The Hall of Worship in Menglin

The Hall of Worship in Menglin

According to the inscription on the "Stele Commemorating the Reconstruction of the Hall of Worship in the Forest of Mencius," erected by Yan Pu, the 59th-generation direct descendant and hereditary Hanlin Academy Doctor of the Five Classics of Mencius during the first year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1567), and documented by Zhu Guanting of the Lu princely clan, the Hall of Worship in Menglin originally consisted of three bays and was built by Kong Daofu, the prefect of Yanzhou during the Song Dynasty. However, it had completely disappeared after several hundred years. In the 41st year of the Jiajing era (1562), Zhang Weng from Qingyang rebuilt the Hall of Worship with five bays, along with three-bay side chambers on both sides, a three-bay second gate, and facilities including an altar table, steps for entry and exit, doors for opening and closing, enclosing walls for protection, all constructed with exceptional sturdiness—making the structure broader than the previous one. Later, due to neglect and lack of maintenance, only the Hall of Worship remains today, while the other buildings are now only ruins.