Confucius Temple: statue of Confucius

I learned stories of Confucius from textbook and word-of-mouth when I was a kind. I know Confucius is the greatest educator of ancient China. His influence on the Chinese culture is both profound and far-reaching.

So when I saw the solemn Temple of Confucius, the nation's educational and cultural hub five hundred years ago, I was eager to get to close to the great person in Chinese history.

The Temple now is protected by a high-wall enclosure which shields it from the outside world. As the gatekeeper greets you, you enter a mystical, ecstatic refuge. An enchanting music wafts in the air. Memorial towers occupy much of the ground, and the cypress trees lend a sense of age to the whole site. The statue of Confucius stands on a white marble base, set in a humble posture. At its foot, piles of offerings from worshippers.

Confucius was a successful educator. He lived in an age when education was a privilege reserved to the children of dignitaries. He challenged the status quo by advocating universal education. He also emphasized the duties and obligations of an Emperor to his subjects, and promoted tolerance and mutual care among people. Confucius is said to have taught to as many as 3,000 students, many of whom later became eminent generals, successful merchants, and renowned scholars.

I saw many tablets which tell the stories and ideology of the great human being near the entrance inside the temple. The 190 stone tablets carved with 13 Confucius classic works, official textbooks. Every student would have to learn before taking the imperial examinations.

Even though Temple of Confucius is only a history relic, more and more Confucius institutions have been established to spread the Chinese culture and languages all over the world.