Confucian Temple

Qufu Confucian Temple, the place offering sacrifice to Confucius and demonstrating Confucianism, was founded in Zhou Dynasty(1046-265BC) and completed in Ming(1368-1644AD) and Qing Dynasties(1636-1912AD). It is the largest one among more than 2000 Confucian temples in the world.

Having a three-way layout, the Temple now occupies an area of 140,000 square meters, with nine courtyards running through a central axis and symmetrically arranged left and right. The whole architectural complex includes totally 466 buildings including five halls, one pavilion, one altar, two lobbies and 17 stele pavilions, respectively built in the period of Jin(1115-1234 AD), Yuan(1271—1368 AD), Ming, Qing and Republic of China(1912-1949 AD). The Dacheng Hall, which is the main building, has the roof of double eave and gable with yellow tiles and cornices. It is one of the Three Oriental Halls.

Inside the temple, there are more than 1040 inscriptions of successive dynasties since Han Dynasty, together with a large number of precious cultural relics such as books, paintings, doorplates and plaques.