Kongzi Museum

Since ancient times, China has been known as the 'Land of Etiquette', where sages and wise predecessors established rites and music, cultivated literature and restrained military affairs, believing that proper attire and governance would lead to great harmony across the land. The ancients stored rites in objects and clothing to honor etiquette, integrating family and state ethics into their attire and utensils. Each generation's attire and ritual utensils reflect the system of laws and regulations of the time; they are a part of the history of Chinese civilization, converging into a chapter of rites and music. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism and the great integrator of pre-Qin rites and music, spent his life pursuing the Zhou rites. He learned the Shao music in Qi, studied the qin with Master Xiang, inquired about rites from Lao Dan, and taught his disciples through poetry, books, rites, and music. After Confucius passed away, he was buried north of Lu City, where his disciples held annual sacrifices, preserving the master's attire, qin, and books in the temple. The Ming Dynasty's colored painting 'The Holy Relics of Confucius' is the earliest existing serial colored painting in China with a complete storyline. It depicts Confucius teaching his son, Kong Li, about rites and poetry in the Poem and Rites Hall, while his sixty-fourth generation descendant, Kong Shangren, lectured Emperor Kangxi there. The Confucius Museum, as a leading collector of sacrificial utensils and attire for worshipping Confucius, possesses over a thousand sacrificial items from the pre-Qin period to the Republic of China, and several thousand pieces of clothing from the Ming and Qing dynasties' extended holy family.

Hidden in the vessels and attire, the ceremonial garb and instruments embody the profound Chinese culture of rites and music. The Confucian rites and music, evolved from the pre-Qin dynasty, have become an important legacy of Chinese ritualistic culture. The Han dynasty's Emperor Wu initiated the imperial tradition of worshipping Confucius, setting a precedent that continued through the ages. Since then, the Confucian ritual instruments, whether bestowed by emperors, supported by local authorities, or crafted by the temple itself, have been passed down through generations at the Que Li Confucian Temple. These instruments, orderly transmitted, well-preserved, and exquisitely crafted, are exemplary of the ritual instruments used in sacrifices across China. For the Confucian sacrifice, the custom-made xun (a type of ocarina) has seven holes, the yang months use the Huang Zhong pitch, and the yin months use the Da Lü pitch. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the refined music played for Confucius' sacrifice was the Zhonghe Shaoyue. The system of Zhonghe Shaoyue began in the early years of the Ming dynasty's Hongwu era, its prototype tracing back to the Shaoyue music of the pre-Qin period. It was performed with instruments made of metal, stone, silk, bamboo, leather, wood, gourd, and clay, harmonized with the musical scales, and integrated rites, music, and dance. The attire worn during the Confucian temple sacrifices played a role in teaching proper etiquette, rectifying people's hearts, ordering social hierarchy, and harmonizing superiors and subordinates. In the Ming dynasty, Confucius was revered and the Confucian scholars were esteemed, with the Duke of Yansheng's rank equivalent to the first rank. Later, the sacrificial garments changed to use dark colors for the upper clothing and green edges for the robes. In the Qing dynasty, the patchwork on the official attire, typically with round collars and flat sleeves, indicated one's rank. Princes and dukes used round patches, while others used square ones. Dukes, marquises, sons-in-law of the emperor, and earls had embroidered qilin and bai ze. Civil officials wore patches with single birds, while military officials had animal patterns. For civil officials, the first rank was the crane, the second rank the pheasant, the third rank the peacock, the fourth rank the wild goose, the fifth rank the white pheasant, the sixth rank the egret, the seventh rank the piti, the eighth rank the oriole, the ninth rank the quail, with the luan bird for miscellaneous positions, and the xiezhi for the censorate officials. For military officials, the first and second ranks had lions, the third and fourth ranks had tigers and leopards, the fifth rank had bears, the sixth and seventh ranks had leopards, the eighth rank had rhinoceroses, and the ninth rank had seahorses. Today, people use the Confucian ritual instruments to remember the most sage teacher and to trace back the thousand-year-old culture of rites and music. Upholding the legacy of rites and music, they aim to rectify the Chinese attire and usher in an era of universal peace.

Frequently take kids to various museums and art galleries Firstly, this is a free public educational resource Parents should learn to make use of it haha In winter it's not cold, in summer it's not hot It's an excellent place to take kids for a walk . The Confucius Museum is a national first-class museum Located at No. 100 Confucius Avenue, Qufu City, Shandong Province Many people like to take photos and check in at the acrylic Confucius statue at the entrance The effect is really great! . As a national first-class museum The Confucius Museum also has many exquisite collections For example, the Warring States period round-carved yellow jade horse ornament A treasure unearthed from Tomb No. 3 of the ruins of the ancient city of Lu is particularly stunning It has a history of over 2000 years! . When traveling to Jining, don't miss this off-the-beaten-path museum!

Shandong has 'a mountain, a river, a sage' Qufu 'Hometown of sages, country of etiquette' This is not only the hometown of Confucius, the ancient capital of Lu, and the birthplace of Confucian culture It is also known as the 'Eastern Holy City' Referred to by Westerners as 'Jerusalem of the East' 🌈About the two-day and one-night itinerary D1 Self-driving to Qufu--Nishan Holy Land--Jinsheng Yuzhen Performance D2 Three Kong Scenic Area--Confucius Museum--Return 🌈About the attractions 1⃣️Nishan Holy Land If you only go to one place in Qufu, I recommend you to come to Nishan Holy Land. ✅Arrive at the scenic spot at 13:00, Chongde Gate-Fuzi Longdi-Panshui Bridge-Zhisheng Square-Jinsheng Yuzhen Square-Confucius Statue-University Hall, you can walk or take a sightseeing car ✅Free collection of copybooks for writing Analects on the second floor ✅Watch the 'Tianxia Gui Ren' light show at 15:00 ✅Make sachets on the first floor at 15:15 ✅Watch the Jinsheng Yuzhen performance on the first floor at 16:00 ✅B1 or seventh floor dinner to replenish energy ✅Enjoy the 'Nishan Holy Show' at Zhisheng Square at 18:50, a drone + fireworks outdoor light and shadow water show performance 2⃣️Three Kong Scenic Area ✅Confucius Temple: It is the temple where the feudal dynasties of our country worshipped Confucius, and it is known as the 'First Temple in the World'. The main attractions include Jinsheng Yuzhen Fang, Shengshi Gate, Kuiwen Pavilion, Chenghua Stele, Dacheng Gate, Cypress planted by the teacher, Xingtan, Dacheng Hall, and Shili Hall. ✅Confucius Mansion: Also known as 'Yansheng Gong Mansion', it is the mansion where the direct descendants of Confucius have lived for a long time, and it is known as the 'First Home in the World'. The main attractions include Zhongguang Gate, Main Hall, Second Hall, Third Hall, Inner House, Front Hall, Back Hall, and Back Garden. ✅Confucius Forest: Also known as 'Zhisheng Forest', it is the exclusive cemetery for Confucius and his family. It is the longest-lasting and largest family cemetery in the world, and it is also known as the 'First Forest in the World'. The main attractions include Wangu Changchun Fang, Zhisheng Lin Fang, and Confucius Tomb. ✅Opening ceremony performance time: 8:00-8:20, location: Wanren Palace Wall. ✅About the guide: Must hire! ✅Tour order: Confucius Temple-Confucius Mansion-Confucius Forest. The Confucius Temple Scenic Area is adjacent to the Confucius Mansion Scenic Area, and the Confucius Forest Scenic Area is 1.5 kilometers away from the back door of the Confucius Mansion Scenic Area. If time is limited, you can only see the Confucius Temple and Confucius Mansion, or only see the Confucius Tomb in the Confucius Forest. 3⃣️Confucius Museum Bringing children to Qufu can also come to the Confucius Museum first, understand the life of Confucius, and then go to the Three Kong or Nishan Holy Land to practice with theory will be more interesting. 👉🏻Museum collection boutique ✅Shang Zhou Shi Gong ✅Warring States Round Carved Yellow Jade Horse Ornament ✅Gilded Silver Ape-shaped Belt Hook ✅Ming 'Sheng Ji Tu' ✅Ming 'Three Saints' ✅Qing Bagua Pattern Gilded Bian Zhong ✅Qing Yellow Ground Painted Twisted Branch Peony Pattern Copper Foetus Painted Enamel Five Gong ✅Qing Fengtian Decree Box 🌈About accommodation Although it is a county town, there are still many choices for accommodation in Qufu. In the off-season, you can choose JW Marriott, Shangri-La Hotel, and cost-effective Orange Hotel, etc.