The Gate of the Confucius Mansion

　　A couplet hangs on either side of the gate: “Prospering with the nation, the noble house enjoys wealth and honor; matching heaven in age, the sacred home of letters and virtue endures forever.” The plaque above the gate, inscribed with the words “圣府” (Sacred Mansion), was written by Yan Song of the Ming Dynasty. The couplet beside the gate — “Prospering with the nation, the noble house enjoys wealth and honor; matching heaven in age, the sacred home of letters and virtue endures forever” — 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 part “立,” suggesting “literature reaching the heavens.” Just from the Gate of the Confucius Mansion, one can sense the grandeur befitting the “sacred family” through the ages.

　　Confucius (551 BCE~479 BCE)　　 Confucius (551–479 BCE), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi (present-day southeastern Qufu in Shandong Province), Changping District, the State of Lu. 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 from the royal house of the Yin-Shang dynasty. His earliest known paternal ancestor was Weizi Qi, the half-brother of the last Shang king, Zhou, who continued the Shang ancestral sacrifices and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation ancestor, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt “Kong” as the family surname. His fifth-generation ancestor, Kong Fu Fu (also known as Mu Jin Fu), fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and later settled in Zouyi. His father, Shu Liang He, was a renowned warrior of Lu, celebrated among the feudal lords for his bravery and strength. In his later years... More+