History
The largest and oldest Temple of Confucius is found in Confucius's hometown, present-day Qufu (qǚ fǔ 曲阜) in Shandong Province. It was established in 478 BC, one year after Confucius's death, at the order of the Duke Ai of the State of Lu, who commanded that the Confucian residence should be used to worship and offer sacrifice to Confucius. The temple was expanded repeatedly over a period of more than 2,000 years until it became the huge complex currently standing. The development of state temples devoted to the cult of Confucius was an outcome of his gradual canonisation. In 195 BC, Han Gao Zu (hàn gāo zǔ 汉高祖), founder of the Han Dynasty, offered a sacrifice to the spirit of Confucius at his tomb in Qufu. Sacrifices to the spirit of Confucius and that of Yan Hui (yán húi 颜回), his most prominent disciple, began in the Imperial University as early as 241.

In 454, the first state Confucian temple was built by the Liu Song dynasty of south China. In 489, the Northern Wei constructed a Confucian temple in the capital, the first outside of Qufu in the north. In 630, the Tang Dynasty decreed that schools in all provinces and counties should have a Confucian temple, as a result of which temples spread throughout China. Well-known Confucian shrines include the Confucian Temple in Xi'an (now the Forest of Steles), the Fuzi Miao in Nanjing, and the Confucian Temple in Beijing, first built in 1302. In addition to Confucian temples associated with the state cult of Confucius, there were also ancestral temples belonging to the Kong lineage, buildings commemorating Confucius's deeds throughout China, and private temples within academies.

Confucian Temple in Beijing
Located on Guozijian (guó zǐ jiàn 国子监) Street inside Anding Gate, the Temple of Confucius in Beijing is the place where people paid homage to Confucius during the Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Now the temple houses the Beijing Capital Museum.

The Temple of Confucius was initially built in 1302 and additions were made during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has a total area of 22,000 square meters (5.4 acres). It is the second largest temple constructed for Confucius, the greatest thinker and educationalist in ancient China, ranking only behind the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province.

This temple consists of four courtyards. The main structures include Xianshi Gate (xiān shī mén 先师门) (Gate of the First Teacher), Dacheng Gate (dà chéng mén 大成门) (Gate of Great Accomplishment), Dacheng Hall (dà chéng diàn 大成殿) (Hall of Great Accomplishment) and Chongshengci (chóng shèng sì 崇圣祠) (Worship Hall). Dacheng Hall is the main building in the temple, where the memorial ceremony for Confucius was often held. Inside the temple one can see that 198 stone tablets are positioned on either side of the front courtyard, containing 51,624 names of Jinshi (the advanced scholars) of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Also 14 stone stele pavilions of the Ming and Qing dynasties hold the precious historical information of ancient China.

One item of note is the 700-year-old Chujian Bai (chú jiān bǎi 除奸柏) (Touch Evil Cypress) in the temple. Its name is associated with an ancient legend. During the Ming Dynasty, one day the superior official-Yan Song came to worship Confucius on behalf of the emperor. When he was passing by the cypress, one of the branches of the tree took his hat off. Since Yan Song was a treacherous official, people have thought the old tree could distinguish between good and evil people. Hence its name.

In the temple, you can also find remarkable pictures like two flying dragons playing a pearl among clouds, which are believed to be used only in the imperial palaces because dragon stands for emperor in ancient China. From those, it is easy to imagine the importance of the Confucius Temple in the feudal society of China.

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Admission Fee: CNY 10
Opening Hours: 08:30 -- 17:00
Public Transportation: You can take bus No. 13, 116, 807 and get off at Yong Hegong (yōng hé gōng 雍和宫) Stop. Or you can take subway line 2 and get off at An Ding Men (ān dìng mén 安定门) stop.

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