Miyun Confucius Temple

Miyun Confucius Temple

The Miyun Confucius Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Miyun Confucius Temple is located on the north side of East Gulou Street in the county town of Miyun. It was first built in the 28th year of the Zhiyuan era during the Yuan Dynasty (1291) and is the only surviving Ming and Qing dynasty-style ancient architectural complex in Miyun County. Covering an area of over 4,000 square meters and facing south, the temple features a memorial archway-style main gate at the entrance to its central courtyard. This grand gate is divided into three separate doorways: the central one is the Lingxing Gate, the eastern one is the Jinsheng Gate, and the western one is the Yuzhen Gate. Inside the gate is an artificially dug “Pan Pond,” over which two parallel single-arch stone bridges are built. On the east and west sides of the pond are three wing rooms each: the eastern wing houses the Shrine of Meritorious Officials, and the western wing houses the Shrine of Local Sages. Passing the Pan Pond leads to the Jimen (Weapon Gate), which consists of three rooms — also called the “Three Gates” — along with one eastern and one western corner gate. The main structures include the Dacheng Hall with five rooms, and the east and west side halls, each with seven rooms. Behind the Dacheng Hall lies a rear courtyard that once contained the Minglun Hall, Zunjing Pavilion, administrative offices for scholars, the Chongsheng Shrine, and the Qisheng Hall. The eastern courtyard included the Wenchang Hall, while the western courtyard had the Jiexiao Shrine. Except for the Dacheng Hall, all other buildings have been demolished. The Dacheng Hall stands 10 meters tall and covers a total area of 181.48 square meters.

Address: North side of East Gulou Street, Miyun District, Beijing

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi in Changping, the State of Lu (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong). He was a thinker, educator, and statesman in the late Spring and Autumn Period, the founder of Confucianism, and one of the most influential figures in Chinese history and culture. His impact extends globally, especially across Southeast Asia, making him one of the world’s cultural icons.

Confucius’ ancestors were the descendants of Weizi Qi, the elder half-brother of King Zhou of Shang. Weizi Qi continued the ancestral sacrifices of the Shang and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation descendant, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt “Kong” as the family surname. His fifth-generation ancestor, Mukin Fu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled there in Zou… More detailed information about Confucius ++