Confucius Temple

Confucius Temple in Beijing is the second largest one in China. Built in 1302, the temple was a venue where people pay respects to Confucius, the greatest thinker and educationist in ancient China.

Profile

ID : 23
City : beijing
English name : Confucius Temple
Chinese name : 北京孔庙国子监
Type : Ancient ancestral hall,
Level : easy
Kids : possible
Elders: possible
Best season : All seasons
Visiting length : 3 Hours
Distance to city center : 4.5 km

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Introduction

Confucius Temple in Beijing is located in Guozijian Street inside the north second ring road. Built in 1302, the temple was a venue where people pay respects to Confucius, the greatest thinker and educationist in ancient China. It is the second largest one in China. The main buildings are covered with yellow glazed tiles, which is the highest building rank in the feudal society. Covering a total area of 22,000 square meters, the Confucius Temple makes up three courtyards. Inside the temple, there are fourteen pavilions for Stone Tables of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Photo

The photo shows the animal statues on one of the roofs of Confucius Temple. The animal work as tile nail to protect and fix the tile.

Highlights

Gate of Ancient Teacher, Gate of Great Accomplishment, Hall of Great Accomplishment

Helper to visit Confucius Temple

Address in English : No.13 Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Address in Chinese : 北京市东城区国子监街13号
Tel : +8610-64075259
Post code : 100010
Ticket time : 8:00 - 17:00(May 1st - October 31st ), 8:30 - 16:30(November 1st - April 30th)
Open time : 8:00 - 18:00(May 1st - October 31st ), 8:30 - 17:00(November 1st - April 30th)
Closing time : Monday
Location : Confucius Temple is around 4.5 km to downtown beijing

Transportation

Subway: Take Subway Line 2, 5 and get off at Yonghegong Station
Public bus:
- Bus 13, 684 (Guozijian Station)
- Bus 116, 117(Yonghegong Station)
Private car is the best method to visit Confucius Temple with local tour operator.

Admission

high season : 70 RMB/person.
shoulder season : 70 RMB/person.
low season : 70 RMB/person.

Beijing Confucius Temple Tour

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About Confucius

Confucius, also called Kongzi, was a famous philosopher, educator, and politician of the Spring and Autumn Period (B.C 770-B.C 476).He is the founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought and is considered the first teacher in China.
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Culture Achievement of Confucius

Confucius was primarily a moral teacher. Love (Ren), the rules of proper conduct (Li), filial piety, and doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) are the four main topics of moral teaching and part achievement of Confucius.
In the teaching on Love (Ren), Confucius emphasized the sanctity and value of the individual, and the importance of his motive and will in moral conduct; yet at the same time he did not neglect the social aspect of love. The motive of love only, without the act of love toward others, is not the love. A hallmark of Confucius thought throughout is his emphasis on just this balance of inner and outer virtue, where inner refinement and purity naturally expresses outward.
In the teaching of Li, Confucius emphasized the value of the cultural heritage of society and the accepted rules of proper conduct. But he was aware of the evils that might result from the over-emphasis on Li; formalism, hypocrisy, or arbitrariness. Morality would become an external thing; to abide by customary regulations or accepted rules only would regard as moral, and the beach of them would be regarded as sinful. In order to safeguard one against such dangers, on the one hand, Confucius emphasized the value of love such dangers, on the other hand, gave new interpretations on Li by putting the individual motive, especially sincerity and reverence, as the foundation of Li.
In the teaching on filial piety, Confucius emphasized the extension of the emotional power that derives from the love of one's parents to the wider moral and social applications. Filial piety was, to Confucius, a strong moving force, very similar to that of the religious passion, that drivers and attracts the individual to establish himself and walk according to the Way (Tao), so that the names of his parents might be glorified.
In the teaching on the doctrine of the Mean, Confucius emphasized a sort of balanced life, or a state of complacency in thought and in the shifting emphasis between social heritage and freedom. The Confucian Doctrine of the Mean can be regarded as the doctrine synthesis between any two extremes in these life arts.
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Hotel near Confucius Temple

5 star/duluxe hotel
Beijing Qianyuan Hotel
Grand Mercure Beijing Dongcheng
Legendale Hotel Beijing
Regent Beijing
Prime Hotel

4 star/superior hotel
Qiu Guo Hotel (Beijing Yonghe Palace)
Happy Dragon City Culture Hotel
Guizhou Mansion
Hainan Hotel
Beijing Ningxia Hotel

3 star/comfort hotel
Nostalgia Hotel Beijing Imperial Academy
Hepingli Hotel
Beijing Traditional View Hotel

History of Confucius Temple
The Temple of Confucius was first built by Kublai Khan in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and was restored and rebuilt on several occasions during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1737, during the reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong, the major hall was renovated and was recovered with magnificent yellow glazed roof tiles. In 1960, when the worship of Confucius was further emphasized by the Qing Government, the temple underwent extensive restoration which lasted until 1916.

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Architecture of Confucius Temple
The main buildings of the Confucius Temple are covered with yellow glazed tiles, which is the highest building rank in the feudal society. Covering a total area of 22,000 square meters, the Confucius Temple makes up three courtyards. The first courtyard is the place where the emperor made preparations before worship of Confucius. The eastern part of the courtyard is taken up by the Pavilions for stone Tablets, the Holy Kitchen, the pavilion for Sacrificial Animals and the Well Pavilion. In the west, there are more pavilions for Stone Tablets, the hall of Vegetarian Diet and the Gate of Reverence which opens onto Guozijian (Imperial Academy). One either side of the courtyard, are arranged 198 stone tablets bearing 51,624 names of Advanced scholars of the Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties who passed the triennial imperial examinations.
Inside the Gate of Great Accomplishment are placed ten stone drums which were made on ancient models 1736 to 1795 of the Qing Dynasty and erected two tablets associated with event. The Hall of Great Accomplishment in the second courtyard is the center building of the Confucius Temple, where Confucius was worshipped. The stately and grand hall with its double eaves is flanked by the east and west wings. The east wing now houses an exhibition of the history of Beijing.
The third courtyard of Confucius Temple is the most distinctive, composed of the Chongsheng Gate, the Chongsheng Hall, east and west side halls. This group of buildings is called Chongsheng Ancestral Temple and is the place where Confucius's ancestors of five generations were worshiped.
The three courtyards and their buildings have specific differences in architectural grand and function, and form a building group of royal sacrifice harmoniously. They are outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese architecture.
Besides, in the Confucius Temple, there are fourteen pavilions for Stone Tables of the Ming and Qing dynasties where inscriptions of great historical value are carved.

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Confucius Temple
Confucius Temple in Beijing is the second largest one in China. Built in 1302, the temple was a venue where people pay respects to Confucius, the greatest thinker and educationist in ancient China.
https://www.beijingservice.com/confucius.htm

About Confucius
Confucius, also called Kongzi, was a famous philosopher, educator, and politician of the Spring and Autumn Period (B.C 770-B.C 476).He is the founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His philosophy, Confucianism, have an important influence on the civilization of East Asia. It emphasized the importance of virtuous life, filial piety and ancestor worship. Confucius is considered the first teacher in China.