Confucian Mansion, Temple and Forest
Confucian Mansion, Temple and Forest are respectively the residence, temple, and graveyard of Confucius, the great philosopher, statesman and educationist from sixth century BC to fifth century BC. They are located at Qufu City, Shandong Province, covering a total area of over 3,500 mu (about 233 ha.) and possessing a huge building complex of about a thousand rooms.
Confucian Temple was initially established in 478 BC on the basis of Confucius’s former residence. Qufu Confucian Temple is the original temple for sacrificing Confucius and the forerunner and model among over two thousand Confucian temples distributed in such countries as China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and the USA. Qufu Confucian Temple has been continuously expanded dynasty by dynasty; and the scale in Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty has been completely preserved until now. The main constructions include Shengji Temple, Dacheng Temple and thirteen imperial steles. Among the numerous stone steles preserved, the ones established in the Han Dynasty take up the majority. And the number of its steles in all the past dynasties claims to be the second largest, only smaller than that of the Forest of Steles in Xi'an. And in terms of scale, it claims the second largest ancient building complex as well, with the Imperial Palace being the number one. So it may well be called as the apotheosis of the large-sized temples in the ancient China.
Confucian Forest is the special graveyard for Confucius and his family members. Here buries not only Confucius but also over ten thousand of his descendents. As a family graveyard, it is unprecedented in terms of the extending time, the number of tombs, and the completeness of preservation. It is the outcome of the dominant role the Confucianism has played in the long history of China’s feudal society.
Confucian Mansion, located at the east side of the Confucian Temple, is the mansion where Confucius’s eldest grandson lived. The former small Confucian residence now has been expanded to a huge and eminent mansion, including 152 halls. The reason why the ancient architectural complex in Qufu is of unique artistic and historical features contributes to the great esteem of Chinese emperors has paid to Confucius in the past two thousand years.
The building complex of Confucian Mansion, Temple and Forest has absorbed the quintessence of architectures in all the past dynasties and is typically provided with beauty of art in architecture. At the same time, the layout, planning and decoration of the buildings also reflect the essence of Confucianism. They are the well-known cultural heritage with rich connotation, and invaluable natural heritage as well. Over 17, 000 age-old rare trees growing there not only witness their history of development, but also are the precious material for studying ancient bioclimatology, climatology and ecology. Confucian Mansion, Temple and Forest were selected into the World Heritage List in 1994. 
