Tomb of Zai Yu

Tomb of Zai Yu

The Tomb of Zai Yu is a cultural relic protection unit of Qufu City.

Tomb of Zai Yu Located 3.5 kilometers east of Qufu City and 300 meters southeast of Gucheng Village. The tomb area spans 55.70 meters from north to south and 62 meters from east to west. Originally, the burial mound measured 15.60 meters from east to west, 11.50 meters from north to south, and was 3 meters high. Within the grove, there are three large stone steles: in front of the tomb is one inscribed “Tomb of the Sage Zai Zi,” at the southeast corner is one inscribed “Record of the Reconstruction of Zai Zi’s Tomb,” and at the northwest corner is one inscribed “Forest of the Sage Zai Zi.” During the Cultural Revolution, the tomb mound was leveled and the steles were lost. In 1986, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit by Qufu City.

Zai Yu (522–458 BC), courtesy name Ziwu, also known as Zai Wo, was a native of the State of Lu and 29 years younger than Confucius. Renowned for his eloquence and skill in rhetoric, he was one of the Ten Wise Disciples of Confucius. Because he liked to sleep during the day, he was not favored by Confucius, who criticized him harshly, saying, “Rotten wood cannot be carved; a wall of dung cannot be plastered. What is there to say about Yu?” and even lamented, “In the past, when I judged people, I listened to their words and believed their actions. Now, when I judge people, I listen to their words and observe their actions. It is Yu who has made me change my approach.” In reality, Zai Yu was thoughtful, inquisitive, independent-minded, and bold enough to challenge authority—he was the only disciple of Confucius who dared to openly question his teachings. Confucius... More details about Zai Yu++