China’s Spring and Autumn Period – Part 2/3

September 13, 2010

Ancient trees with many birds surround the Confucius temple.  

The platform where Confucius taught his students is called the Apricot Platform since there were once many apricot trees on the site.

Before Confucius, only the elite were allowed to receive an education. However, Confucius believed that education should be available to everyone.

He also believed that education shouldn’t be just for knowledge but to also cultivate good people.

Modern Qufu has cars, motorcycles, bicycles and a special mode of transportation, which the narrator of the video will show you.

If you visit Qufu, the three main attractions are included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The Confucian mansion is next to the temple and was the resident of Confucius’s decedents.  The mansion contains 460 rooms.  The narrator takes you on a brief tour.

See The Life of Confucius or return to China’s Spring and Autumn Period – Part 1

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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. 

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

China’s Spring and Autumn Period – Part 1/3

September 12, 2010

The Zhou Dynasty (1126 – 222 B.C.) was still around when China’s Spring and Autumn Period arrived, but the Zhou king had lost his power to the nobles who often fought wars with each other.

The Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty took place from 770 to 476 B.C.

During this time, Confucius lived in Qufu, in Southwest Shandong Province, which was once the capital of the Lu Kingdom.

There were 150 kingdoms competing with each other. Constant warfare meant chaos and anarchy.

However, during the 5th and 6th centuries there was a period of learning around the world.  In Greece, there was Pythagoras, Sakyamuni (Buddhism) Nepal, and Confucianism was established in Qufu, China.

Today, Qufu’s ancient city opens each weekend with a large ceremony before tourists are allowed to visit.

Confucius home is inside the ancient city walls. Two years after Confucius died, the king of Lu turned his home into a temple to honor the sage.

To continue honoring Confucius, emperors of the Han, Sung, Ming and Qing Dynasties had more buildings built on the site of the original temple.

Sacrificial ceremonies have been held there for more than two thousand years.

See Emperor Wu of Zhou Dynasty

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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. 

If you want to subscribe to this Blog, there is a “Subscribe” button at the top of the screen in the menu bar.

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse