Confucius (551-479 BC), also known as Master Kong, was the leading Chinese philosopher who lived during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. His teachings shaped China's political, social, and moral constitution for over 2000 years and continue to influence Chinese thought.
The estate in Qufu resembles the Imperial Palace in Beijing and is the largest and oldest Confucius Temple in the world. Confucius was born and died in Qufu. In its approximately 450 halls, renowned scholars and descendants of Confucius once lived. The main building, the Hall of Great Completion, is the highest structure in the Confucius Temple, standing at 32 meters. The walled temple area lies in the north and is divided into numerous courtyards and buildings. The many pine and cypress trees, along with over 1,000 steles with inscriptions from the Han to the Qing Dynasty, create a striking view. The complex concludes with the Hall of Sacred Documents, where stone images from the Ming Dynasty depict the life phases of Confucius.
Notable is the Kong Family Mansion east of the Confucius Temple, built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The distinction of the purpose of various courtyards is clearly defined: the west contains the library with study rooms, the center includes the private quarters and offices of the former city government, and the eastern area hosts the halls for religious ceremonies.
The Kong Family Cemetery is one of the oldest continuously used cemeteries in the world, larger than the entire old town. Confucius's grave is relatively modest and located near the entrance. His tombstone reads "Great Completer, Supreme Sage, King of Diffusing Culture."
