Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum

Introducing Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum
Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum is a combined attraction in Beijing. Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum showcases China’s rich history of education and Confucian thought. 

The Confucius Temple, second in size only to the one in Confucius’s hometown, Qufu, Shandong Province, was built in 1302. Originally used by officials for ceremonies venerating Confucius, the temple now displays numerous notable statues and carvings, along with hundreds of stone stelae inscribed with the names of scholars who passed the rigorous Imperial Examination, an examination system in feudal China for selecting government officials.

Adjacent to the Confucius Temple is the Imperial College (Guozijian) Museum. Established in 1287, it occupies the site of the former Imperial College, which held the distinction of being China’s highest educational institution during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (spanning the 13th to the 20th centuries). The museum’s exhibits focus on artifacts related to the imperial examination system, providing visitors with a fascinating glimpse into  China’s historical emphasis on education and scholarship.

Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Kǒng Miào Hé Guó Zǐ Jiàn Bó Wù Guǎn 孔庙和国子监博物馆
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Chinese Culture, Confucianism
• Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
• Entrance Fee: CNY30
• Address: No.15 Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

What to Expect at Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum
Enter the historic sites and be transported to a world of intellectual pursuit, where you can gain a deep appreciation for the values and principles that shaped Chinese civilization. Here, the legacy of Confucius resonates through the centuries, his philosophy a cornerstone of Chinese society. This institution, the highest seat of feudal education, forged the minds that would lead the nation, leaving an enduring mark on China’s history and culture that continues to inspire even today.

The Confucius Temple
The Confucius Temple is a serene complex dedicated to the philosopher Confucius and his disciples. The temple’s architecture reflects traditional Chinese design, with ornate gateways, tranquil courtyards, and halls filled with ancient instruments and artifacts related to Confucian rituals and ceremonies. The complex also houses 198 stone tablets commemorating the remarkable achievements of 51,624 successful examination candidates. These tablets record the candidates’ names, places of origin, and achieved ranks.

Dacheng Hall
Dacheng Hall, the Hall of Great Achievement, is the principal building of the Confucian Temple, housing the spirit tablet of Confucius and serving as the location for imperial Confucian ceremonies. The hall standing today was completed in 1906 following an expansion. Its imposing double-eaved roof, reaching a height of 33 meters (108 ft) and covered with resplendent yellow glazed tiles, conveys the building’s grandeur. Dragon-shaped ornaments, symbolic of imperial power and auspiciousness, adorn the ends of the main roof ridge. The interior features a meticulously crafted floor and a layout echoing the Forbidden City’s Taihe Hall (太和殿), emphasizing Confucius’s high status. Ritual vessels and instruments from the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong eras, including bronze wine vessels (zun, jue, and you – 尊、爵、卣), food containers (bian and dou – 笾、豆 ), bells, chimes, and flutes, enhance the hall’s reverence.

The Chongsheng Hall
The Chongsheng Hall, built in 1530, serves as a family shrine honoring the five generations of Confucius’s ancestors. Amidst the surrounding ancient cypress trees, it stands as a place of reverence. Today, continuing a centuries-old tradition, free performances of Confucian ritual music, known as “Great Achievement,” are held hourly. These enchanting performances, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, offer a captivating glimpse into the rich heritage of Confucianism.

The Stele Forest of Thirteen Classics
The Stele Forest, nestled between the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum (Guozijian), is a remarkable collection of 189 stone stelae. These thick stelae, arranged in orderly rows within a covered walkway, preserve selected texts from Confucianism’s Thirteen Classics. The texts, clearly legible on the faces of the light grey stone slabs, include excerpts from foundational works like the “Book of Changes”, “Book of Documents”, “Book of Songs”, “Book of Rites”, and the “Analects”. Each stele stands on its own individual base and is crowned with ornate carvings, adding an artistic dimension to this scholarly treasure.

Biyong Hall
The Biyong Hall, a unique surviving ceremonial hall associated with education in ancient China and located in the heart of the Imperial College (Guozijian), is a square building with a soaring, multi-eaved hipped roof covered in gleaming yellow glazed tiles. It features doorways on each of its four sides, allowing access from all directions. The hall is encircled by a circular corridor and a pond with white marble balustrades. This arrangement, with the square hall and circular features, symbolizes the square earth and the round sky, representing the emperor’s role in maintaining cosmic harmony and order, with education being an important aspect of this responsibility.

Exhibition of Imperial Examination
This exhibition explores the fascinating world of China’s imperial examination system, which spanned over 1,300 years. From its origins in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) to its abolition in the early 20th century, the system profoundly shaped Chinese society and culture. Through rare artifacts, historical documents, and interactive displays, the exhibition illustrates the rigorous examination process, the intense competition, and the system’s impact on social mobility, intellectual life, and the very fabric of imperial China.

How to Get to Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum
• By Subway: Take subway line 2, 5 to Yonghegong (Lama Temple) Station.

Additional Travel Advice on Temple of Confucius
• The Confucius Temple & Imperial College Museum is closed on Mondays, except the Chinese statutory holidays.
• Ritual Music Performance Hours: 10:00 – 10:30, 11:00 – 11:30, 14:00 – 14:30, 15:00 – 15:30, 16:00 – 16:30.
• Rental service of wheelchair, baby carriage and umbrella are available at the museum.