One of the large stele forests in China | The Confucian Temple Stele Forest (977)

The Confucian Temple Stele Forest (977). Located within the Confucian Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province, the forest collects more than 2,000 steles from various dynasties. The inscriptions in the temple date from the Han Dynasty to the Republic of China, encompassing styles such as seal, clerical, cursive, and regular script. The sizes vary, with the largest being over a meter and the smallest less than a foot. There are 53 steles erected during the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, with inscriptions mostly recording sacrifices to Confucius and temple renovations. In addition to Chinese characters, there are also inscriptions in Manchu and 'Phags-pa script, making it one of the large stele forests in China.