Jul 8 2011
First Communion
Confucius Temple: seeking communion with China’s greatest mind
Beijing’s Confucius Temple, built for the great Chinese educator and philosopher, lies on the north side of the city, just a few minutes away from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.
Every day people from all over China come to pay tribute to the man who had had such a profound influence on Chinese history and culture. And you won’t find yourself a better place to get to know China.
The moment you step in this ancient shrine, you will be impressed by the lush, green trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.
There you will find 198 large stone tablets on each side of the path which will lead you to the main courtyard. They record the 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial examinations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
These scholars were ancient China’s social elite who ran the world’s oldest civil service system. Before one became a Jingshi scholar and was rewarded a government post, first he had to pass various Confucian exams held at different levels in their home provinces. A success in these exams will allow them to enter the final and most important one – the exam supervised by the emperor himself.
The chance of fail was high: Only one thousandth could pass the imperial exam, and the previous exams that brought one scholar to this point had already took him ten years. Still, many made it to the imperial exam, and if they succeeded, that could mean wealth and honor of their family.
Past the tablets, and you will find a gate standing at the entrance to the main courtyard. Under the gate are a Chinese drum and a bell. Throughout his life, Confucius had been a big supporter of societal harmony. But by which means can we achieve that? He recommended music, which he believes can nurture one’s mind and make him a lover of peace and harmony.
Enter the main courtyard, and your eyes will immediately drawn by a large, old well. This isn’t any well; it got its name Yanshui from a Qing dynasty emperor. According to a legend, anyone who drinks water from this well will succeed in his exams. Walk around the well and you seem to be able feel the thousands of Jing-shi scholar wannabes who once crowed this place for the special water that was expected to help them succeed in the imperial exam.
The dominant architecture in the courtyard is Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment, or as the Chinese calls it, Da Cheng Dian. This is where Confucius is worshipped. Tablets written by various Chinese emperors hang from the beams of the roof. One that belongs to Emperor Kangxi reads: the Eternal Mentor.
Emperor Kangxi, like his predecessors, offered sacrifices to Confucius every year. The emperor would see a host of imperial rites, including a dance performance that require 64 artist dancers. The dance was only performed to pay tribute to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, Confucius was probably the person who most frequently enjoyed such an honor.
Also, you will find shrines of famous disciples of Confucius who had disseminated the knowledge of Confucius throughout China.
There are many prime hotels in Beijing near the Confucian temple, some within walking distance. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.
Gang Gang Dance – First Communion
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