THE TEMPLE OF CONFUCIUS.

Qufu city is best known as the birthplace and place of residence of Confucius (Kong-Fusi, or Kong-Zi). He founded Confucianism, a way of life propagated by him in the 6th-5th BC and followed by the Chinese people for more than millennia. Although transformed over time, it is still the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code of the Chinese.
Qufu (Chu-Fou), conventional Ku-Fow city, is in the Northern coastal province Shan-Dong of China, lying across the Yellow Sea from the Korean peninsula.
Shan-Dong is China's second most populous province. The name Shan-Dong, meaning "East of Mountains," was first officially used during the Jin dynasty in the 12th century. Jinan, its capital city, lies in the Northern foothills of the Mount Tai massif, on the high ground just South of the Yellow River (Huang He). Well-watered from natural springs, the area was settled in early times. From the 8th BC it was the site of Li'Xia, a major city of the state of Qi, which flourished in the Zhou period (1046-256BC). Later, in the 2nd century BC, the town became the seat of Li'Cheng county in the commandering of Jinan. The Chinese name Jinan (South of the Ji) came from the Ji River, which formerly flowed along what is now the lower course of the Yellow River (Huang He). The seat of the commandery was shifted to the present city at the beginning of the 4th CE. Jinan remained an important centre of administration during the next 2 centuries under various names and also a major religious centre. When the Ming dynasty (1368-1644CE) created Shandong province, Jinan became its capital. Nearby Mount Tai, to the South, has long been one of China's greatest holy mountains, and from the 4th to the 7th CE many Buddhist cave temples were built in the hills South of the city capital.
Mount Tai, originally known as Dai-Zong or Dai-Shan is a well known mountain mass with several peaks along a South'West-North'East axis to the North of the city of Tai-An, also in the Shan-Dong province. Since Qin times (221-207 BC) it has also being known as Dong-Yue (Eastern Mountain), one of the 5 holy mountains of China, and has usually ranked as the first among them. The other 4 are: Mount Heng in Hunan province (South), Mount Hua in Shaan'Xi province (West), Mount Heng in Shanxi province (North), and Mount Song in Henan province (central).
Mount Tai was the site of historically important official state rituals. Two of the most spectacular of all ceremonies were: one called Feng, held on top of the Tai (offerings to heaven); and the other, called Chan, held on a lower hill (offerings to earth). The  rituals were believed to ensure a dynasty's fortunes. They were carried out at strange intervals -during the Xi (Western) Han dynasty (206BC-25CE) in 110, 106, 102, and 98BC; then by the Dong (East) Han dynasty (25-220CE) in 56CE; and by emperors of the Tang dynasty (618-907CE) in 666 and 725.
Mount Tai was believed to be home to powerful spirits for whom the rituals were performed in spring for a good harvest and in autumn to give thanks for a harvest completed. Since Tai was the chief ceremonial place for Eastern China, rites were also performed to seek protection from natural disasters.
Tai was also considered to be the centre of the Yang (male) principle, the source of life and that the spirits determined all human destiny and after death the souls of people returned to the mountain for judgment.
Confucius (Kong-Fusi, or Kong-Zi), born in Qufu, state of Lu, in 551BC, was China's most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, whose ideas have influenced the civilization of East Asia. His father Kong He was an elderly commandant of the local Lu garrison. His grandfather had migrated the family from Song to Lu. The area was notionally controlled by the kings of Zhou but effectively independent under the local lords of Lu. His father died when he was 3 years old, and he was raised by his mother Yan Zheng-Zai in poverty. Later his mother died and at the age of 19 he married Qi'Guan, and a year later the couple had their first child, Kong Li. Later they had two daughters, one of them is thought to have died as a child. He was educated at schools for commoners, where he studied and learned the Six Arts: Rites, Music, Archery, Chariot-teering, Calligraphy, and Mathematics. Whoever excelled in these 6 arts were thought to have reached a state of perfection, a perfect gentleman.
The emphasis on Six Arts bred Confucian gentlemen who knew more than just canonical scholarship.
The classical interest practical scholarship invigorated Chinese mathematics, astronomy, and science. This tradition receded after the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), when neo-Confucianism underscore the importance of the 4 Books "Analects" over the other arts and technical fields. At the schools for the sons of the state (Guozijian), law, math, caligraphy, equestrianism and archery were emphasized by the Ming Hong'Wu Emperor in addition to Confucian classics and also required in the Imperial level.
By the Qing dynasty, the Chinese specialists were not able to manage the lunar calendar accurately and the calendar was going out of phase with nature.  This was a great embarrassment to the Chinese court, as the adherence to the lunar calendar by the vassal states was a recognition of the sovereignty of the Chinese court over them. Western astronomical expertise then was welcomed as an aftermath of Chinese interest in astronomy and mathematics, partially formulated in the classical 6 Arts agenda.
Confucius, in the later part of his life, forsook his previous wanderings and returned to live at his birth place, Qufu, writing, editing, and teaching numerous disciples there until his death in 479BC.
The great Temple of Confucius in the Qufu town was built in 1724CE. Inside the large ceremonial hall of the temple is a large statue of him, surrounded by statues of his disciples. The temple itself stands within a larger oblong walled enclosure that covers about 49 acres (20 hectares), and around it the town expanded. Inside the enclosure is an extensive complex of temples, shrines, monuments, and pavilions.
The enclosure also contains a house that stands on the site of the one Confucius lived in, an ancient tree said to have been planted by him, and a well of water from which he drank.
Outside the temple enclosure is an elaborate complex of buildings that was the residence of Confucius's descendants, the Kong family. Through the centuries the Kong family were the guardians of the temple complex and the administrators of the town of Qufu. The 76th lineal descendant of Confucius lived in the town before World War II. Lying outside the North Gate of the temple enclosure is the Kong's family cemetery which contains the tomb of Confucius.