Confucius Cemetery

Confucius cemetery, originally called Zhisheng Wood, is the graveyard of Confucius and Kong Family. After Confucius died, his students buried him at the upstream of Si River in the north side of Lu Town. Up to Qin and Han Dynasties, Its tomb was raised higher, and then there were few tombs and few family cemeteries servants. As the improvement of Confucius social status day by day, the scope of Confucius cemetery was enlarged. In 157, the premier of Lu Kingdom restored the Confucius cemetery and fabricated a divine gate in front of his tomb, as well as lodge for eating and rest at the southeast area. In 1331, Kong Sikai managed the restoration of the wall of Confucius Cemetery and built up the main gate of Confucius Cemetery. In 1684, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang broadened the total area of Confucius Cemetery to 3000 mu. In 1730, Emperor Rongzheng of Qing dynasty largely restored Confucius cemetery at the expenditure of 25300 Liang of silver. Diversity of gates and arches were fabricated, also he ordered the special officials to manage this cemetery. According to the record or statistics, Confucius cemetery has been restored or additionally established for more than 13 times, the enlargement of tree planting for five times and widening of cemetery for three times. The total length of wall of Confucius cemetery is 7.25 kilometers and the height of wall is more than 3 meters with the total area of 2 square kilometers, which is larger than the old downtown of Qufu. As Kong family cemetery, in the past 2000 years, the burial has been never stopped. It is a good place for researchers to study the transition of burial custom, development of culture, politics and economy in different generations. In 1961, it was ranked the cultural relics under the state-level protection. Besides Confucius Cemetery is also a natural plant garden or arboretum. In this cemetery, it is also a large museum to show the inscription steles written by many famous calligraphists in the past.