The Temple Of Confucius – A Monument To Greatness

Confucius is a figure that has achieved legendary status not only in China but the entire world. A renowned philosopher, his thinking changed the way Chinese people lived their lives and it is for this reason that numerous monuments and temples were constructed in his memory.

The Temple of Confucius in Kong Miao is the second biggest temple constructed in honour of this legendary figure. The temple is an impressive 22,000 square metres of space and consists of four different courtyards. The temple was constructed inside a large walled enclosure around which the rest of the city of Qufu expanded.

Structures that can be found here include Xianshi Gate, Dacheng Hall, Chongshengci and Dacheng Gate. Dacehng Hall is the most important and tallest building in the temple. It was here that the memorial ceremony for Confucius was often held. All the structures provide a majestic insight in to the world of ancient Chinese architecture.

Other points of interest that can be found here include the 198 stone tablets that list out the 51,624 names of the Jinshi who became members during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. These tables are located on either side of the front courtyard, giving them a prominent position.

Another point of interest is the 700 year old tree that is known as Chujian Bai. The name actually means Touch Evil Cypress and was adopted during an incident where a ill-favoured official’s hat was removed by the tree. It was then said that the tree could sense the difference between good and evil.

The temple also has various pictures that are scattered throughout depicting various images such as two flying dragons playing with a pearl among the clouds. This is extremely significant as the Dragon symbol was reserved exclusively to mean Emperor in ancient China. This truly showcases the importance of Confucius in ancient China and even today.

When travelling to Beijing visitors should definitely not pass up the chance to visit this historic monument.

Staying in a Beijing hotel that is located close to this destination provides guests with convenient access to this destination. Raffles Beijing Hotel, China is a luxury hotel in Beijing that not only offers convenient access to this destination but is also replete with an array of services and facilities that ensure for a comfortable stay.