men)(men),中門(men)(men)(men)要待當(dang)地中了(le)狀元(yuan)了(le)之后(hou)(hou)祭奉孔子(zi)時才能開(kai)啟(qi)。在大成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)前(qian)后(hou)(hou)臺階(jie)和大成(cheng)(cheng)殿露臺前(qian)各嵌一塊五龍(long)(long)陛,大成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)前(qian)的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)陛為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代浮(fu)雕五龍(long)(long)丹犀,大成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)后(hou)(hou)面(mian)和露臺前(qian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)清(qing)代鏤空的(de)(de)五龍(long)(long)戲(xi)珠石(shi)雕。為(wei)(wei)什(shen)么是(shi)(shi)(shi)五龍(long)(long)呢?因為(wei)(wei)在這國(guo)古代有(you)著森嚴的(de)(de)等級制度,皇(huang)帝可以用(yong)九龍(long)(long),省一級用(yong)七(qi)龍(long)(long),澧(li)州(zhou)當(dang)時是(shi)(shi)(shi)州(zhou),就只能用(yong)五龍(long)(long),大成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)柱基(ji)全為(wei)(wei)石(shi)雕動物,前(qian)面(mian)兩對是(shi)(shi)(shi)獅子(zi)和大象,后(hou)(hou)面(mian)一對是(shi)(shi)(shi)麒(qi)麟,這些(xie)都是(shi)(shi)(shi)清(qing)代時工(gong)匠們(men)的(de)(de)杰作,他們(men)雕工(gong)精美、栩栩如(ru)生,每一件都是(shi)(shi)(shi)難得的(de)(de)工(gong)藝品。
大成殿(dian)原(yuan)名宣(xuan)王(wang)殿(dian),是(shi)文廟內的主體建(jian)筑,也(ye)是(shi)祭祀孔(kong)(kong)子的中(zhong)(zhong)心場所,全(quan)殿(dian)占地600多(duo)平方米(mi),蓋黃(huang)色(se)琉璃瓦,殿(dian)四周有(you)回廊(lang),全(quan)殿(dian)由四十八根(gen)大型杉木(mu)立柱構成,檐下斗(dou)拱交(jiao)錯(cuo),梁坊均油(you)漆彩繪,門上浮雕(diao)戲曲人物、花草鳥獸等紋飾,其工(gong)藝惟(wei)妙惟(wei)肖。原(yuan)殿(dian)內正中(zhong)(zhong)央供奉的就是(shi)孔(kong)(kong)子圖像(xiang),現(xian)塑造的孔(kong)(kong)子銅(tong)(tong)像(xiang),為儒商(shang)王(wang)煥慶先生捐(juan)贈。此銅(tong)(tong)像(xiang)高4.2米(mi),總體重(zhong)2.8噸,是(shi)目(mu)前(qian)國內大的孔(kong)(kong)子銅(tong)(tong)像(xiang)。