HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsConfucius Temple
Shandong · China
Your tour guide and driver will pick you up from your Qufu hotel's lobby at prearranged time. Then heading directly to the Temple of Confucius. If you choose to start the tour at 7:30am, you will be able to watch the "Opening Gate Ceremony " at the main entrance.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Confucius Temple
Welcome to the Confucius Temple in Qufu, the preeminent site of veneration for the philosopher, teacher, and politician who shaped the moral and social fabric of East Asia. This is the original temple of Confucius, established in…
Listen in the app2The Lingxing Gate: Threshold of the Scholar
Our journey begins at the Lingxing Gate, the primary entrance to the Confucius Temple complex. This magnificent stone archway is not just a structural element; it is a symbolic portal. …
Listen in the app3The Kuiwen Pavilion: The Library of the Sage
Further into the temple complex stands the Kuiwen Pavilion, an extraordinary wooden structure that served as the library and storehouse for the imperial books and calligraphy granted to the temple. Built in 1018 during the Song…
Listen in the app4The Thirteen Stele Pavilions: History in Stone
As we continue along the central axis, we encounter the Thirteen Stele Pavilions, a unique architectural feature of the Qufu temple. These thirteen small, elegant pavilions house massive stone tablets, or steles, inscribed with…
Listen in the app5The Apricot Altar: The Sage’s Classroom
We now arrive at the Xingtan, or the Apricot Altar, arguably the most spiritually evocative spot in the entire temple. This small, square pavilion with a yellow-tiled, double-eaved roof is situated in the middle of a courtyard…
Listen in the app6The Gardens and Ancient Cypresses
Beyond the stone and timber of the halls, the Confucius Temple is defined by its 'beautiful gardens which are meticulously landscaped.' These green spaces are an integral part of the 'Confucian architecture,' reflecting the…
Listen in the app7The Side Halls and the Cult of the Disciples
While the central axis of the temple is dedicated to Confucius, the flanking side halls are 'dedicated to his disciples' and later Confucian scholars who contributed to the development of the tradition. These 'two site halls'…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our journey through the Confucius Temple in Qufu, take a final look at the sweeping eaves and the ancient cypresses. We have explored more than just a historical site; we have visited the 'international' center of…
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What is Confucius Temple?
Confucius Temple is a place in Shandong · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Shandong · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 35.5900, 116.9898 |
| Last updated |
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within a 5-minute walk
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