The Temple of Confucius, the Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion

　　　　The Kong Family Mansion, originally known as the Mansion of the Duke Yansheng, is located east of the Temple of Confucius in the city of Qufu and served as the residence of the direct descendants of Confucius. The title of Duke Yansheng was conferred in 1055 (the second year of the Jihe era of the Northern Song Dynasty) by Emperor Renzong of Song to Kong Zongyuan, the 46th-generation descendant of Confucius. This title was passed down through 32 generations for a total of 880 years.

　　　　 The Duke Yansheng was a privileged noble in feudal China. During the Song Dynasty, the rank was equivalent to an eighth-rank official; it was elevated to third rank in the Yuan Dynasty, first-rank civil official in the early Ming Dynasty, and later ranked "foremost among civil officials." In the Qing Dynasty, the Dukes were even permitted to ride horses and walk on the imperial pathway within the Forbidden City.

　　　　The Kong Family Mansion covers an area of 240 mu and consists of 463 halls, chambers, towers, and rooms. It has nine courtyards arranged along three routes: the eastern route (East School) includes the Guanyi Tang (Hall of Unity), Muen Tang (Hall of Gratitude), the Kong Family Ancestral Temple, and workshops; the western route (West School) features the Hong’e Xuan (Scarlet Flower Studio), Zhongshu Tang (Hall of Loyalty and Forgiveness), Anhuai Tang (Hall of Peace and Contentment), and the flower hall; the central route houses the main sections—the front official buildings with three halls and six chambers, the inner residence with the Front Upper Room, Front and Rear Hall Buildings, side towers, Rear Six Rooms, and finally, the garden at the very back.

　　　　The Cemetery of Confucius, originally called the Forest of the Supreme Sage, is the burial ground of Confucius and his family. After Confucius’s death, his disciples buried him by the Sishui River north of the Lu capital, initially without a raised mound (“grave without tumulus”). By the Qin and Han dynasties, although the tomb was built up higher, there were still only a few burial plots and a handful of caretakers. As Confucius’s status grew over time, so did the scale of the cemetery. In 157 AD (the third year of Yongshou during the Eastern Han Dynasty), the Governor of Lu, Han Huo, constructed a thatched hut on the site and later added another rest room southeast of the tomb, assigning several households to maintain the area. At that time, the cemetery spanned “no more than one hectare.” By the Gaoqi period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, only 600 trees had been planted. During the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty, stone ritual instruments were erected in front of Confucius’s tomb. In 1331 (the second year of Zhi Shun during the Yuan Dynasty), Kong Sike oversaw the construction of a cemetery wall and entrance gate. In 1391 (the tenth year of Hongwu during the Ming Dynasty), the cemetery was expanded to 3,000 mu. In 1730 (the eighth year of Yongzheng), a major renovation was carried out, spending 25,300 taels of silver to rebuild various gates and hire dedicated guards. Historical records show that from the Han Dynasty onward, the cemetery underwent 13 renovations and expansions, five afforestation efforts, and three land expansions. The surrounding wall of the cemetery stretches 7.25 km, stands over 3 meters high, and is about 5 meters thick, covering a total area of 2 square kilometers—much larger than the city of Qufu itself. As a clan cemetery, burials have continued uninterrupted for over 2,000 years. Here, one can examine burials from the Spring and Autumn Period, study tombs from the Qin and Han eras, and research the development of China’s political, economic, and cultural history as well as the evolution of funeral customs. In 1961, it was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites. “Ancient tombs endure for millennia, deep woods bring chill in May”—today, the cemetery is home to over 100,000 trees. Legend says that after Confucius’s death, “disciples brought rare trees from all directions to plant here, hence many unique species, none of which locals could name through generations,” and to this day, some trees in the cemetery remain unnamed. Among them are cypresses, junipers, oaks, elms, scholar trees, hackberries, maples, poplars, willows, sandalwoods, privets, osmanthus, and various other large trees, with roots tangled and branches lush. Hundreds of plants such as wild chrysanthemums, pinellia, bupleurum, pseudostellaria, and lingzhi mushrooms also thrive here in season. The Cemetery of Confucius is truly a natural botanical garden. “Broken steles hide deep in the woods, with no path to be found.” Amidst the dense foliage, stone tablets stand like a forest, and ritual statues gather in clusters. Aside from a number of famous Han Dynasty steles moved to the Temple of Confucius, the cemetery also houses personally inscribed tombstones by renowned calligraphers from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Li Dongyang, Yan Song, Weng Fanggang, He Shaoji, and Kang Youwei. Thus, the Cemetery of Confucius is also a veritable forest of steles.

　　 The Temple of Confucius, the Kong Family Mansion, and the Cemetery of Confucius are located in Qufu, Shandong Province. They form the largest complex in China that integrates the residence of Confucius’s direct descendants and the burial grounds of Confucius and his descendants. Confucius (551–479 BC) was the founder of Confucianism. In the year following his death, his former residence was converted into the Temple of Confucius for annual worship. From the Han Dynasty onward, emperors promoted Confucian teachings and continuously posthumously honored and bestowed titles upon Confucius, while expanding his temple, making it increasingly grand in scale.

　　Orderly architecture, a treasure trove of art

　　 The existing Temple of Confucius covers an area of 327.5 mu, with 466 structures spread across nine courtyards along a north-south axis. The layout is symmetrical and rigorously planned, exuding grandeur. The first three courtyards feature guiding structures such as gates and memorial archways. The fourth courtyard houses the three-tiered Kuiwen Pavilion (Pavilion of Literary Star), which stores books bestowed by emperors throughout history. The seventh courtyard contains the “Apricot Altar,” believed to be the site where Confucius taught in his lifetime. The main hall, the Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Achievement), stands 31.89 meters tall, 54 meters wide, and 34 meters deep. Twenty-eight dragon pillars line the corridor, each carved from a single block of stone. The front ten pillars feature intricate high-relief carvings of coiling dragons, set against clouds, rocks, and waves—rare artistic masterpieces. The temple also preserves a wealth of stone inscriptions and pictorial bricks, valuable resources for studying ancient Chinese calligraphy and culture.

　　The Kong Family Mansion exemplifies the integration of government office and residence, as well as garden and home

　　 East of the Temple of Confucius lies the Kong Family Mansion, the hereditary residence of Confucius’s direct descendants. Initially built in the Song Dynasty and expanded over generations, it now spans over 200 mu with more than 480 rooms. The official and residential sections are integrated, forming a typical feudal aristocratic estate. The official hall was used to receive imperial edicts or manage family affairs. The mansion’s rear garden is elegantly designed and uniquely laid out, considered a fine example of garden architecture and another model of integrating garden and residence. The mansion also houses a vast collection of historical archives, heirloom artifacts, costumes, and utensils from various dynasties—all extremely precious.

　　 The Cemetery of Confucius is the oldest and most intact family burial ground

　　 Also called the Forest of the Supreme Sage, the Cemetery of Confucius is located outside the north gate of Qufu, covering 3,000 mu with a 14-li-long brick wall. It serves as the family burial site for Confucius and his descendants. Cedar and cypress trees line the paths. To enter, one walks along a 1,200-meter-long tomb path, passing through a stone memorial archway, stone bridge, and passageway before reaching Confucius’s tomb. His burial mound stands 6 meters high, flanked by the graves of his son Kong Li and grandson Kong Ji. Some tombs in the cemetery are guarded by stone-carved ornamental columns, statues, and animals, reflecting the ranks of the deceased. Used for 2,500 years, the cemetery houses over 100,000 tombs. Its long history, vast number of burials, and excellent preservation are unparalleled worldwide.

　　Confucius (551 BC~479 BC)　　 Confucius (551–479 BC), whose given name was Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, was a native of Zouyi in Changping, State of Lu (present-day southeastern Qufu, Shandong). 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 a world cultural icon. Confucius’s ancestors included Weizi Qi, the half-brother of the tyrant King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. Weizi Qi inherited the Shang lineage and was enfeoffed in the State of Song. His sixth-generation descendant, Kong Fu Jia, was the first to adopt the surname Kong. His fifth-generation ancestor, Mu Jin Fu, fled to Lu for refuge and later settled in Zouyi. His father, Shu Liang He, was a renowned warrior in Lu, famed for his bravery and strength... More+

Cemetery of Confucius

Kong Family Mansion

Temple of Confucius