The Capital Museum is housed inside the both the Confucius Temple and the adjacent structures of the Imperial College.
Having been in preparations for quite some Time, the Capital Museum's new exhibitions present the history of the city of Beijing in four separate parts. In part 1 of the exhibitions light is shed on the development of an organized community and society from ancient agricultural settlements, such as happened during the Xia and Shang Dynasties in ancient China (See Time-Line of Chinese Dynasties). Part 2 of the new exhitions continues onward from this early ages of Chinese History to cover the gradual development of the area of Beijing as a northern urban center. Part 3 deals exclusively with Beijing as the Capital City of the later Jin Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty who ruled parts of China, including the North-East in the 10Th through 12Th Centuries (See Time-Line of Chinese Dynasties). Finally, in part 4 of the exhibition visitors have the opportunity to find out more about Beijing as the Capital City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Included are over 800 historic pieces among which some fine and rare cultural relics from the far past. Noteworthy for instance is the Western Zhou Dynasty Period bronze tripod used as a wine-vessel and carrying depictions of the ram on all 3 sides. This kind of decoration, known as T'ao-T'ieh, is unique to Chinese
Details of the Gate of Great Accomplishment.
(3) Main Court of the Confucius Temple
This page was last updated: June 23, 2017
Confucius Temple (Kong Maio)
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Apart from being the founding father of Confucianism, K'Ung-Fu Tzi is credited with the writing and composing of a number of fundamental Literary works. Among these are: First and Foremost, The "Spring and Autumn Annals", a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 BC and 481 BC, an important work for the studying of the Zhou Dynasty Period. This is the Book from which the name Spring and Autumn Period -the period from 722 BC to 481 BC- derives. Chunqiu - The Spring and Autumn Annals were also the first work that told more or less a complete and concise history of a precise time period, becoming a model for all following histories written by authors of later periods in China.
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The Capital Museums Exhibitions and Treasures
The Works of Confucius
The greatest Life-work of K'Ung-Fu Tzi was the invention and founding of one of the Three major philosophies to arise in early Chinese Society, now known as Confucianism.
Confucianism, in contrast to the more religious-like Daoism, not merely concerns itself with the Universe and turning away from the Evil's of Society and Life, but is an attempt to reform human society starting from ones own core being. One important basic concept in Confucianism is that Men (and Women) of all strata of society should assign themselves to do their best in their assigned Role in what was no doubt an authoritarian society. In this way Confucianism can be considered more practical and more realistic than Daoism. Confucianism therefor is an Ethical, Moral and Philosophical system.
Apart from the Spring and Autumn Annals work Confucius is credited with having edited "The Book of History" and Shi - the "Book of Odes (Poetry)". Furthermore, he added explanatory notes to the "I Ching" (Yi) or the "Book of Changes", the Taoist Book of Divination. Last but not least the old scholar made his own examinations of and revision of Li and Shu - "The Book of Rites" in two parts, as well as to the Yue - "The Book of Music".
Apart from this latter, the Book of Music, which was lost to Time, the above mentioned works later became the Confucian Classics, the fundamental works that all students and followers of Confucius, the Master, must read and abide by.
obvious. As a well-off person it was easy for him to idealize the life on land and farm. He had a profound fondness of horse-riding, Confucius was a scholar, a well educated Man with his roots in (probably) an aristocratic Family. What is known is that his Family used to live in the State of Song wherefrom his grandfather had to Flee during an unfortunate failure of his Political Career. The family succesfully fled to Lu but depleted their capital, so that during the Time of Confucius Father the family had lost its important Status as Nobles.
Confucius had a profound Love of Music and Song, as well as Poetry. In fact, he found Music of such importance that he stated it was profound if not essential for the good Government of a State.
His preference for the beauties of country-life and nature are equally obvious. As a well-off person it was easy for him to idealize the life on land and farm. He had a profound fondness of horse-riding, -->
swimming and archery.
In later Years, after the Death of Confucius, his followers and students who were deeply inspired by both the moral caracter and the wisdom of their teacher, compiled the Lung-Yu, or the Analects (of Confucius). The Analects is a book created from the answers the Master gave to his Students during his Lifetime.
Ancient Cypress Trees of the Central Courtyard
The Pavilion housing the 1728 AD Stele commemorating the ritual paying of respects by Ching Emperor YongZheng in that year.
Heavy Doors and Dragon Decorated Marble Steps of the Gate of Great Accomplishment (or Success) and view of the Central Court (Nov 2007).
Among the Ancient Cedars rows of Pavilions housing the special Stele Collection inside the Central Court at Confucius Temple of Beijing.
The 1728 AD Stele with Poem by Ching Emperor YongZheng inside its Pavilion (Nov 2007).
Confucian Philosophy
Confucian Philosophy basicly implies that eventhough Men are basically Good of Nature, the Virtue of Citizens must be brought out by just Parents and on the scale of larger Society, by a just and pious Ruler, who must then be obeyed. The teachings of Confucius allow that when Rulers are cruel, unjust and interested in their own benifits rather than the good of society as a whole, they can be overtrown. One of the First and Foremost students and followers of Confucius was the Philosopher Meng-Ke (Mencius), born in 372 BC during the Warring States Period (2nd half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty period). Similar to Confucius himself, Meng Ke became a wandering scholar, ever traveling about in search of the administrative job of his wishes and dreams. Equal to Confucius, the High Title sought for was never bestowed upon his person.
Although Meng Ke was a arduous student and follower of Confucianism, he made his own re-interpretations of the teachings of his Master, resulting together with the original teachings in the laying of the foundations of the later Philosophy of Confucianism, a school of thought that would dominate Chinese Society for ages to come. One idea unique to Meng-Ke, was that he found, taking the idea's of Confucius one step further, that a Government should Rule with the complete consent of its Citizens.
Meng-Ke (Mencius) died at an advanced age in 289 BC. Confucianism, through becoming the official State Religion in the first years of the Han Dynasty, and a revival in the shape of Neo-Confucianism during the Song Dynasty, would remain a cornerstone of State Organization in China at least until well in the years of the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD - 1644 AD).
Above and Below : Green Jade Statues of Mythical Animals flanking the Hall of Great Accomplishment.
Above, Left and Below - Old Cypress Trees surrounding the Hall of Great Accomplishment. Among them a 700 Year Old Tree named the Touch Evil Cypress, a mythical Tree with a small Legend attached to its name (Photos November 2007).
Details of the YongZheng Emperors Poem written on the Stele erected in 1728 AD.
The Central Courtyard at Confucius Temple, Beijing
The Central Courtyard is the location of 14 stone stele pavilions of the Ming and Qing Dynasties holding precious historical information on Stone
Steles commemorating a number of Military and Political Events and Achievements from the history of ancient China. To mention a few of the Stones on display: there are the stone stele erected to mark the successful suppresion of smaller Jinchuan, a Hui Muslim uprising in current day Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region which was ended in the year 1749 AD, the 14 Year of the Reign of the strong Qianlong Emperor of the Ching Dynasty. Another Stone commemorates another of the Qianlong Emperors Victories, this one marking the 1759 AD suppressed Rebellion of Hui Muslims in the Tarim River Basin in XinJiang-Uygur Autonomous Region (See The History of Islam in China during the Ching Dynasty), an eventresulting in the Khojas fleeing back up the Ancient
Silk Road to the City of Kokand (Today a city in Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan). A Third Stele was erected in February of the Year 1728 AD, the 6Th Year of the Reign of the Yongzheng Reign of the Qing Dynasty and holds a Poem eulogizing the Sage Confucius by the hand of the YongZheng Emperor himself. And there are 11 more of such steles to wonder about, each housed inside its own
Above Flank View of the Central Hall of Great Accomplishment, Da Cheng Hall, and surrounding courtyard with special Steles and Pavillions among ancient Cypress Trees.
Above : Frontal view of Dacheng Hall with its marble staircase. Note the Dragons Frolicking among Clouds and holding a pearl, a pattern only found in structures of the Highest Imperial Status (Photo November 2007).
Beyond the Hall of Great Accomplishment lie some small side-pavilions and what looks like a old Greenhouse filled with Steles. (Photo November 2007).
The Pathway leading to the Northern-most Hall, the Hall of Worship for Confucius, Chong Sheng Ci. (Photo November 2007).
Front Platform of the Hall of Great Accomplishment , with view of surrounding trees and Stele Pavilions. (Photo November 2007).
Bronzes of the Shang Dynasty and early Zhou (Chou) Dynasty Period. Other treasures are a bronze cow cast during the Tang Dynasty Era, and earthenware tea-pot dating to the Spring and Autumn Period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which is the era when Confucius lived. And there is more: a guilded Buddha inlaid with turqoise dated to the Yuan Dynasty, blue and white ceramic lotus plates from the Ming Dynasty Age and further a folding Fan with an ivory handle, and a miniature watch dated from the Qing Dynasty Era. Intermixed with scale models of historic situations or city plans, and many photos of archeological sites it has, all in all,
become a remarkable museum exhibition.
The main body of these new presentations which together create a great image of the histroy of the City of Beijing however are not found inside the Confucius Temple Proper but can be found in the Imperial College sections in the Eastern Parts of the Museum. This includes the 189 stone steles that carry the inscriptions of the 13 Confucian Classics, a stele collection commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Although the (old fashioned) Hall holding this large stele collection can be seen at the East Side of the Central Court at Confucius Temple, to access it one has to walk back down south to the front south court, from which, via the Courts of the Imperial College, the greenhouse like Hall can be visited.
Chinese Language Introduction to the Qianlong ordered stone stele collection with the 13 Confucian Classics inscribed. (Photo November 2007).
Visiting the Hall of Great Accomplishment and surrounding Temple Halls
The Hall of Great Accomplishment and the east and west- side pavilions hold exhibitions related to the Life and Works of Confucius. For instance, in the Hall of Music. which is located East and aside the Hall of Great Accomplishments, instruments that were in use during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty (The Era of Confucius' Life) now almost 2500 years ago are played and thus the sounds of the era are presented to the Public. This Hall could be seen to honor Confucius' revision of the Book of Music, although as mentioned this revised Book has not survived through Time.
Scene from inside the Music Hall, found adjacent the Hall of Great Accomplishment. (Photo November 2007).
small roofed pavilion.
Inside the Hall of Great Accomplishement itself is a Huge Public Shrine, dedicated to a number of Masters of Chinese Philosophy, not only to Confucius, but further to Lao-Zhi, Meng-Tzu (Mencius) and other great names.
Beyond The Hall of Great Accomplishment some passageways do lead away northward, however the Hall of Worship to Confucius itself, the Chong Sheng Si is not open to the Public at this Time. Therefor, after trying to view it anyhow, make your way back all the way to the South Entrance Court of Confucius Temple proper and link up through the Gate to the Imperial College and the second part of the Capital Museum.
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The Central Courtyard is also the Temple space that holds the 700-year-old Chujian Bai (Touch Evil Cypress) a famed feature of the temple. The name of this Tree is associated with an ancient legend.
According to the Legend in the Ming Dynasty Years, one day the superior official-Yan Song came to worship Confucius on behalf of the emperor. When he was passing by the cypress, one of the branches of the tree took his hat off. Since Yan Song was a villainous and treacherous official, people have thought the old tree could distinguish between good and evil people. Hence the name of this Old Tree.
A View from the Gate of Great Accomplishment across the Central Courtyard at Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Accomplishment).
For a large part the Mastery of Confucius lies in the way he reviewed the two Great Literary Works of the Time, arranging them in a hierachy of basics and then progressive levels of higher thought. In this system, the basics of Confucianism and understanding of social order are layed out by the Book of Odes (Poetry), the two Books of Rites and by the lost Book of Music. The student of Confucianism may then progress to higher understanding by studying the Taoist I Ching, a book fundamental to Confucianism, as well as the Spring and Autumn Annals. Through these Teachings and Great Works of Literature Confucius became the First Teacher of Chinese Philosophy.
