Confucius Temple Stele Forest

　　Situated to the east of the Imperial College, the Confucius Temple features 198 stone steles that document the names, hometowns, and examination rankings of 51,624 successful candidates in the imperial examinations over 600 years during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Confucius Temple Stele Forest stands as a testament to the ancient imperial examination system. Some notable figures among those recorded in the stele forest include:

　　Yu Qian, from Qiantang, Hangzhou, ranked 92nd in the third class (Jinshi) of the 1421 (Xinyou Year) imperial examination under the Ming Dynasty's Yongle reign. He had originally ranked first in the metropolitan examination but was demoted to the bottom of the list in the palace examination after his policy essay criticized contemporary issues, angering the emperor. In 1449, during the Tumu Crisis when the Ming Emperor Yingzong was captured by Mongol forces who advanced to the gates of Beijing, Yu Qian stepped forward, led the military and civilians in a fierce battle outside Desheng Gate, repelled the invaders, and saved the capital. He was later executed by the incompetent Emperor Yingzong. His former residence was located on Xibiao Bei Hutong near Dongdan, which has since been turned into a memorial hall. Shang Lu, from Chun’an, Zhejiang, was the top imperial scholar (Zhuangyuan) in the 1445 (Yichou Year) examination under the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong reign. He was one of only two candidates in the Ming Dynasty’s 89 metropolitan examinations to achieve the rare feat of ranking first in all three levels (Triple Triumph), the other being Huang Guan. He supported Yu Qian in advocating resistance against enemies and opposed relocating the capital southward. Yan Song, from Fenyi, Jiangxi, ranked second in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1505 (Yichou Year) examination under the Ming Dynasty’s Hongzhi reign. He dominated the court politics for 21 years and was a notorious powerful minister of the Ming Dynasty. The “Touch-the-Hat Cypress” in the Confucius Temple is famous for a legend where Yan Song’s official hat was brushed off by a cypress branch. Ma Laji, a Manchu of the Plain Yellow Banner, was the top imperial scholar in the 1652 (Renchen Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Shunzhi reign. He was the first Manchu to achieve this distinction in the Qing Dynasty. An alley called Ma Zhuangyuan Hutong in Ping’anli, Xicheng District, was named after his residence. Deng Tingzhen, from Jiangning (now Nanjing), Jiangsu, ranked 9th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1801 (Xinyou Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing reign. He assisted Lin Zexu in the ban on opium and resistance against British forces, and was later dismissed from office and exiled to Ili along with Lin Zexu. Li Hongzhang, from Hefei, Anhui, ranked 26th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1847 (Dingwei Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang reign. He was the leader of the Huai Army, rose to prominence by suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, founded the Beiyang Fleet, and was a negotiator and signatory of the Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Boxer Protocol. Zhang Jian, from Nantong, Jiangsu, was the top imperial scholar in the 1894 (Jiawu Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign. He was known for promoting industry and education, and served as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce and Minister of Industry and Commerce under Yuan Shikai’s government. Qian Nengxun, from Jiashan, Zhejiang, ranked 18th in the second class (Jinshi) of the 1898 (Wuxu Year) examination under the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign. A descendant of the kings of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, he served as acting Premier of the Beiyang Government in 1918. Tan Yankai, from Chaling, Hunan, was the 34th ranked candidate in the second class (Jinshi) in the final imperial examination of 1904. During the Xinhai Revolution, he served as the military governor of the Hunan Military Government, a veteran statesman who opposed Yuan Shikai’s autocracy, and held key positions such as chairman of the government and president of the Executive Yuan. Shen Junru, from Jiaxing, Zhejiang, was the 75th ranked candidate in the second class (Jinshi) in the final imperial examination of 1904. He participated in the Xinhai Revolution and was one of the “Seven Gentlemen” arrested in 1935 for advocating resistance against Japan. He later became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of New China. Other notable figures in the Confucius Temple Stele Forest In addition to those mentioned above, the stele forest also records the names of many other prominent individuals such as Zheng Banqiao, Ji Xiaolan, Gong Zizhen, Weng Tonghe, and Xu Shichang, all of whom left their names inscribed here.

　　

　　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, Shandong Province) in 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 descendants of Weizi Qi, the half-brother of the tyrannical King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. Weizi Qi preserved the rites of the Shang and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation ancestor, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt the surname Kong. His fifth-generation ancestor, Mu Jin Fu, fled to the State of Lu to escape turmoil and eventually settled in Zouyi. His father, Shu Liang He, was a renowned warrior of Lu known for his bravery and strength among the feudal lords. In his later years... More+