Temple of Confucius (Kongmiao)

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Now the Beijing Capital Museum, the Beijing Temple of Confucius was originally built in 1302 as a place to pay homage to - you guessed it - Confucius. The massive complex (22,000m square) is second only in size and importance in Confucius worship to the Temple of Confucius in Qufu in Shandong Province, which was where Confucius lived.

Four huge courtyards make up the complex around raised rectangular gates, halls and pavilions. The main hall is called Dacheng or Great Accomplishment Hall and is where the largest memorial ceremonies are held, but it has the character of a museum rather than a temple due to the stone tablets listed with names and labels which decorate it and the next door souvenir shop.

The courtyards with their gnarled cypresses, including one which is said to be able to tell which people are good and which are evil, are much more to Confucius’s style of thought.

3 / 5 Review by editor Worldreviewer

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