Temple of Ran Zi

　　(I) Historical Background

　　Ran Zi was once a retainer of Ji Sun, a noble family in the State of Lu. During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, he was posthumously honored as Marquis Xu. According to the Gazetteer of Caozhou Prefecture: "Thirty-five li east of Yuncheng lies the former residence of the Three Rans, where there is Gold Coin Ridge. On the ridge are the ruins of an old temple, with ancient trees standing as if they have existed for hundreds of years." In the 25th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1597), a broken stele was discovered locally. In the 3rd year of the Chongzhen reign (1630), Guo Ziguang from Luoyang, a scholar well-versed in antiquities, identified this stele as the "Tomb Stele of Ran Zi, Marquis Xu," erected during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, local gentry renovated the Ran Zi Tomb Shrine. Later, both the shrine and the tomb fell into disrepair again, and by the early days of liberation, only three shrine rooms, one tomb mound, and two ancient cypresses remained. The original side halls to the east and west of the shrine have now been destroyed.

　　The Ran Zi Stele was erected during the Qing Dynasty when the Ran Zi Shrine was renovated. The stele is 1.3 meters high, 0.56 meters wide, and 0.15 meters thick. The inscription on the stele includes phrases such as "During the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty, he was worshipped in the temple hall and posthumously honored as Marquis; during the Zhenzong era of the Song Dynasty, he was further honored as Duke of Rencheng; during the Duzong era, he was renamed Duke of Xu; during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, he was called the Sage Ran Zi, and our dynasty continued this tradition."

　　In 1958, the government allocated funds to renovate the shrine and tomb, adding perimeter walls, which were later damaged during the Cultural Revolution.

　　(II) Current Status

　　The existing Temple of Ran Zi is a three-room, flush-gable-roof structure facing south, 9 meters long and 5 meters wide, with a height of 5.5 meters. It is built on a 50 cm-high stone platform, featuring double eaves, gray tiles, and ridges adorned with animal-patterned ornaments.

　　Approximately two meters behind the back door of the Ran Zi Shrine lies the Ran Zi Tomb, which is circular, 1 meter high, and about 10 meters in circumference. The Ran Zi Stele is 1.3 meters high, 0.56 meters wide, and 0.15 meters thick, with vigorous and clearly legible inscriptions carved on it.

　　In front of the shrine are two ancient cypresses, said to be "Tang Dynasty cypresses." The two trees stand 5.62 meters apart, facing each other from east to west, with gnarled trunks and branches, lush and vigorous. The eastern cypress is 4.4 meters from the shrine, 11.16 meters tall, with a circumference of 3.6 meters, covering a tree crown area of 94.5 square meters. The western cypress is 3 meters from the shrine, 10.37 meters tall, with a circumference of 8.51 meters, and covers a tree crown area of 180 square meters. Since 1988, most of the branches of the western cypress have gradually withered. Despite timely rescue efforts, the results have been minimal.

　　Ran Qiu

　　522 BC

　　～?)

　　Ran Qiu, courtesy name Ziguo, was a native of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period, from Jiaxiang. He was a disciple of Confucius and one of the Seventy-Two Sages, 29 years younger than Confucius. Ran Qiu was ranked among the Political Affairs disciples of the Confucian school and once served as the chief minister of Ji Sun, a nobleman of Lu. After his death, he was buried in the northeastern corner of Huanggai Village, Huanggai Township. Successive emperors conferred various posthumous titles upon Ran Qiu. During the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, he was honored as “Marquis Xu”; during the Zhenzong era of the Song Dynasty, he was further titled “Duke of Rencheng,” which was later changed to “Marquis Xu” during the Duzong era; and during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, he was referred to as “Sage Ran Zi.” Ran Qiu (522 BC ～ ?), courtesy name Ziguo, was a native of the State of Lu, 29 years younger than Confucius. A member of the same clan as Ran Geng and Ran Yong, all three were part of the Ten Sages of Confucius, collectively known as the “Three Sages of One Family” or the “Three Rans.” …… (More+(No images available yet. Contributions welcome.)　　Ran Qiu, courtesy name Ziguo, was a native of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period, from Jiaxiang. He was a disciple of Confucius and one of the Seventy-Two Sages, 29 years younger than Confucius. Among Confucius’s disciples, Ran Qiu was ranked among those specializing in statecraft and administration. He once served as the chief steward of Ji Sunshi, a senior official of Lu. After his death, he was buried in the northeastern corner of Huanggai Village, Huanggai Township. Successive emperors conferred numerous posthumous titles upon him. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty honored him as “Marquis of Xu” during the Zhenguan era; Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty further elevated him to “Duke of Rencheng,” and Emperor Duzong later changed the title to “Duke of Xu”; in the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jiajing referred to him as “Venerable Sage Ran.” More+