大(da)殿始建于宋慶(qing)歷四年(1044),政和二年(1112),紹興九年(1139)復回原址(zhi),明成化十八(ba)年(1482)重建,幾經廢興。漳州府學亦設于此(ci)(ci)。現建筑由儀門、大(da)成門、兩廡(wu)、丹墀、祭(ji)臺、大(da)成殿等組成,占(zhan)地(di)面積(ji)2600多(duo)平方米。朱熹知漳州,曾(ceng)每(mei)旬之二日必(bi)領官屬至此(ci)(ci)“視(shi)諸生講小學為正義”。鄭成功、黃道周(zhou)等都曾(ceng)到此(ci)(ci)祭(ji)祀(si)孔子。
主體(ti)建筑(zhu)大(da)成殿(dian),為明(ming)代建筑(zhu),坐北朝南,面闊五間(jian)(jian)(23.2米),進深六間(jian)(jian)(23.7米),重(zhong)(zhong)檐(yan)歇山(shan)(shan)頂。花崗巖大(da)石柱(zhu)支撐著(zhu)抬(tai)梁式(shi)木構架,下(xia)檐(yan)梁架皆為插入金(jin)柱(zhu)的(de)三步梁架,硬挑(tiao)單挑(tiao)出(chu)檐(yan)。金(jin)柱(zhu)柱(zhu)徑達0.8米。上檐(yan)在(zai)額枋之上施彎拱(gong)(gong)(gong)疊枋偷(tou)心式(shi)斗拱(gong)(gong)(gong)一圈,除柱(zhu)頭及(ji)轉角外,補間(jian)(jian)斗拱(gong)(gong)(gong)施一至二朵(duo),斗拱(gong)(gong)(gong)外檐(yan)出(chu)檐(yan)部分為七鋪作單抄(chao)三下(xia)昂單拱(gong)(gong)(gong)偷(tou)心,斗拱(gong)(gong)(gong)之上設井口天花。屋檐(yan)起(qi)翹顯(xian)著(zhu),兩山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)尖(jian)升起(qi)較高(gao),正脊彎起(qi),山(shan)(shan)花挑(tiao)出(chu)山(shan)(shan)柱(zhu)之外,保(bao)留了早(zao)期閩南建筑(zhu)特征,具(ju)有(you)許(xu)多宋(song)元木構手法。殿(dian)前六根蟠龍檐(yan)柱(zhu),形象生動,雕工精美,是閩南大(da)型殿(dian)堂建筑(zhu)的(de)重(zhong)(zhong)要實例。廟內尚存元延祐、明(ming)洪武和(he)正德、清康熙以及(ji)1924年(nian)和(he)1936年(nian)立的(de)重(zhong)(zhong)修碑碣。其(qi)中1924年(nian)的(de)《重(zhong)(zhong)修漳(zhang)州學宮碑》為康有(you)為晚(wan)年(nian)所(suo)撰(zhuan)并書,筆(bi)力雄(xiong)健。
2001年漳(zhang)州府(fu)文(wen)廟大成殿作為明(ming)代的(de)古建筑,被國(guo)務院列入第五批(pi)全國(guo)重點文(wen)物保護單位(wei)。