Pilgrimage to Qufu Confucius Temple and Mansion

The Confucius Temple truly lives up to its reputation as the "First Temple Under Heaven." It was bustling with visitors, including large groups of students. Tour guides' explanations echoed throughout, and I managed to catch bits and pieces of their commentary. The Confucius Temple was built on the site of Confucius' former residence to honor him. After entering the city walls, visitors pass through a series of archways (Jin Sheng Yu Zhen Archway, Ling Xing Gate, Taihe Yuanqi Archway, and Zhisheng Temple Archway) before reaching the main gates: Shengshi Gate, Hongdao Gate, Dazhong Gate, Tongwen Gate, Kuiwen Pavilion, the Thirteen Stele Pavilions, Dacheng Gate, Apricot Altar, Dacheng Hall, and the Sleeping Hall. Unfortunately, the Shengji Hall at the end was under renovation and not open to the public. Due to the reverence Confucius received from emperors throughout history, the temple is adorned with numerous calligraphy plaques and stone steles, and ancient towering trees can be seen everywhere. Dacheng Hall is the main hall for worshiping Confucius. During its reconstruction in the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor granted permission for the hall's roof to be covered with yellow glazed tiles, a privilege equivalent to the imperial palace. Inside the hall hangs the "Teacher for All Ages" plaque inscribed by Emperor Kangxi, which is now found in the main halls of Confucius Temples worldwide. Due to the admiration of successive emperors, plaques such as "Since the Dawn of Civilization" (Yongzheng), "The Great Achievements of the Sage" (Jiaqing), "Virtue Equal to Heaven and Earth" (Xianfeng), and "The Essence of Culture Resides Here" (Guangxu) are also commonly seen in Confucius Temples across the globe. I spent nearly three hours exploring the Confucius Temple, taking in its grandeur. Before ticket checks ended at 4:30 PM, I hurried over to the Confucius Mansion, the residence of Confucius' direct descendants. The mansion consists of nine courtyards, with the front serving as an office and the rear as living quarters. The plaques, steles, and artifacts within the mansion each have their own stories. Unfortunately, due to the 5:30 PM closing time, I could only take a quick tour. As I wasn't particularly interested in cemeteries, I skipped the Confucius Forest, which houses the tombs of Confucius and his descendants.