The History | The Buildings | Biography | The Ceremony | Appendix | The Plans

Finally, we go around the Dacheng Hall, and arrive at the rear court room, the Chong Sheng Temple. The Chong Sheng Temple is where Confucius' ancestors for five generations are venerated, including Chaosheng Duke Muchinfu, Yusheng Duke chifu, Yisheng Duke Fangshu, Changsheng Duke Pohsia and Chisheng Duke Shuliangho. Confucius' brothers, the fathers of Yen Tzu, Tseng Tzu, Mencius and Tzu Ssu, and the fathers of other Confucian worthies are also venerated here. In a nutshell, the Chong Sheng Temple accommodates tablets that belong to the ancestors of Confucius, ancient sages, or Confucius' followers. In fact, this kind of arrangement has its roots in the Chinese clan ethics that have existed for several thousand years. The layout of Confucius Temple is also very similar to that of a clan ancestral temple.

The Chong Sheng Temple is as wide as five normal-sized rooms. There is a warehouse for instruments for sacrificial ceremonies in the east wing, and a warehouse for musical instruments in the west wing. These two warehouses are necessary in every Confucius Temple. The beams in the Chong Sheng Temple are the same as the ones in the Yi Gate: one can see the beams and the carvings of the melon pillar. The frame has three beams and five short pillars. The melon pillars are carved into pumpkins or papayas, and look very round and substantial, both powerful and beautiful. The carved lions on the top, which seem to carry the beams on their shoulders, look as if they are real lions.