Zoucheng Temple of Mencius and Former Residence of Mencius

Zoucheng Temple of Mencius and Former Residence of Mencius

Zoucheng Temple of Mencius and Former Residence of Mencius is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relics protection unit, and a patriotic education base.

Zoucheng Temple of Mencius and Former Residence of Mencius, a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relics protection unit in China, is located in the southern part of Zoucheng city. National Highway 104, the Beijing–Fuzhou Expressway, and the Beijing–Shanghai Railway run near the scenic area. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved ancient architectural complexes in China and a classic example of traditional Chinese architecture. Construction began in the fourth year of the Jingyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1037 AD), and after maintenance and expansions over the dynasties, it has reached its current scale.

The Temple of Mencius is located in Nanguan, Zou County, Shandong Province.

Also known as the "Temple of the Second Sage," the Temple of Mencius is a shrine dedicated to the great philosopher Mencius of the Warring States period. Mencius (372–289 BC), whose given name was Ke and courtesy name Zi Yu, was a native of Zou (Zou County, Shandong) and came from an aristocratic family of the State of Lu. He studied under the disciples of Confucius’s student Zisi, later developed Confucius's philosophy of "benevolence," and advocated the idea of "benevolent governance." He is considered the founder of the Si-Meng school of thought, representing the orthodox lineage of Confucianism. Later generations regarded him on par with Confucius, and Confucian political thought became known as "the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius." During the Song Dynasty, Mencius was posthumously titled Duke of Zou, and in the second year of the Yuanshun era of the Yuan Dynasty (1331 AD), he was further honored as the Second Sage of Zou. In the ninth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1530 AD), he was officially styled the "Second Sage."

During the Song Dynasty, a shrine was built beside Mencius’s tomb and was relocated to its current site in the third year of the Xuanhe era (1121 AD). After more than thirty subsequent expansions and renovations over the dynasties, the temple reached its present scale during the Ming Dynasty. The temple is rectangular, measuring 317 meters north-south and 85 meters east-west, covering an area of over 100 acres. There are five courtyards with 64 halls, two stele pavilions, five memorial archways, and 275 stone tablets dating back to the Han Dynasty, along with 101 Han Dynasty stone reliefs. The main structures are aligned along the central axis, including the Hall of the Second Sage and the Sleeping Hall, which honor Mencius and his wife. To the east are the Hall of Enlightened Sage and the Hall of Mencius’s Mother, dedicated to Mencius’s parents, while to the west are the Family Temple and the Dining Hall. The Hall of the Second Sage, reconstructed in the eleventh year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1672 AD), is the main venue for worshipping Mencius. It is seven bays wide, supported by 26 octagonal columns resting on drum-shaped plinths. The temple complex is lush with ancient trees, predominantly cypresses and junipers, interspersed with gingko trees and vines, bringing vitality to the historic architecture. The renowned Ming Dynasty painter and calligrapher Dong Qichang praised: “How I love the trees of this Mencius shrine, so grand and true to form. Their roots nourished by the waters of Zhu, their spirit drawn from the sacred Mount Yi. Enduring since the Qin dynasty’s script, they rise to the skies with the green of Lu. Though wisdom may wane like the tree of chaos, only sages are listed in the immortals’ register.”

The Former Residence of Mencius is located to the west of the Temple of Mencius and is also known as the Mansion of the Second Sage. It served as the residence of the hereditary Hanlin Academy Doctors of the Five Classics of the direct descendants of Mencius.

The exact date of the construction of the Former Residence of Mencius is unknown. Its current site was established here in the third year of the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty (1121 AD). Most of the existing structures date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The residence faces south and measures 226 meters in length and 98 meters in width, consisting of four courtyards with 116 halls, gates, and side rooms. The front section functioned as the official yamen, with the east and west side rooms in the first courtyard serving as housing for attendants. The second gate, also known as the Ceremonial Gate, leads to the main hall with five bays, which was the office where the hereditary Hanlin Academy Doctors of the Five Classics received imperial edicts, met with court officials, and taught family precepts. Flanking the main hall are five east and west side rooms, serving as offices for ritual assistants, musicians, scribes, and attendants involved in temple ceremonies. The rear section is the residential area, featuring key buildings such as the Hall of Imperial Grace and the Gifted Book Tower, with the latter storing imperial calligraphy and historical documents bestowed by emperors. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: No. 1498, Yasheng Road, Zoucheng City, Jining, Shandong Province

Tel: 0537-5221377

Opening Hours:

8:30–17:30 (Ticketing stops at 16:30 in the low season and 17:00 in the peak season)

Ticket:

Temple of Mencius and Former Residence of Mencius Adult Ticket – 40 RMB

Mencius (c. 372–289 BC), a philosopher, statesman, and educator of the Warring States period and a representative figure of the Si-Meng school of Confucianism. His given name was Ke and courtesy name Zi Yu. He was a native of Zou (southeast of present-day Zoucheng, Shandong), in the State of Lu. Regarded as the successor to Confucius’s teachings, he earned the title of “Second Sage.”

Legend has it that Mencius was a descendant of the noble Mengsun clan of the State of Lu. Orphaned at a young age and raised in poverty, he studied under a disciple of Zisi. After completing his studies, he traveled among various feudal states as a scholar, attempting to promote his political ideals. He visited the states of Liang (Wei), Qi, Song, and Teng, and although he was once... [More details about Mencius++]

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Key Cultural Relics Protection Units Nationwide