The Pan Kung gate is the outermost gate of the temple, but during their occupation of Taiwan the Japanese split the gate from the rest of the temple structure when they built Nanmen Road between them. Since the gate was split from the temple proper, its real purpose has gradually faded from collective memory, so it's not surprising so few people realize it's actually part of the temple.
「泮宮石坊」本來位於台南孔廟的最外出入口，日據時代為了開闢南門路，而將石坊與孔廟隔開，原有的功能遂逐漸被人們淡忘，難怪現在很多人不知道該石坊原是孔廟的一部份。