One of the great classical Chinese architectural complexes (along with Beijing's Forbidden City and Chengde's Imperial Summer Resort), the magnificent Confucius Temple was first built in 478 B.C. by the king of Zhou, Lu Aigong, who converted three rooms from Confucius's residence into a temple to offer sacrifices to the Sage. The temple grew from the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 24) onward due to the increasing number of titles conferred on Confucius. Many of today's structures, done in typical imperial fashion with red pillars and yellow-glazed tiles, and oriented on a north-south axis, date to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Over a kilometer long, the temple is first approached from the main south gate in Qufu's city wall. Then, a series of gates and courtyards lead eventually toDazhong Men,a gate and former temple entrance (during the Song). In the next courtyard is the marvelous three-story, triple-eavedKuiwen Ge (Worship of Literature Pavilion),first built in 1018 and rebuilt in 1191. This wooden building with stone pillars survived a major earthquake during the reign of the Qing dynasty Kangxi emperor (1654-1722) that destroyed much of the rest of Qufu. In the next courtyard are13 stelae pavilionsall constructed during different periods, from the Jin (A.D. 265-420) to the Republican period (1914-19), and housing stelae recording the visits of different emperors.
The central gate,Dacheng Men,leads into the heart of the temple complex and the magnificentDacheng Dian (Hall of Great Achievements), originally built on this site in 1021 and rebuilt in 1724. Constructed on a two-tiered sculptured marble terrace, the building is supported by 28 carved stone pillars and majestically capped by a double-eaved, yellow-tiled roof. Individually carved from whole blocks of stone, the 10 columns in front each depict two dragons playing with pearls amid a sea of clouds. The remaining 18 octagonal pillars each bear 72 smaller dragons. Inside the temple is a statue of Confucius flanked by four of his students. These statues, destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, were replaced in 1983. Also on display is a set of bronze vessels and musical instruments that were used in ceremonial rites to honor the Great Sage, still occasionally performed here. In front isXing Tan (Apricot Altar),where it is said Confucius used to deliver lectures to his 72 disciples. Behind the Great Hall is theHall of Bedroomused to honor Confucius's wife, Lady Yuangong, who married him at the age of 19 and died 7 years before her husband.
The original Confucius's temple stands in the eastern section, only three shanties by legend. Also noteworthy is a 3m-deep (10-ft.)wellin the eastern section of the complex from which Confucius is said to have drunk. East of the well, a screen wall,Lu Bi,commemorates the successful attempt by the ninth generation of Confucius's descendant Kong Fu to hide all the Confucian classics such asThe AnalectsandThe Book of Ritesin the walls of Confucius's residence during Qin Shi Huangdi's book-burning campaign in 213 B.C. The books were later discovered during the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), when the residence was torn down in order to enlarge the temple.