A few minutes' walk north of Baoan Temple is the Taipei Confucius Temple, a serene single-courtyard Confucian shrine rebuilt in 1925-30 after the original was demolished during the Japanese colonial period. The architecture follows the Quanzhou Min-nan tradition — yellow walls, swallow-tail roofs, dragons curling around the columns — but the space is deliberately austere, in contrast to the riot of colour at most Taiwanese temples.
The temple's quietness has its purpose: there are no statues, no incense burners, and no chanting, because Confucian rites traditionally use only offerings of food and music. The most rewarding time to visit is the Teacher's Day ceremony on 28 September, when an elaborate three-hour rite of music, dance and offerings is held at dawn. Free entry.