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Beijing Temple of Confucius () is the second-largest Confucian temple in China, after the one in Confucius's hometown of Qufu.
/ref> Inside the temple, there are 198 stone tablets positioned on either side of the front courtyard, recording the names of more than 51,624 '' jinshi''s (advanced scholars) of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. There are also 14 stone stele pavilions of the Ming and Qing dynasties that hold various historical documents from late imperial China. There is set of carved stone drums (reproducing early Zhou models) made during the reign of the Qing's Qianlong Emperor (1735–96). These are held within the Gate of Great Accomplishment. There is also a large collection of ancient Chinese musical instrument held in the Hall of Great Perfection, along with the central shrine to Confucius.Confucius Temple
/ref> There are various carvings inside the temple ground. One notable example is a famous carving of "two flying dragons playing with a pearl among the clouds"; the image is rare among Confucius temples since it was often reserved for emperors. The temple also contains stone steles containing the Thirteen Confucian Classics, presented to the temple by the city of Jintan in Jiangsu Province. The temple has many old trees, including one cypress tree known as the "Touch-Evil Cypress" (, ''Chujianbai'') that has been made famous by folklore through the ages. Its name derives from a Ming－era story that, when a notoriously corrupt official was passing by, the tree knocked off his hat. Afterwards people imaginated this particular tree could distinguish between good and evil.
Full Virtual Walk & Info on Confucius Temple, Beijing
{{Coord, 39.94511, 116.40831, format=dms, type:landmark_region:CN-11, display=title Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Beijing Confucian temples in China Religious buildings and structures in Beijing 1302 establishments in Asia Dongcheng District, Beijing 14th-century establishments in China 14th-century Confucian temples
Beijing Temple of Confucius () is the second-largest Confucian temple in China, after the one in Confucius's hometown of Qufu.
History
The Temple of Confucius inBeijing
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Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
was built in 1302 during the reign of Temür (Emperor Chengzong) of the Yuan dynasty
The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongols, Mongol-led Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Division of the M ...
. The compound was enlarged twice, once during the Ming dynasty
The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
and again during the Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
; it now occupies roughly . Until the Xinhai Revolution
The 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, ended China's last Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty, the Manchu people, Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and led to the establishment of the Republic of Chi ...
, imperial officials of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties hosted ceremonies to pay their formal respects to Confucius in the temple. From 1981 until 2005, the Temple of Confucius also housed part of the art collection of the Capital Museum. It stands on Guozijian Street near the Imperial Academy.
Grounds
The complex includes four courtyards aligned along a central axis. From south to north, noteworthy structures include the Gate of the Late Master (, ''Xianshimen''), the Gate of Great Accomplishment (, ''Dachengmen''), the Hall of Great Accomplishment (, ''Dachengdian''), and the Hall for Admiration of the Sage (, ''Chongshengci'').Beijing Confucius Temple. Travel China Guide./ref> Inside the temple, there are 198 stone tablets positioned on either side of the front courtyard, recording the names of more than 51,624 '' jinshi''s (advanced scholars) of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. There are also 14 stone stele pavilions of the Ming and Qing dynasties that hold various historical documents from late imperial China. There is set of carved stone drums (reproducing early Zhou models) made during the reign of the Qing's Qianlong Emperor (1735–96). These are held within the Gate of Great Accomplishment. There is also a large collection of ancient Chinese musical instrument held in the Hall of Great Perfection, along with the central shrine to Confucius.
/ref> There are various carvings inside the temple ground. One notable example is a famous carving of "two flying dragons playing with a pearl among the clouds"; the image is rare among Confucius temples since it was often reserved for emperors. The temple also contains stone steles containing the Thirteen Confucian Classics, presented to the temple by the city of Jintan in Jiangsu Province. The temple has many old trees, including one cypress tree known as the "Touch-Evil Cypress" (, ''Chujianbai'') that has been made famous by folklore through the ages. Its name derives from a Ming－era story that, when a notoriously corrupt official was passing by, the tree knocked off his hat. Afterwards people imaginated this particular tree could distinguish between good and evil.
References
External links
Full Virtual Walk & Info on Confucius Temple, Beijing
{{Coord, 39.94511, 116.40831, format=dms, type:landmark_region:CN-11, display=title Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Beijing Confucian temples in China Religious buildings and structures in Beijing 1302 establishments in Asia Dongcheng District, Beijing 14th-century establishments in China 14th-century Confucian temples