Confucius Temple Beijing

Confucius Temple 北京孔庙

Second largest Confucius temple in China
Site of examinations to join the imperial bureaucracy
Present buildings being restored
Imperial College lies to the west
Close to the Lama Temple
Pleasant, quiet grounds to stroll
Initially built in the 14th century
Located in a hutong area

West across the main road and down a hutong from the Lama Temple is Beijing's Confucius Temple. The Confucius Temple receives less crowds than the Lama Temple across Yonghedong Daijeie and is a pleasant place to stroll, read or imagine all the hard study that took place on this site over the centuries.

The second largest Confucius Temple in China after the temple in Confucius' birthplace in Qufu in Shandong Province, the Guozjian has long been neglected but is being gradually, tastefully renovated for the 2008 Olympic Games.

History

The Confucius Temple originally dates from 1302 and was Beijing's main temple honoring the great sage during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The grounds of the temple house hundreds of inscribed stele, recording the names of successful candidates for the examinations for the imperial bureaucracy.

Candidates for the exam had to undergo the rigorous procedure of being locked up in a small cubicle for 3 days while taking the examination, many of whom reportedly went mad or committed suicide during the experience.

The temple grounds include a statue of Confucius and many venerable and historic cypress trees. Look out for the over 700-year-old "Chujian Bai" (Touch Evil Cypress) in the temple.