Temples of Confucius

Temples of Confucius

Temples of Confucius, built to commemorate the ancient Chinese philosopher and educator, had great political, cultural, and educational significance in ancient times. There are over 2,000 such temples located in countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States.

The Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province, where Confucius was born, has the longest history. It was first built in 478 B.C. during the Spring and Autumn period (770- 476 B.C.) on the basis of Confucius' former residence. Its main existing structures were constructed in the Ming (1368- 1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties. Covering an area of 140,000 square meters, the temple complex consists of nine courtyards and over 460 buildings, including halls, pavilions, and gateway structures, all arranged symmetrically along the north-south axis. Surrounded by red walls, the temple radiates grandeur with an impressive layout. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complexes in China. For over 2,000 years, the temple has been seen as a spiritual sanctuary for Confucian scholars and remains an important symbol of Chinese culture. In 1994, the Temple, the Cemetery, and the Family Mansion of Confucius in Qufu were listed as a UNESCO World cultural Heritage Site.

孔庙

孔庙是纪念中国古代思想家、教育家孔子的祠庙建筑，在古代承载着重要的政治、文化和教育意义。中国、朝鲜、日本、越南、印度尼西亚、新加坡、美国等国家建有2000 多座孔庙。

曲阜孔庙位于孔子故里山东曲阜，始建于春秋时期（前478），以孔子故居为基础修建，是建造时间最早的一座孔庙。现存曲阜孔庙的主要建筑主要完成于明清两代，占地14万平方米，前后九进院落。庙内有殿堂、坛阁、门坊等460多间，沿南北向中轴线对称分布，四周围以红墙，整个庙宇气势恢宏、布局严谨，是中国现存规模最大的三大古建筑群之一。2000多年来，曲阜孔庙始终是儒家士大夫的精神圣殿，是中华文化的重要承载者。1994年，曲阜孔庙、孔林、孔府列入联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产名录。