Posts Tagged ‘Beijing temples’

Confucius Temple: remembering China’s greatest educator

Written by MichaelZ on August 10, 2009 – 11:05 pm -

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, built for the great Chinese educator and philosopher, lies on the north side of the city, not far from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Every day people come and pay tribute to the man who hugely influenced Chinese culture and history. And you won’t find yourself a better start-off to know China.

As soon as you enter this ancient refuge, you will be amazed by the lush greenness of the trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.

There are 198 large stone tablets on each side of a path that leads you to the main courtyard. The tablets bear the names of all 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial exams throughout Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

These scholars were ancient China’s social elite who ran the world’s oldest civil service system. To became a Jingshi scholar and get a government post, first one had to pass a series of Confucian exam held back in his home provinces. A success in these exams will allow them to enter the final and most important one – the exam supervised by the emperor himself.

The chance of fail was high: Only one thousandth could pass the imperial exam, and the previous exams that brought one scholar to this point had already took him ten years. Still, more were coming to try their luck, for success in the imperial exam could mean wealth and honor of their family.

Just past the tablets, a huge gate stands at the entrance to the main courtyard. There you will find a Chinese drum and a bell under the gate. Confucius supported harmony among people all his life. But how can we accomplish that? He suggested music, which allows one to achieve mental peace and makes him a true lover of harmony.

Step in the main courtyard, and your interest will be immediately arose by a large and old well. This isn’t any well; it got its name Yanshui from a Qing dynasty emperor. Legend goes that anyone who drinks water from this well will be successful in their exams. Come here and you can almost feel the thousands of Jingshi-scholar wannabes who once came to this place for the special water.

The dominant building in the courtyard is Da Cheng Dian – Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment. This is where Confucius is remembered and honored. Tablets written by various Chinese emperors hang from the beams of the roof. One that belongs to Emperor Kangxi reads: the Eternal Mentor.

Like his predecessors, Emperor Kangxi paid annual tribute to Confucius by offering him sacrifices. The emperor would preside over a series of rites, including a performance that required 64 dancers. The dance was only performed to pay tribute to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, Confucius was probably the person who most frequently enjoyed such an honor.

Also under the roof are shrines of accomplished Confucius disciples who had helped to bring Confucius doctrine to people in all around the country.

You will find a host of prime hotels in Beijing not far fromthe Confucian temple, some only a few minutes away by walk. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.  

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