大殿始建(jian)于(yu)宋慶歷四年(nian)(1044),政和(he)二年(nian)(1112),紹興九(jiu)年(nian)(1139)復回(hui)原(yuan)址,明成(cheng)化(hua)十(shi)八年(nian)(1482)重建(jian),幾(ji)經廢(fei)興。漳(zhang)州府學(xue)亦設于(yu)此。現建(jian)筑由(you)儀門、大成(cheng)門、兩廡、丹墀(chi)、祭臺、大成(cheng)殿等(deng)組成(cheng),占地面積2600多平方米。朱熹知漳(zhang)州,曾每旬之(zhi)二日必領(ling)官(guan)屬至此“視諸生講(jiang)小學(xue)為(wei)正義”。鄭成(cheng)功(gong)、黃(huang)道周等(deng)都曾到此祭祀孔子。
主體建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)大(da)(da)成殿,為(wei)(wei)明代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),坐北朝南(nan),面闊五(wu)間(23.2米),進(jin)深六間(23.7米),重(zhong)(zhong)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)。花崗巖大(da)(da)石柱支(zhi)撐(cheng)著(zhu)(zhu)抬梁(liang)式木構(gou)架(jia),下檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)梁(liang)架(jia)皆為(wei)(wei)插入金(jin)柱的(de)三(san)(san)步梁(liang)架(jia),硬挑(tiao)單挑(tiao)出檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)。金(jin)柱柱徑(jing)達0.8米。上(shang)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)在額枋(fang)(fang)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)施彎(wan)拱(gong)(gong)疊枋(fang)(fang)偷(tou)心式斗拱(gong)(gong)一圈,除柱頭及(ji)(ji)轉角(jiao)外,補間斗拱(gong)(gong)施一至二朵,斗拱(gong)(gong)外檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)出檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)部(bu)分為(wei)(wei)七鋪作單抄三(san)(san)下昂單拱(gong)(gong)偷(tou)心,斗拱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)設(she)井口天(tian)花。屋檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)起(qi)翹(qiao)顯著(zhu)(zhu),兩山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)尖升起(qi)較高,正(zheng)脊彎(wan)起(qi),山(shan)(shan)花挑(tiao)出山(shan)(shan)柱之(zhi)(zhi)外,保(bao)留了早期閩南(nan)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)特征,具有許(xu)多(duo)宋(song)元(yuan)木構(gou)手法。殿前六根(gen)蟠龍檐(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)柱,形象生(sheng)動,雕工(gong)精美(mei),是閩南(nan)大(da)(da)型殿堂建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)重(zhong)(zhong)要實例。廟內尚存元(yuan)延(yan)祐、明洪武和正(zheng)德、清(qing)康熙以及(ji)(ji)1924年和1936年立的(de)重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)碑(bei)(bei)碣。其中1924年的(de)《重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)漳州學宮碑(bei)(bei)》為(wei)(wei)康有為(wei)(wei)晚年所撰(zhuan)并書,筆力雄健。
2001年漳州府文廟大成殿作為(wei)明代的古(gu)建筑,被國務院(yuan)列入第五批全國重點(dian)文物(wu)保護單位。