Qufu City and Confucian Architecture

This article examines the city of Qufu, once the state capital of Lu (1042–249 BCE) in today’s Shandong province, China. Qufu is the hometown of Confucius (551–479 BCE), and for sites associated with the Chinese philosopher. The Temple of Confucius in Qufu was constructed in 478 BCE, with its expansive complexes of the Kong Family Mansion and Cemetery, mostly dating from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. These Three Confucian sites have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, and are key areas in the study, alongside four modern Confucian architecture: Confucius Research Institute, Confucius Cultural Park, Confucius Six Arts City, and Confucius Museum. The paper seeks to understand what aspect of Chinese philosophy is reflected in Confucian architecture. The finding reveals Yin Yang balance and harmony is the basic aesthetic principle guiding the planning and design of Confucian architecture in Qufu.