Temple of Yan (Temple of the Restored Sage)

The Temple of Yan (Temple of the Restored Sage)

The Temple of Yan (Temple of the Restored Sage) is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Temple of Yan, also known as the Temple of the Restored Sage, is a shrine dedicated to Yan Hui. The current structure was initially built in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty. It consists of five courtyards, with 25 buildings from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties still standing.

The Temple of Yan is located inside the north gate of Qufu City, Shandong Province, facing the back garden of the Confucius Mansion across the street, and is dedicated to the worship of Yan Hui.

Yan Hui, courtesy name Ziyuan, was one of Confucius’s most favored disciples. Despite his humble background, he was deeply committed to study and was consistently praised by Confucius, who commended his dedication to learning—“not transferring anger, eating from a simple gourd and drinking from a gourd ladle, living in a shabby lane where others could not bear the hardship, yet Yan did not change his joy. Such a worthy man is Yan.” Yan Hui was also renowned among Confucius’s disciples for his virtuous character.

In the second year of the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Yan Hui was honored as the “Former Teacher.” During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, he was posthumously granted the title of “Duke of Chongguo,” and in the Yuan Dynasty, he was further conferred the title of “Duke of Chongguo, the Restored Sage.” From then on, Yan Hui came to be respectfully referred to as the “Restored Sage,” and the temple was named the “Temple of the Restored Sage.” The temple is divided into five courtyards, covering an area of 85 mu (approximately 5.67 hectares). It includes 159 structures such as halls, pavilions, storerooms, gates, and archways. The main structures within the temple, such as the Gate of the Restored Sage, the Gate of Returning to Benevolence, the Gate of Revering the Sage, the Well of the Shabby Lane, the Pavilion of Joy, the Hall of the Restored Sage, and various stele pavilions, were all originally built in the Yuan Dynasty.

Inside the Gate of the Restored Sage lies the Well of the Shabby Lane, surrounded by an octagonal open-air square pavilion. To the north of the well stands a stone stele erected during the Ming Dynasty, inscribed with “Well of the Shabby Lane,” commemorating Yan Hui’s frugal virtues of “eating from a simple gourd and drinking from a gourd ladle, living in a shabby lane.” The Hall of the Restored Sage is the main hall. The eastern and western side halls honor later virtuous descendants of the Yan family, such as Yan Zhitui, Yan Zhenqing, and Yan Shigu.

There are over 60 stone tablets and steles in the Temple of Yan. Among them are two Yuan Dynasty steles: the “Yuan Dynasty Imperial Decree for the New Temple of the Former Teacher, Duke of Chongguo, the Restored Sage” and the “Yuan Dynasty Imperial Edict on the Posthumous Honors for the Parents of Yanzi.” Both steles feature inscriptions in both ancient Mongolian and Chinese, documenting the conferment of titles upon Yan Hui and his parents at that time, which holds certain value for the study of ancient philology. On June 25, 2001, the Temple of Yan, as an ancient architectural complex dating from the Yuan to the Qing Dynasties, was approved by the State Council to be included in the fifth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

User Tip: Although the site is located near the Confucius Mansion, it receives fewer visitors. Compared to the Temple of Confucius, it has fewer attractions and relatively high ticket prices.

Address: Northern end of Luxiang Street, Qufu City, Jining, Shandong

Phone: 0537-4411075

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:30

Ticket:

50 RMB per person

Transportation:

Walk north along Gulou Street from the Confucius Mansion, or take Bus No. 1 or a rickshaw to get there.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level