The Gate of the Confucius Mansion

The Gate of the Confucius Mansion

The Gate of the Confucius Mansion is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Gate of the Confucius Mansion is the main entrance to the Confucius Residence in Qufu. It is a three-bay, five-rafter, flush-gable roof-style building, with a plaque inscribed with the two characters “圣府” (Sheng Fu), meaning “Sacred Mansion.”

On both sides of the gate hangs a couplet that reads: “Sharing prosperity with the nation, a noble house of wealth and honor; sharing eternity with heaven, a sage family of literary virtue.” The plaque with the words “圣府” was written by Yan Song of the Ming Dynasty. The couplet beside the gate, “Sharing prosperity with the nation, a noble house of wealth and honor; sharing eternity with heaven, a sage family of literary virtue,” features a unique calligraphic touch: the character “富” (wealth) is missing the dot on top, symbolizing “wealth without end,” while the vertical stroke of the character “章” (writing) extends all the way to the top, implying “literature reaching the heavens.” Just from the Gate of the Confucius Mansion, one can sense the grandeur of the “sage’s household” through the ages.

Time Needed

15 minutes

Transportation

Located within the Confucius Mansion; can be reached on foot

Ticket

Included in the combined ticket for the Three Confucius Sites

Opening Hours

April–June: 8:00–17:30

July–October: 8:00–18:00

November–March (next year): 8:00–17:00

Ticket sales stop half an hour before closing

Location

Confucius Mansion, Qufu City, Jining, Shandong Province

Confucius (551–479 BC), also known as Kong Qiu, courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong) in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. 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 descendants of Weizi Qi, the elder half-brother of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. Weizi Qi upheld the Shang ancestral rites and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation descendant, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt the surname “Kong.” His fifth-generation ancestor, Shu Liangfu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled there in Zou... More detailed information about Confucius ++