qufu

The name Qufu literally means "crooked hill", and refers to a mile-long hill that was part of the city during its time as capital of the state of Lu.{{cite book |script-title=zh:中国古今地名大词典 |trans-title=Dictionary of Chinese Place-names Ancient and Modern |publisher=Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House |location=Shanghai |year=2005 |page=1154}}

The city of Qufu is divided into 4 subdistricts, and 8 towns.{{Cite web|script-title=zh:曲阜市历史沿革_行政区划网(区划地名网) www.xzqh.org|url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/sd/12305.html|website=xzqh.org|language=zh|access-date=2020-05-13|archive-date=2021-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112133156/http://xzqh.org/html/show/sd/12305.html|url-status=live}} The city government is located within {{Interlanguage link|Lucheng Subdistrict, Qufu|鲁城街道|zh|lt=Lucheng Subdistrict|WD=}}.

{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site

| WHS = Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu

| Image = Confuciustempleapricotplatform.jpg

| Caption = Apricot Platform in the Confucius Temple

| Criteria = Cultural: i, iv, vi

| ID = 704

| Year = 1994

}}

During the Shang, the area around Qufu was home to the people of Yan, who were counted by the Chinese among the "Eastern Barbarians" or Dongyi. Along with Pugu (around Binzhou) and Xu (along the Huai River), Yan joined the Shang prince Wu Geng and the Three Guards in their failed rebellion against the Duke of Zhou {{circa|lk=no|1042}}{{nbsp}}BC. After the rebels' defeat, the Duke launched punitive campaigns against the Dongyi, forcing their submission and placing their territory under loyal nobles. The territory of the Yan became part of the state of Lu, who made Qufu their capital throughout the Spring and Autumn period. This city had walls considerably larger than the present Ming-era fortifications, including more land to the east and north.

During the Tang dynasty and the early days of the Song dynasty, the city was centered around the present-day Temple of Duke Zhou, at the northeastern corner of today's walled city. At 1012, Qufu was renamed to Xianyuan County ({{lang|zh-hans|仙源县}}), and relocated to the new site, some {{cvt|4|km}} east of today's walled city, next to the supposed birthplace of the legendary Yellow Emperor and the tomb of his son Shaohao. A temple in honor of the Yellow Emperor was built there; all that remains today are two giant stelae (the Shou Qiu site).Bo Chonglan et al. (2002), p. 109

After the conquest of the northern China by the Jurchens, the new Jin dynasty renamed Xianyuan back to Qufu (in 1142), but the city stayed at its Song location. It was not until the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1522) that the present-day city wall was built. The site of the city in 1012–1522 is now Jiuxian Village ({{lang|zh-hans|旧县村}}).

During the Southern Song dynasty the descendant of Confucius at Qufu, the Duke Yansheng Kong Duanyou fled south with the future Song Emperor Gaozong to Quzhou in Zhejiang, while the newly established Jin dynasty (1115–1234) in the north appointed Kong Duanyou's brother Kong Duancao who remained in Qufu as Duke Yansheng.*{{cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/en/B10.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913134503/http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/en/B10.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-13 }}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053840/http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}
• {{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248653434|title=The Ritual Formation of Confucian Orthodoxy and the Descendants of the Sage|first=Thomas|last=Wilson|date=1 August 1996|journal=Journal of Asian Studies|volume=55|issue=3|pages=559–584|access-date=4 April 2018|via=ResearchGate|doi=10.2307/2646446|jstor=2646446|s2cid=162848825|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071014/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248653434|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=http://academics.hamilton.edu/asian_studies/home/CultTemp/sitePages/temple.html|title=Cult of Confucius|first=Thomas A.|last=Wilson|website=academics.hamilton.edu|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318225825/http://academics.hamilton.edu/asian_studies/home/culttemp/sitePages/temple.html|url-status=live}}*{{cite web |url=http://en.chinatefl.com/Platform/cityfeature_241_5_48.html |title=- Quzhou City Guides - China TEFL Network |access-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065123/http://en.chinatefl.com/Platform/cityfeature_241_5_48.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}
• {{cite web|url=http://kfz.freehostingguru.com/article20.php|title=confucianism|website=kfz.freehostingguru.com|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313043230/http://kfz.freehostingguru.com/article20.php|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/29/content_699183.htm|title=Nation observes Confucius anniversary|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108182411/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/29/content_699183.htm|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Sep/182656.htm|title=Confucius Anniversary Celebrated|website=www.china.org.cn|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914162656/http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Sep/182656.htm|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web |url=http://book.mihua.net/book/4/4190/798538.html |title=孔子家族全书：家事本末_17．孔浈不幸被夺爵_米花在线书库 |access-date=2016-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150319104058/http://book.mihua.net/book/4/4190/798538.html |archive-date=2015-03-19 }} From that time up until the Yuan dynasty, there were two Duke Yanshengs, one in the north in Qufu and the other in the south at Quzhou. An invitation to come back to Qufu was extended to the southern Duke Yansheng Kong Zhu by the Yuan dynasty emperor Kublai Khan. The title was taken away from the southern branch after Kong Zhu rejected the invitation,{{cite book|author1=Thomas Jansen|author2=Thoralf Klein|author3=Christian Meyer|title=Globalization and the Making of Religious Modernity in China: Transnational Religions, Local Agents, and the Study of Religion, 1800-Present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GNlXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA187|date=21 March 2014|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-27151-7|pages=187–188|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308063534/https://books.google.com/books?id=GNlXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA187#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} so the northern branch of the family kept the title of Duke Yansheng. The southern branch still remained in Quzhou where they lived to this day. Confucius's descendants in Quzhou alone number 30,000.{{cite news|title=Nation observes Confucius anniversary|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/29/content_699183.htm|agency=China Daily|date=2006-09-29 |access-date=2016-01-04|archive-date=2016-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108182411/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/29/content_699183.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Confucius Anniversary Celebrated|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Sep/182656.htm|agency=China Daily|date=September 29, 2006|access-date=January 4, 2016|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914162656/http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Sep/182656.htm|url-status=live}} The Hanlin Academy rank of Wujing boshi 五經博士 was awarded to the southern branch at Quzhou by a Ming emperor while the northern branch at Qufu held the title Duke Yansheng.{{cite book|author=Thomas A. Wilson|title=On Sacred Grounds: Culture, Society, Politics, and the Formation of the Cult of Confucius|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T4XXAAAAMAAJ&q=wujing+boshi+descendant|year=2002|publisher=Harvard University Asia Center|isbn=978-0-674-00961-5|pages=69,315|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2023-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426005837/https://books.google.com/books?id=T4XXAAAAMAAJ&q=wujing+boshi+descendant|url-status=live}}{{cite book|author1=Thomas Jansen|author2=Thoralf Klein|author3=Christian Meyer|title=Globalization and the Making of Religious Modernity in China: Transnational Religions, Local Agents, and the Study of Religion, 1800-Present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GNlXAwAAQBAJ&q=wujing+boshi+descendant&pg=PA188|date=21 March 2014|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-27151-7|pages=188–|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308063715/https://books.google.com/books?id=GNlXAwAAQBAJ&q=wujing+boshi+descendant&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=wujing%20boshi%20descendant&f=false|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053840/http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 }} p. 14.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248653434_The_Ritual_Formation_of_Confucian_Orthodoxy_and_the_Descendants_of_the_Sage {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623151656/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248653434_The_Ritual_Formation_of_Confucian_Orthodoxy_and_the_Descendants_of_the_Sage |date=2016-06-23 }} p. 575. Kong Ruogu ({{lang|zh|孔若古}}), also known as Kong Chuan ({{lang|zh-hant|孔傳}}){{cite web|url=http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053840/http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B10.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 }} p. 5. 47th generation*{{cite web|url=http://js.ifeng.com/humanity/his/detail_2015_03/27/3712847_0.shtml|script-title=zh:磐安发现一处宋墓 墓主是孔子47代裔孙（图）|website=js.ifeng.com|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605043714/http://js.ifeng.com/humanity/his/detail_2015_03/27/3712847_0.shtml|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web |script-title=zh:磐安孔氏家庙 |url=http://www.zjfeiyi.cn/lvyou/detail/2-124.html |website=zjfeiyi.cn |date=April 23, 2014 |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603111442/http://www.zjfeiyi.cn/lvyou/detail/2-124.html |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.zjbzxh.org/contents/231/709.html|script-title=zh:金华磐安发现一处宋代古墓 墓主疑是孔子47代裔孙--浙江省殡葬协会|website=www.zjbzxh.org|access-date=4 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006205620/http://www.zjbzxh.org/contents/231/709.html|archive-date=6 October 2016}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://szkong.net/article/196 |title=中国深圳孔氏联谊会-榉溪孔氏家庙 |access-date=2016-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923063801/http://szkong.net/article/196 |archive-date=2016-09-23 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web |url=http://059822.net/news/FS3.html |title=孔传：孔传 锁定 本缺少名片图，补充相关内 |access-date=2016-05-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605072209/http://059822.net/news/FS3.html |archive-date=2016-06-05 }}
• {{cite web |script-title=zh:孔氏六帖 南宋 孔传（孔若古）衢州派始祖 |url=http://www.kong.org.cn/BBS2/a/a.asp?B=74&ID=123 |website=kong.org.cn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614094347/http://www.kong.org.cn/BBS2/a/a.asp?B=74&ID=123 |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |date=October 18, 2003 }} was claimed to be the ancestor of the Southern branch after Kong Zhu died by Northern branch member Kong Guanghuang.{{cite web|url=http://aas2.asian-studies.org/absts/1995abst/china/csess45.htm |title=AAS Abstracts: China Session 45 |access-date=2016-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006175402/http://aas2.asian-studies.org/absts/1995abst/china/csess45.htm |archive-date=2016-10-06 }}Wilson, Thomas A.. 1996. "The Ritual Formation of Confucian Orthodoxy and the Descendants of the Sage". The Journal of Asian Studies 55 (3). [Cambridge University Press, Association for Asian Studies]: 559–84. doi:10.2307/2646446. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2646446 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110133915/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2646446 |date=2017-01-10 }} p. 575.

In 1948, Qufu played a minor role in the Yanzhou Campaign of the Chinese Civil War.

The artifacts of the historical sites at Qufu suffered extensive damage during the Cultural Revolution when about 200 staff members and students of Beijing Normal University led by Tan Houlan ({{lang|zh-hans|谭厚兰}}, 1937–1982), one of the five most powerful student leaders of the Cultural Revolution, came to Qufu and destroyed more than 6,000 artifacts as part of the campaign to destroy the "Four Olds" in November 1966.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-153095655.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417085003/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-153095655.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |title=Cultural revolution in Current Events |publisher=Weekly Reader Corp. |access-date=2007-03-04 |date=September 29, 2006 }}Wang Liang, "The Confucius Temple Tragedy of the Cultural Revolution," in Thomas A. Wilson, ed., On Sacred Grounds, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2002)[http://www.chinaheritagenewsletter.org/scholarship.php?searchterm=020_confucius.inc&issue=020 Sang Ye and Geremie R. Barmé (2009): The Fate of the Confucius Temple, the Kong Mansion and Kong Cemetery, China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121102506/http://chinaheritagenewsletter.org/scholarship.php?searchterm=020_confucius.inc&issue=020 |date=2010-11-21 }} Heritage Quarterly, No. 20, December 2009

Before the wide adoption of Pinyin, the name of the city (often viewed as a county seat, i.e. Qufu xian) was transcribed in English in a variety of ways, such as Ch'ü-fou-hien,{{citation|first=Alexander |last=Armstrong

|publisher=J. Nisbet |year=1896

|title=In a mule litter to the tomb of Confucius

|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2b9FAAAAIAAJ

}} Kio-feu-hien,{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/confuciuschinese00loom_0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/confuciuschinese00loom_0/page/384 384], 388|first=James|last=Legge|author-link=James Legge

|title=Confucius and the Chinese classics|publisher=A. Roman|year=1867}} - Rev. A. Williamson's account of his visit to Qufu in 1865 Kio-fou-hien,

Kiu-fu,{{citation

|title=Journey through Shantung

|author=Markham

|publisher=J. Murray |year=1870

|journal=Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London|volume=40

|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9kM9AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA223

|page=223

}}

Kiuh Fow, Keuhfow, Kufow, and Chufou.{{citation|editor-first=Frank Moore |editor-last=Colby|editor2-first= Talcott |editor2-last=Williams

|publisher=Dodd, Mead and company |year=1918|title=The New international encyclopædia, Volume 13|edition=2

|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fmwNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA276|page=276}}

The small historical center of Qufu is surrounded by the restored Ming-era city wall and rivers/moats. The Drum Tower (Gulou) is in the center of the walled city; the Temple of Confucius (Kong Miao), Confucius Mansion (Kong Fu) and the Temple of Yan Hui (Yan Miao) occupy large sections of the land within the wall.See e.g. the map (Fig. 3.1.2.2) in: {{citation

|first=Alfred |last=Schinz

|publisher=Edition Axel Menges |year=1996

|isbn=3-930698-02-1

|title=The magic square: cities in ancient China

|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qhcRYkz-I3YC&pg=PA116

|page=116}}

The Confucius Cemetery (Kong Lin) is located {{convert|1.3|km|abbr=on}} to the north of the walled city. The modern downtown is located south of the walled city. There is also a mosque and a thriving Muslim neighborhood and market that is located just outside the west gate of the walled city.

The Qufu train station and major industrial areas are on the east side, a few kilometers east of the historical city. The Shaohao Tomb ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c={{linktext|少|昊|陵}}|p=Shǎohào Líng}}) and Shou Qiu historical site ({{lang-zh|labels=no |s={{linktext|寿|丘}}|p=Shòu Qiū}}, the purported birthplace of the legendary Yellow Emperor), are on the eastern outskirts of the modern Qufu as well, near Jiuxian village.

The town of Shimenshan in Qufu is part of the international Cittaslow movement in China.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-10 |title=Cittaslow directory of China (mainland) |url=http://en.chinacittaslow.com/index.php?c=article&id=1081 |website=Gaochun International Cittaslow |access-date=2024-02-10 |archive-date=2022-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123142151/http://en.chinacittaslow.com/index.php?c=article&id=1081 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |access-date=2025-03-15 |title=Shimenshan |url=https://www.cittaslow.org/citta-slow/shimenshan |website=Cittaslow |archive-date=2024-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104053550/https://www.cittaslow.org/citta-slow/shimenshan |url-status=live |language=it}}{{Cite web |access-date=2025-03-15 |title=孔子故里·中国曲阜网 Tourism Resource |url=http://www.qufu.gov.cn/col/col60292/index.html |website=The People's Government of Qufu City |archive-date=2025-03-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250315105426/http://www.qufu.gov.cn/col/col60292/index.html |url-status=live}}

The Si River and the {{Interlanguage link|沂河|lt=Yi River|zh||WD=}} both pass through the city.

Qufu has a humid continental climate, bordering on a humid subtropical climate. Qufu experiences an average annual precipitation of {{convert|666.3|mm|abbr=on}}, and an average annual temperature of {{convert|13.6|°C}}.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Qufu, elevation {{convert|62|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)

|Jan high C = 5.1

|Feb high C = 8.9

|Mar high C = 14.9

|Apr high C = 21.6

|May high C = 27.1

|Jun high C = 31.6

|Jul high C = 32.2

|Aug high C = 31.1

|Sep high C = 27.5

|Oct high C = 21.7

|Nov high C = 13.6

|Dec high C = 6.8

|Jan mean C = 0.0

|Feb mean C = 3.4

|Mar mean C = 9.3

|Apr mean C = 15.9

|May mean C = 21.6

|Jun mean C = 26.2

|Jul mean C = 27.7

|Aug mean C = 26.6

|Sep mean C = 22.2

|Oct mean C = 15.8

|Nov mean C = 8.1

|Dec mean C = 1.8

|Jan low C = -3.8

|Feb low C = -1.0

|Mar low C = 4.3

|Apr low C = 10.5

|May low C = 16.2

|Jun low C = 21.0

|Jul low C = 23.8

|Aug low C = 22.8

|Sep low C = 17.8

|Oct low C = 11.2

|Nov low C = 4.0

|Dec low C = -1.9

|Jan record high C = 16.1 |Jan record low C = -17.8

|Feb record high C = 23.1 |Feb record low C = -13.7

|Mar record high C = 27.5 |Mar record low C = -9.8

|Apr record high C = 32.7 |Apr record low C = -1.7

|May record high C = 36.7 |May record low C = 4.0

|Jun record high C = 39.4 |Jun record low C = 11.5

|Jul record high C = 41.0 |Jul record low C = 16.6

|Aug record high C = 36.9 |Aug record low C = 12.7

|Sep record high C = 36.2 |Sep record low C = 7.0

|Oct record high C = 35.6 |Oct record low C = -2.0

|Nov record high C = 26.0 |Nov record low C = -11.9

|Dec record high C = 18.8 |Dec record low C = -14.8

|year high C = |year low C =

|year high F = |year low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 7.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 11.8

|Mar precipitation mm = 16.6

|Apr precipitation mm = 35.9

|May precipitation mm = 55.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 87.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 196.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 172.3

|Sep precipitation mm = 65.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 31.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 28.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 9.9

|Jan humidity = 61

|Feb humidity = 57

|Mar humidity = 53

|Apr humidity = 56

|May humidity = 59

|Jun humidity = 60

|Jul humidity = 75

|Aug humidity = 77

|Sep humidity = 71

|Oct humidity = 67

|Nov humidity = 68

|Dec humidity = 65

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 2.8

|Feb precipitation days = 3.7

|Mar precipitation days = 3.5

|Apr precipitation days = 5.4

|May precipitation days = 6.2

|Jun precipitation days = 7.6

|Jul precipitation days = 11.6

|Aug precipitation days = 10.5

|Sep precipitation days = 6.9

|Oct precipitation days = 5.2

|Nov precipitation days = 4.9

|Dec precipitation days = 3.3

|year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 156.5

|Feb sun = 158.3

|Mar sun = 205.1

|Apr sun = 230.6

|May sun = 251.0

|Jun sun = 227.6

|Jul sun = 202.5

|Aug sun = 201.8

|Sep sun = 188.3

|Oct sun = 185.0

|Nov sun = 160.7

|Dec sun = 154.8

|year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 50

| Feb percentsun = 51

| Mar percentsun = 55

| Apr percentsun = 59

| May percentsun = 58

| Jun percentsun = 52

| Jul percentsun = 46

| Aug percentsun = 49

| Sep percentsun = 51

| Oct percentsun = 54

| Nov percentsun = 53

| Dec percentsun = 51

| year percentsun =

|Jan snow days = 2.4

|Feb snow days = 2.6

|Mar snow days = 0.7

|Apr snow days = 0.1

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0.8

|Dec snow days = 1.6

|year snow days =

|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language=zh-hans |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905194950/http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language=zh-hans |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404092524/https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |url-status=live }}

}}

The original Beijing–Shanghai railway, constructed in the early 20th century, passes through Qufu. For a century, most passengers traveling to or from Qufu, would use the train station at Yanzhou, some {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} to the west.

The Yanshi Railway, which connects Yanzhou and Rizhao as part of the broader Xinshi Railway ({{lang|zh-hans|新石铁路}}), passes through the city. A small passenger station operating on the southeast side of the city ({{coord|35.582860|N|117.025091|E|type:landmark_region:CN-37}}) serves this line.

The north–south Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway, which opened in 2011, runs through Qufu. This line's Qufu East railway station is located a few kilometers south-east of the city ({{coord|35.556390|N|117.063656|E|type:landmark_region:CN-37}}). Qufu South railway station, on the east–west Rizhao–Lankao high-speed railway, opened in 2021.

China National Highway 104 and China National Highway 327 both pass through Qufu.

A {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}}, 12 station monorail to connect Qufu and Zoucheng began construction in the first half of 2017, however construction was halted. A {{convert|6.3|km|mi|abbr=on}} section was due to be completed in January 2018 to allow for testing to commence. The complete line was originally due to open in 2018.{{cite news |title=Tourist monorail featuring Confucian culture under construction |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/03/c_136869924.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103160240/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/03/c_136869924.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=13 July 2021 |publisher=Xinhua |date=3 January 2018}} As of July 2021 the local government hopes to complete the line.{{cite news |title=The way of Confucius and Mencius is difficult to climb to the sky (Confucius and Mencius Express-BYD Cloud Track) |url=https://inf.news/en/travel/379ae9bf3aa62ce1993e80c9ada6e8d2.html |access-date=13 July 2021 |publisher=inf.news |date=13 July 2017}}

{{main|Temple of Confucius, Qufu}}

File:Confucius temple 1912.jpg

Within two years after the death of Confucius, his former house in Qufu was already consecrated as a temple by the Duke of Lu. In 205 BC, Emperor Liu Bang of the Han dynasty was the first emperor to offer sacrifices to the memory of Confucius in Qufu. He set an example for many emperors and high officials to follow. Later, emperors would visit Qufu after their enthronement or on important occasions such as a successful war. In total, 12 different emperors paid 20 personal visits to Qufu to worship Confucius. About 100 others sent their deputies for 196 official visits. The original three-room house of Confucius was removed from the temple complex during a rebuilding undertaken in 611 AD. In 1012 and in 1094, during the Song dynasty, the temple was extended into a design with three sections and four courtyards, around which eventually more than 400 rooms were arranged. Fire and vandalism destroyed the temple in 1214, during the Jin dynasty. It was restored to its former extent by the year 1302 during the Yuan dynasty. Shortly thereafter, in 1331, the temple was framed in an enclosure wall modelled on the Imperial palace. After another devastation by fire in 1499, the temple was finally restored to its present scale. In 1724, yet another fire destroyed the main hall and the sculptures it contained. The subsequent restoration was completed in 1730. Many of the replacement sculptures were again destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in 1966. In total, the Temple of Confucius has undergone 15 major renovations, 31 large repairs, and numerous small building measures.

The temple complex is the second largest historical building complex in China (after the Forbidden City)—it covers an area of {{convert|16,000|m2}} and has a total of 460 rooms. Because the last major redesign following the fire in 1499 took place shortly after the building of the Forbidden City in the Ming dynasty, the architecture of the Temple of Confucius resembles that of the Forbidden City in many ways. The main part of the temple consists of 9 courtyards arranged on a central axis, which is oriented in the north–south direction and is {{convert|1.3|km}} in length. The first three courtyards have small gates and are planted with tall pine trees, they serve an introductory function. The first (southernmost) gate is named "Lingxing Gate" after a star in the Great Bear constellation, the name suggests that Confucius is a star from heaven. The buildings in the remaining courtyards form the heart of the complex. They are impressive structures with yellow roof-tiles (otherwise reserved for the emperor) and red-painted walls, they are surrounded by dark-green pine trees to create a color contrast with complementary colors. The main buildings are the Stele Pavilions (e.g., Jin and Yuan dynasties, 1115–1368), the Kuiwen Hall (built in 1018, restored in 1504 during the Ming dynasty and in 1985), the Xing Tan Pavilion ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|杏|坛}}|t={{linktext|杏|壇|}}|p=Xìng Tán}}, Apricot Platform), the De Mu Tian Di Arch, the Dacheng Hall (built in the Qing dynasty), and the Hall of Confucius' Wife. The Dacheng Hall ({{lang-zh|c={{linktext|大|成|殿}}|p=Dàchéng diàn}}, Great Perfection Hall) is the architectural center of the present day complex. The hall covers an area of {{convert|54|by|34|m}} and stands slightly less than {{cvt|32|m}} tall.

It is supported by 28 richly decorated pillars, each {{cvt|6|m}} high and {{cvt|0.8|m}} in diameter and carved in one piece out of local rock. The ten columns on the front side of the hall are decorated with coiled dragons. It is said that these columns were covered during visits by the emperor in order not to arouse his envy. Dacheng Hall served as the principal place for offering sacrifices to the memory of Confucius. In the center of the courtyard in front of Dacheng Hall stands the "Apricot Platform", which commemorates Confucius teaching his students under an apricot tree. Each year at Qufu and at many other Confucian temples a ceremony is held on September 28 to commemorate Confucius' birthday.

File:Confuciustombqufu.jpg

{{main|Cemetery of Confucius}}

The Cemetery of Confucius ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c={{linktext|孔|林}} |p=Kǒng Lín}}) lies to the north of the town of Qufu. The oldest graves found in this location date back to the Zhou dynasty. The original tomb erected here in memory of Confucius on the bank of the Sishui River had the shape of an axe. In addition, it had a brick platform for sacrifices. The present-day tomb is a cone-shaped hill. Tombs for the descendants of Confucius and additional stela to commemorate him were soon added around Confucius' tomb.

Since Confucius' descendants were conferred noble titles and were given imperial princesses as wives, many of the tombs in the cemetery show the status symbols of noblemen. Tombstones came in use during the Han dynasty, today, there are about 3,600 tombstones dating from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties still standing in the cemetery.

In 1331 construction work began on the wall and gate of the cemetery. In total, the cemetery has undergone 13 renovations and extensions. Eventually, by the late 18th century, the perimeter wall reached a length of {{cvt|7.5|km}}, enclosing an area of {{convert|3.6|km2}}. In this space, the tombs of more than 100,000 descendants of Confucius, who have been buried there over a period of about 2000 years, can be found. The oldest graves date back to the Zhou dynasty, the most recent of which belong to descendants in the 76th and 78th generation.

During the Cultural Revolution, the Kong family cemetery was branded a "reactionary" site and was subject to vandalism and desecration. The tombs of Confucius and his descendants were dug up, looted and flattened. Confucius statue was pulled down and paraded through the streets. According to statistics published after the Cultural Revolution, 100,000 volumes of classical texts were burned, 6,618 cultural artefacts were destroyed or damaged, one thousand stelae were smashed, 5,000 ancient pines were felled and over 2,000 graves were dug up during the period.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/scholarship.php?searchterm=020_confucius.inc&issue=020|title=The Fate of the Confucius Temple, the Kong Mansion and Kong Cemetery|author=Sang Ye and Geremie R. Barmé|publisher=Chinese Heritage Quarterly|access-date=2017-02-16|date=December 20, 2009|archive-date=2017-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216214810/http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/scholarship.php?searchterm=020_confucius.inc&issue=020|url-status=live}}

The corpse of the 76th Duke of Qufu was removed from its grave, hung naked from a tree in front of the palace and later incinerated.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200304/ai_n9228762 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321075615/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200304/ai_n9228762 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2006 |title=Children of confucius|author=Jeni Hung|magazine=The Spectator|access-date=2007-03-04|date=April 5, 2003}}

More than 10,000 mature trees give the cemetery a forest-like appearance. A road runs from the north gate of Qufu to the exterior gate of the cemetery in a straight line. It is {{cvt|1266|m}} in length and lined by cypresses and pine trees. Along this road lies the Yan Temple, dedicated to Confucius' favorite student.

{{main|Kong Family Mansion}}

File:Confuciusmansionqufu.jpg

The direct descendants of Confucius lived in the Kong family Mansion ({{lang-zh|labels=no |c={{linktext|孔|府}} |p=Kǒng Fǔ}}) located to the east of the temple. They were in charge of tending to the temple and cemetery. In particular, they were in charge of conducting elaborate religious ceremonies on occasions such as plantings, harvests, honoring the dead, and birthdays. The Kong family was in control of the largest private rural estate in China. The first mansion was built in 1038 during the Song dynasty and was originally connected directly to the temple. During a rebuilding in 1377 directed by the first Ming dynasty emperor, it was moved a short distance away from the temple. In 1503, it was expanded into three rows of buildings with 560 rooms and—like the Confucius Temple—9 courtyards. The mansion underwent a complete renovation in 1838 only to perish in a fire 47 years later in 1887. It was rebuilt two years later; the cost of both 19th-century renovations was covered by the Emperor. Today, the mansion comprises 152 buildings with 480 rooms, which cover an area of {{convert|12470|m2|sigfig=4}}. Its tallest structure is the four-story refuge tower ({{lang-zh|labels=no |s={{linktext|避|难|楼}}|p=Bìnán Lóu}}) that was designed as a shelter during an attack but was never used. The family mansion was inhabited by descendants of Confucius until 1937, when Confucius' descendant in the 76th and 77th generations fled to Chongqing during the Second Sino-Japanese War and later during the Chinese Civil War to Taiwan, where the head of the family still resides.

The layout of the mansion is traditionally Chinese, it separates official rooms in the front from the residential quarters in the rear. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the buildings according to the seniority, gender, and status of their inhabitants reflects the Confucian principle of order and hierarchy: The most senior descendant of Confucius took up residence in the central of the three main buildings; his younger brother occupied the Yi Gun hall to the east.

Qufu's economy consists of a number different industries. Agriculture, specifically grain production, is a major industry for the city. The other main industries are food processing, textile, construction materials, chemical, coal mining, pharmacy, paper making and industrial machinery.{{cite web|url=http://www.qufu.gov.cn/en/|title=Qufu·China|website=www.qufu.gov.cn|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208093847/http://www.qufu.gov.cn/en/|url-status=dead}} Qufu has also benefited greatly from tourism, holding a number of cultural festivals and exhibitions, largely centered around Confucius.{{Cite web|title=Shandong: Cradle of Confucian Culture|url=http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/english/society/2015-06/24/content_693419.htm|date=2015-06-24|website=China Today|access-date=2020-05-13|archive-date=2021-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021123159/http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/english/society/2015-06/24/content_693419.htm|url-status=live}}

The city's main mineral deposits include coal, phosphorus, and limestone.

Qufu Normal University is located in Qufu city, and has an additional campus in Rizhao.{{Cite web|script-title=zh:学校简介-曲阜师范大学|url=https://www.qfnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm|website=www.qfnu.edu.cn|language=zh|access-date=2020-05-13|archive-date=2020-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510002113/https://www.qfnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm|url-status=dead}} The university, founded in 1955, offers 87 undergraduate majors, 25 master's degrees, and 11 doctoral degrees.

Qufu is a traditional centre of Confucianism, being the area where Confucius was born. The city is home to the holiest Temple of Confucius, to the Mausoleum of Confucius and to the Mansion of the Kong Family. The city also has a branch of the Holy Church of Confucius ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=孔圣堂 |p=Kǒngshèngtáng}}) and hosts the headquarters of the Federation of Confucian Culture.

File:Confuciustemplequfu.png|Plan of the Temple of Confucius

File:Dachenghalldragonpillar.jpg|Dragon pillar in front of Dacheng Hall (Temple of Confucius)

File:The Temple of Yan2.jpg|A gateway

File:Qufu temple of yan sculpture 2010 06 05.jpg|The sanctuary

File:Yan Miao - northern courtyard - Zhizheng 9 - P1050465.JPG|Stele in memory of rebuilding the temple, Year 9 of Zhizheng era (1349)

File:Yan Miao - eastern stele pavilion - Zhengtong 6 - seen from W - P1050439.JPG|Stele in memory of rebuilding the temple, Year 6 of Zhengtong era (1441)

File:Yan Miao - western stele pavilion - Zhengde 4 - seen from E - P1050433.JPG|Stele in memory of rebuilding the temple, Year 4 of Zhengde era (1509)

File:Kong Yanjin - bixi - seen from NNE - P1060185.JPG|Spirit way of Kong Yanjin

File:Kong Yanjin - looking north - P1060200.JPG|Spirit way of Kong Yanjin

File:Kong Zhengan - felines - P1060126.JPG|Spirit way of Kong Zhengan

File:Kong Hongtai - bixi - head - P1060142.JPG|Bixi of Kong Hongtai

File:Kong Lin - Ming section - old stele top - P1060122.JPG|"Lost" crown of a Ming-era stele

File:Kong Lin - path to the northwest - P1060083.JPG|A cemetery landscape

File:Qufu - Gulou - P1050365.JPG|Drum tower – the center of the walled city

File:The Temple of Duke Zhou.jpg|The Temple of Duke Zhou

File:Cemetery of Mensius' Parents.JPG|Cemetery of Mencius's parents

File:Qufu Mosque - P1050996.JPG|Qufu Mosque

File:Shou Qiu - western turtle - seen from the E - P1050843.JPG|Qing Shou ("Celebrate Longevity") stele on a 6-meter-long tortoise at Shou Qiu

File:Qufu Cinema - P1060026.JPG|Qufu cinema

• Mount Ni, traditionally believed to be the site of the birth of Confucius
• Zoucheng, hometown of Mencius
• Qu (surname 曲), many people with this surname are from Shandong.

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation|ref=Bo2002|script-title=zh:曲阜庙城与中国儒学 (Qufu's temples and walled cities and China's Confucianism)|author1=傅崇兰 (Bo Chonglan)|author2=孟祥才 (Meng Xiangcai)

|author3=曲英杰 (Qu Yingjie)|author4=吴承照 (Wu Chengzhao)|year=2002|publisher=Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe|isbn=7-5004-3527-4}}

{{Commons category|Qufu}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline}}
• [https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=704 UNESCO World Heritage Listing]
• [http://www.cctv.com/lm/176/71/88863.html CCTV]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070109205002/http://www.qfnu.edu.cn/office/lxs/duocai/s1.htm Qufu Normal University]
• [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/china/qufu/index.php Asian Historical Architecture: Qufu]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175639/http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/china/qufu/main-temple/sphere-flash.html?redirect=1 Panoramic photo of Confucius Temple]
• [http://camereye.com/taiwan/confucius.html Photographs of a Confucian Temple ceremony]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20010405150428/http://www.chinakongzi.com/2550/eng/index.html Confucian website]
• [http://benross.net/wordpress/?p=237 A photo tour of Qufu from 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121209144500/http://benross.net/wordpress/?p=237 |date=2012-12-09 }}

{{World Heritage Sites in China}}

{{County-level divisions of Shandong}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:World Heritage Sites in China

Category:Jining

Category:Cities in Shandong

Category:County-level divisions of Shandong

Category:Holy cities

Category:National Civilized City

Category:National Famous Historical and Cultural City