The Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple

The Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple

The Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located east of the Imperial College, the Confucius Temple houses 198 stone steles that record the names, hometowns, and ranking of 51,624 successful imperial examination candidates over 600 years during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple bears witness to the ancient imperial examination system. Among the notable figures...

Yu Qian, from Qiantang, Hangzhou, ranked 92nd in the third class (Jinshi) of the 1421 (Xinchou Year) imperial examination under the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle reign. He had originally placed first in the metropolitan examination (Huishi), but his palace examination essay, which criticized contemporary political issues, angered the emperor, resulting in his demotion to the bottom of the list. In 1449, during the Tumu Crisis when the Ming Emperor Yingzong was captured by Mongol forces and the enemy advanced to the gates of Beijing, Yu Qian stepped forward, led troops and civilians in a fierce battle outside Deshengmen, repelled the invaders, and saved the capital. Later, he was executed by the incompetent and traitorous Emperor Yingzong. His former residence was located on Xibiao bei Hutong near Dongdan, which has since been turned into a memorial hall.

Shang Lu, from Chun’an, Zhejiang, was the top imperial scholar (Zhuangyuan) in the 1445 (Yichou Year) examination under the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong reign. He was one of only two candidates in the Ming Dynasty’s 89 palace examinations to achieve the rare feat of success in all three levels — the local, provincial, and national levels (known as “lián zhōng sān yuán”) — the other being Huang Guan. He supported Yu Qian in advocating resistance against enemies and opposed relocating the capital southward.

Yan Song, from Fenyi, Jiangxi, ranked second in the second class (Jieyuan) of the 1505 (Yichou Year) examination under the Ming Dynasty’s Hongzhi reign. He dominated the court politics for 21 years and was a notorious powerful official in the Ming Dynasty. The “Touching-the-Hat Cypress” in the Confucius Temple is famous because its branches once knocked off Yan Song’s official hat.

Ma Ledge Ji (Ma Leji), of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, was the first Manchu Zhuangyuan (imperial top scholar) in the 1652 (Renchen Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Shunzhi reign. An alley called Ma Zhuangyuan Hutong in Ping’anli, Xicheng District, was named after his residence.

Deng Tingzhen, from Jiangning (now Nanjing), Jiangsu, ranked 9th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1801 (Xinyou Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing reign. He assisted Lin Zexu in the anti-opium campaign and in resisting British forces, and was later dismissed from office and exiled to Ili along with Lin Zexu.

Li Hongzhang, from Hefei, Anhui, ranked 26th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1847 (Dingwei Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang reign. He was the leader of the Huai Army, rose to prominence by suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, founded the Beiyang Fleet, and was the negotiator and signatory of both the Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Boxer Protocol.

Zhang Jian, from Nantong, Jiangsu, was the Zhuangyuan in the 1894 (Jiawu Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign. He was well known for promoting industry and education, and served as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce and Minister of Industry and Commerce in Yuan Shikai’s government.

Qian Nengxun, from Jiashan, Zhejiang, ranked 18th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1898 (Wuxu Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign. He was a descendant of the kings of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and served as acting Premier of the Beiyang Government in 1918.

Tan Yankai, from Chaling, Hunan, was among the last group of imperial examination graduates in 1904, ranking 34th in the second class (Jinshi). During the 1911 Revolution, he served as the military governor of the Hunan Military Government, a veteran statesman who opposed Yuan Shikai’s autocratic rule, and later held key positions such as Chairman of the National Government and President of the Executive Yuan.

Shen Junru, from Jiaxing, Zhejiang, was also among the last imperial examination graduates in 1904, ranking 75th in the second class (Jinshi). He participated in the 1911 Revolution and was one of the “Seven Gentlemen” arrested by the authorities in 1935 for advocating resistance against Japan. He later became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of New China. Other notable figures in the Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple In addition to those mentioned above, the Forest of Stone Steles at the Confucius Temple also bears the names of numerous other distinguished individuals such as Zheng Banqiao, Ji Xiaolan, Gong Zizhen, Weng Tonghe, and Xu Shichang, all of whom left their mark here.

Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi (present-day Qufu, Shandong Province). He was a philosopher, 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 half-brother of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. Weizi Qi upheld the Shang rituals and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation ancestor, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt “Kong” as the family surname. His fifth-generation ancestor, Mu Jin Fu, fled to Lu for safety and eventually settled in Zouyi, the State of Lu...   More detailed information about Confucius++