Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius / San Kong
Confucius was born in Qufu in Lu State during late Spring and Autumn Period. He is the founder of Confucian culture and also a great thinker, politician and educator. The Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu are together names as San Kong . It is the sole largest building groups combining the residences and tombs of Confucius and his descendants in China. "San Kong" is human heritage developed in commemoration of Confucius and introducing Confucianism. And with its rich cultural accumulation, "San Kong" is famous for its long history, great scale, rich cultural relic and high scientific artistic value.
Locating in the center of Qufu City, Confucian Temple is the original place where Chinese ancient emperors offered sacrifice to Confucius. And it is the forerunner and model of more than 2000 Confucian temples spread around China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the USA, etc. Confucian Temple was built in 478 B.C when Aigong of Lu State changed Confucius s residence into the temple to offer sacrifice to Confucius. The building style of Confucian Temple imitates that of the imperial palaces, with the main buildings built along the main south-north central axis and 9 courtyards on each side. The overall layout of the temple is strictly arranged, imposing and magnificent.
The Confucian Mansion closed to the Confucian Temple is the administration building and residence of the first grandson of Confucius: Duke Yansheng-Sun Shixi. It was built in Song Dynasty as a typical feudal aristocratic villa. And there are more than 480 houses in total.
Confucian Cemetery is located in the North Gate of Qufu City and possesses a long history of more than 2400 years. It is a family cemetery of Confucian family. There are more than 100,000 tombs in the cemetery and the Confucius s tomb is in the south-central part.
In Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, besides Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion which have entered the list of world heritage, there are heritages which are closely related to Confucius and "San Kong" and which are kept in good condition and also have very high protection value. Temple and Academy of Confucius in Hill Ni, Yan Temple and Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Mencius (together named as "San Meng") and Zenius Temple, are typical representatives. They constitute an organic whole of historical heritage representing the hometown of Confucius and the influence of Confucianism and are the inevitable expansion of the cultural value and the characteristic style and features reflected by "San Kong".