Confucius' Hometown Shrine

Records of the Grand Historian state: Confucius was born in Zouyi, Changping Township of the State of Lu, and his ancestors were natives of the State of Song.

In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Wei Zi Qi was enfeoffed with the land of Song and founded the state. After Wei Zi passed away, his younger brother Wei Zhong ascended the throne. Wei Zhong was succeeded by his son Duke Ji of Song. Duke Ji was followed by his son Duke Shen Ding. After Duke Shen Ding died, his brother Duke Min Gong came to power. Upon Duke Min Gong’s death, his younger brother Duke Yang Xi took the throne. Fu Si, the second son of Duke Min Gong, killed Duke Yang and intended to enthrone Fu Fu He, the legitimate heir. Fu Fu He declined the offer, and Fu Si made himself Duke Li. Fu Fu He then became a senior minister of the State of Song and was granted the fief of Liyi.

Fu Fu He begot Song Fu Zhou, who fathered Shi Zi Sheng. Sheng gave birth to Zheng Kao Fu, a virtuous statesman who served Duke Dai, Duke Wu and Duke Xuan successively. Zheng Kao Fu’s son Kong Fu Jia was the Minister of War of Song. He was killed by Hua Du, the Minister of the Left, in the tenth year of Duke Shang’s reign. His descendant Kong Fangshu fled from Song to Lu. Three generations later, Confucius was born.

Liyi is the ancient name of present-day Xiayi County in Henan Province. The ancestral burial ground of the Kong clan lies six kilometres north of the county seat. Confucius came here to offer sacrifices to his forefathers and visit the tombs. Later generations built a shrine in memory of this visit, naming it the Hometown Shrine.

Covering more than 100 mu, the shrine complex boasts resplendent halls and pavilions, rows of stone steles and towering ancient cypresses. It was a renowned cultural holy site in history. Years of disrepair led to gradual dilapidation.

In the 1990s, to carry forward Confucian culture, the CPC Xiayi County Committee and the county government decided to restore the shrine. The decision won enthusiastic support from local residents and people of insight, who made voluntary donations one after another. Mr. Tang Enjia, President of the Hong Kong Confucian Academy, donated one million yuan and a large bronze statue of Confucius preaching.

Reconstruction started on the original site in 1996, divided into three phases. The first phase was completed and opened to visitors in 1998. The newly built complex includes the Dacheng Gate, imitation ancient city walls, a moat around the shrine, the Dacheng Hall and a forest of stone tablets. With simple elegance, magnificent momentum and distinct ethnic features, it has become a bright pearl on the cultural tourist route linking the Central Plains and Qilu regions.

Today, Confucius' Hometown Shrine is listed as a Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit of Henan Province.