Extension Project of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu: Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain, Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion, Temple of Yanhui and Temple of Zeng Zi

Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion and Confucius Cemetery (together named as "San Kong") in Qu Fu entered in the list of world heritage in December 1994. Confucius is a great thinker, educator of ancient China and the founder of Confucian doctrine. "San Kong" is human heritage developed in commemoration of Confucius and introducing Confucianism. And with its rich cultural accumulation, "San Kong" is famous for its long history, great scale, rich cultural relic and high scientific artistic value. Confucian Temple in Qu fu is the original place to offer sacrifices to Confucius and is the forerunner and model of more than 2000 Confucian temples spread around China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the USA, etc. It was first built in 478 BC and has been used for Sacrificial offering for over 2400 years since then. The temple has been used for the longest period of time in China and is also one of the most famous extant ancient architectural complex in China; Having been used continuously for over 2400 years, Confucian Cemetery are clan tombs with the longest period of time in use both in China and in the world; Grandsons of Confucius have possessed perpetual hereditary rank for more than 2100 years, which makes the Kong family the most ancient aristocratic family in China. Confucius Mansion is the best-preserved architectural complex with the largest scale, and represents the most typical combination of government office and official's residence existing in China.

In Qu Fu, the hometown of Confucius, besides Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion and Confucius Cemetery which have entered the list of world heritage, there are heritages which are closely related to Confucius and "San Kong" and which are kept in good condition and also have very high protection value. Confucius Temple and Confucius Academy in Hill Ni, YanTemple and Mencius Temple, Mencius Mansion, Mencius Cemetery (together named as "San Meng") and Zenius Temple, are typical representatives. They constitute an organic whole of historical heritage representing the hometown of Confucius and the influence of Confucianism and are the inevitable expansion of the cultural value and the characteristic style and features reflected by "San Kong". Therefore, we take Confucius Temple and Academy in Hill Ni, Yan Temple, "San Meng" and Zenius Temple as the expansion items to apply for world cultural heritage.

1. Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain

Confucius Temple and Confucius Academy in Hill Ni lie at the eastern foot of Hill Ni 30 kilometres southeast of Confucius Temple and Confucius Mansion. Legend has it that Confucius' father named Shu Lianghe and his mother named Yan Zheng prayed to God at Hill Ni. Then they gave birth to Confucius. During the Northern Wei Dynasty the Temple of Shu Lianghe was already built. And it was rebuilt and abandoned repeatedly during the dynasty of Later Tang, Later Zhou, Song, Jin and Yuan. In the 15th year of Yongle during the Ming Dynasty (1417), the temple was reconstructed. After that it was expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Most of the existing parts were constructed during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The architecture can be divided into three parts: the temple, the academy and the Yusheng memorial temple. The temple consists of Dacheng Hall, the sleeping palace, the Hall of Qi Shengwang and the sleeping palace of Qi Shengwang, which offer respectively sacrifices to Confucius, his wife Mrs. Qiguan, his father Shu Lianghe and his mother Mrs. Yan. The Yusheng memorial temple offers sacrifices to the mountain spirit of Hill Ni. The Academy comprises a lecture room and rooms for the persons managing the temple. In addition, there are Erdai Hall, Sandai Hall, Liang Wu (two side rooms), Lingxing Gate, Shen Bao, Tudi Temple (the temple offering sacrifices to the local god of the land), Guan Chuan Pavilion and so on. Around the temple are walls and at the foot of the hill outside the eastern wall is Fuzi Hole, outside of which stand many ancient cypresses called Wende Cemetery.

2. Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion

Mencius is one of the most important Confucianism, who inherited and developed Confucius' ideological system which was known later as the Doctrines of Confucius and Mencius. Mencius' Policy of Benevolence and ideological education prepared the ideological weapons and the ways to rule a nation for the Chinese feudal dynasties hundreds of years later, and had a great effect on Chinese society in the following two thousand years. Mencius was looked upon as "the Second Sage", second only to Confucius. The book Meng zi was regarded as the classics and the essential reading for scholars chosen by the government.

Mencius Temple, also called the Second Sage Temple, lies in the south of Zoucheng City, and it's the place where people feted Mencius. Mencius Temple was built in BeiSong period and was reconstructed in the Dynasties of Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, and then reached its peak size. The plane of the temple now covers an area of 24,000 square meters in the shape of rectangle, with 64 halls and 5 layers' yards. From the third layers' yard, it has three roads leading to left, middle and right. It takes the main building-the Second Sage Palace as the center and it symmetries from north to south. The whole building includes four halls, two corridors, one main hall, one temple, one storehouse, one house, two stele booths and fourteen memorial arches. Inside the Temple, are preserved more than 300 carved stones and a variety of calligraphy, which are the materials for the study ancient history and art of calligraphy.

Mencius Mansion, also called the Second Sage Mansion, is located to the west of Mencius Temple, and was the inhabitancy of Mencius' lineal descent offspring. It was built in BeiSong period as well, covering 21,000 square meters, with 7 layers' yards. In the middle of the yards are the main constructions, and in the front are the offices and the houses are in the back. There are altogether more than 210 houses, and it's the typical ancient architectural complex with offices and houses built together that preserved almost completely. Inside the mansion, are stored plenty of historical records, family files, ancient scrolls and heritage relics, which can highly embody the traditional Confucian culture. Mencius Mansion is one of the essential parts of the traditional Chinese culture with precious historical value.

Mencius Cemetery, also called the Second Sage Cemetery, is the grave yard of Mancius and his offspring, situated to the north of Sijishan Mountain which lies in the northeast, 15,000 meters from Zoucheng city. It occupies 500,000 square meters, and the grave yard is located on the left of the Cemetery, surrounded with the stone walls. The Mencius Cemetery is centered with xiang hall, having Shendao road, Yuqiao Bridge and the main gate in the front, while at the back are the tombs. It is one of the biggest historical glorious family grave yards existing in China today. The Cemetery is a rare spacious area full of arborvitae and tens of thousands of other trees, such as the Chinese juniper, the cypress, the locust, the maple, the poplar and so on.

3. Temple of Yanhui

Yan Temple is situated northeast of Confucius Temple and Confucius Mansion. And the straight-line distance between Yan Temple and the eastern wall of Confucian Mansion is about 50 metres. As a great educator, Confucius initiated private education. He had altogether 3000 students and 72 of them were outstanding in virtue and learning. As Confucius' most favourite student, Yan Hui was renowned for his moral integrity and was held in high esteem. He was addressed respectfully as Fu Sheng (Alternate Sage) during the Yuan dynasty. So Yan Temple is also called as Fu Sheng Temple. Yan Temple came into existence in as early as the Jin dynasty. The extant Yan Temple was first built in the third year of Taiding during the Yuan Dynasty (1326AD). And it was expanded during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Most of the extant parts of the temple were constructed in the Yuan and Ming Dynasty. Yan Temple has five rows of courtyards from south to north. The first row of courtyard lies in front of the temple gate. On both east and west sides of the temple gate there are two spaces enclosed by a stone memorial gateway and a stone railing made in the Ming Dynasty. Inside the temple gate is the second row of courtyard, in which there are narrow alleys, pavilions, tall and erect Taihu Lake stones, and several stone tablets. On both east and west sides of the yard are Bo Wen Gate and Yu Li Gate, and on the north side of the yard is Gui Ren Gate, on both sides of which are Ke Ji Gate and Fu Li Gate . Inside Gui Ren Gate is the third row of courtyard, in which there are two pavilions for sheltering stone tablet, and on the eastern side of which are Zai Su room and storehouse for sacrificial vessel. On the north side stand five gates side by side, which divide the temple into three sections. In the Middle section are a gate and two side doors. On the axis, there are the Yang Sheng Gate, the Le Pavilion, the Fusheng Hall, the Bedroom Hall. And in the two halls Yan Hui and his wife are offered sacrifices to. On the either side of the Fusheng Hall lie the side halls where the prominent Yans are offered sacrifices to. In the west section inside the Qi Guogong Gate stand the Qi Guogong Hall and the Bedroom Hall where sacrifices are offered to Yan Hui's parents. In the east section, there are Tui Xing Room, clan hall and kitchen for gods. In the temple, can be seen altogether 24 buildings of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and 53 tablets of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are also 74 ancient and precious trees. The southern part of the foundation of the temple is wide while the northern part is narrow and the foundation is 247.3 metres long from the south to the north. Originally the southern end was 104.5 metres wide and the northern 87.5 metres. In 1965, the western wall of the temple was moved eastward about 3 metres in order to widen the BeiMen Street. In 1990, the northwest angle was changed from rectangular to round when HuanMen Road was built at the North Gate. This temple covers an area of 22890 square metres. The existence of the Temple of Yan which offers sacrifices to Yan Hui, Confucius'student, shows the greatness of Confucius and the historical influence of Confucianism.

4. Temple of Zeng Zi

Zencius is a real disciple of Confucian teachings, and he is a famous educationist and philosopher after Confucius. Zencius holds the status in the Confucianism history and even the Chinese culture history which links the preceding with the following because of his filial piety and self-cultivation, and Confucianism spreading, thus, he was called "the ancestor saint" and known as the respectable ancient Chinese four sages with Confucius, Mancius and Yancius. The Zencius Temple is located in the west of Nawushan village, Mandong county, Jiaxiang town and is a place for people to fete Zencius. It was built in Zhokao wang 15 year with the original name of zhongxia temple. While in Zhengtong 9 year of Ming dynasty, it was reconstructed and renamed as "the ancestor saint Temple", also called Zencius Temple. After that, it experienced the extension of the temple in Wanli 7 year and was repaired many times at the period of Shunzhi, Qianlong, Guanxu in the Qing dynasty, and formed the present scale. Zencius Temple sits north to south, 276 meters long from north to south and 108 meters wide from east to west, covers 29,808 square meters. Along the middle axle line segment, it has three routes leading to the middle, left and right. The Temple has 5 layers' yards including more than 30 constructions, namely, the front door, ji door, jingsheng door, yuying door, yonggui door, shendu door, the ancestor saint hall, qin hall, laiwuhou temple, sanxing hall, zhaisu house, the stables, Wanli stele booth, Qianlong stele booth and so on. Altogether there are more than 80 halls, corridors and houses. It's grand and solemn inside the temple with a great deal of stele booths and ancient cypresses. With the government grant, the donation from Mr. Zeng xianzi and other gentlemen as well as the local fund-raising, totally 10 million yuan, the Temple was repaired, recovering several constructions, including the ancestor saint hall, sanxing hall, Qianlong stele booth and Wanli stele booth and other facilities such as the tablets, the tabernacles, the sacrificial utensils, and the sacrificial musical instrument.

The Confucius Temple and the academy on Nishan Mountain, Yan Temple, Mencius Temple, Mencius Mansion, Mencius Cemetery, Zencius Temple and the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion which is in the World Heritage List, are the carriers of Confucian Culture. They have high historical, scientific and artistic value with profound cultural connotations.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

Confucius Temple and the Academy on Nishan Mountain, Yan Temple, the three Mencius, and Zencius Temple have the intrinsic inevitably connection with the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Confucius Mansion in Qufu. They are the essential part in Confucian culture.

As for the criterion (ii):

The Confucianism embodied by Confucius and his students has a profound influence on the formation and development of Chinese culture. It takes the key role in the process of transmission and development of Chinese traditional culture, while these ancient temples and buildings well represent the Confucian thoughts.

As for the criterion (iii):

Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain, Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion, Temple of Yanhui and Temple of Zeng Zi represent the worship of Confucius by reading the classics and the belief of morals. It carries the heritage of thoughts and culture of traditional Huaxia Nation in a very long time, and also provides evidence to this culture which is on the edge of the society.

As for the criterion (iv):

The Confucius Temple and the academy on Nishan Mount, Yan Temple, the three Mencius, and Zencius Temple are good examples of Confucian traditional constructions, to the memory of Confucius, Mencius, Yancius, Zencius-the great Chinese ancient philosophers and educationists, respectively. Therefore, they are distinctive individual commemoration constructions which are great works unifying Chinese ancient architectural art and the traditional thought.

As for the criterion (vi):

The Confucius Temple and the academy on Nishan Mount, Yan Temple, the three Mencius, and Zencius Temple have a profound cultural connotation. They involve in such aspects as politics, economy, culture, regulations, historical figures, historical events and other grand formal activities in the previous dynasties, and have a profound effect on later generations, so they have outstanding and universal value and significance.

Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

1. Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain

From the 3rd year of Qingli in Song Dynasty to 1911 (the period between 1043 and 1911), things like the management and the maintenance of Nishan Confucian Temple and the Academy and the arrangements of the memorial ceremonies were taken charge of by the lineal eldest grandsons of Confucius in Confucius Mansion. During the administration of the Republic of China (1912-1949), the title of the Rev.Yansheng was replaced by the Rev. Dacheng Sacrosancticity Enshrining official, but the original post remained unchanged. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China, Qufu Cultural Relics Administration Committee took over the charge of the management and maintenance of Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy, reinforced the repairs of the ancient buildings and the maintenance of the ancient trees, planted more trees in the green belts and the hillsides, and did efficient work in lightning-proofing, fireproofing and security. In 1977, Nishan Confucius Temple was recognized as a cultural relic site under provincial protection. In 1992, Nishan Cultural Relics Administrative Station was established, and in 2006, Nishan Confucius Temple was recognized as a cultural relic site under the national protection. In 1994, the preservation areas and construction-controlling belts in Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy were fixed, and Nishan Confucius Temple was brought into the overall plan for Qufu rural and urban development.

Being in the remote mountainous areas of Qufu, Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy haven't been affected by the disadvantages brought about by the local industries, urbanization, and all kinds of modern pollution, so the complete historical look of the surroundings in Nishan Temple and the Academy has remained. The daily maintenance of the ancient buildings of Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy and the protection of ancient steles and trees, were carried out by the cultural relics administrative department according to the scientific principle of protection. There are complete records of the ancient steles and trees.

2.  Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion

From the time when Mencius Temple, Mencius Mansion and Mencius Cemetery were built in North Song Dynasty to the time when the Republic of China was founded in 1911, the daily management and the arrangements of the memorial ceremonies had been in the charge of the Mencius Mansion and Mencius' linear descendants who inherited the doctoral post of the Five Classics of the Imperial Academy. As for the major repairs, the Mencius Mansion and the local magistrates would present a report to the emperor for approval of repairs, and the emperor would appoint officials and allocate funds for the repairs. During the administration of the Republic of China, the daily management was in the charge of the enshrining officials of Mencius's linear descendants and the Mencius Mansion.

As places of historical interest, the management of Mencius Temple, Mencius Mansion and Mencius Cemetery Wood was carried out by Zhoucheng people's government after the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The special administrative organs were also set up. In1956, Zhou County branch of Shandong antiquity committee was established, and later was renamed Zhou County cultural relics protection station. In 1993, Zhoucheng cultural relics administration bureau was founded, and was renamed Zhoucheng Bureau of Cultural Relics in 2002. In 1992, Mencius Cemetery administrative station was set up, and in August, 2004, the administrative station of Mencius Temple and Mencius Mansion was also established. They are the full-time establishments for the protection and management of Mencius Mansion, Mencius Temple and Mencius Cemetery.

In 1977, Mencius Mansion and Mencius Temple were declared as cultural relic sites under the provincial protection. In 1987, the protection areas and construction-controlling belts were fixed. In 1988, Mencius Temple and Mencius Mansion were declared as the key cultural relic sites under the national protection. In 1992, Mencius Cemetery was declared as a cultural relic site under the provincial protection. Since 1997, according to the requirements of the national bureau of cultural relics, the scientific recording files have been set up in standard forms. In September 2003, Zhoucheng people's government promulgated The Measures for the Mencius Tourist Areas Protection, the protection areas and construction-controlling belts of Mencius Mansion and Mencius Temple were refixed. In 2006, Mencius Cemetery was declared as a key cultural relic site under the national protection.

Since 1950s, China national bureau of cultural relics and the local governments have placed great emphasis on and given supports to the protection and management of Mencius Mansion, Mencius Temple and Mencius Cemetery, and have invested funds on the complete repair and protection in a systemic way and with measured strokes. The original construction styles have been kept, and the authenticity and the integrity of space of the original buildings have been effectively guaranteed. The historical environmental atmosphere and the cultural environmental atmosphere have been demonstrated, and the authenticity and integrity were guaranteed.

3.  Temple of Yanhui

From 1326 when Yan Temple was moved in Louxiang till 1911, the daily repairs and maintenance and things like the preparations and arrangements of memorial ceremonies were taken charge of by Yan Zi's lineal eldest grandsons who inherited the doctoral post of the Five Classics in the Imperial Academy; and during the administration of the Republic of China (1912-1949), by Yan Zi's lineal grandsons, the enshrining officials. As for the major repairs, the Imperial Academy doctoral mansion or the local magistrates would present a report to the emperor for the approval of repairs, and the emperor would appoint officials and allocate funds for the repairs. Or they were repaired with the money denoted by the local magistrates. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China, Qufu Cultural Relics Administration Committee took over the charge of the management and protection, reinforced the repairs of ancient buildings and the maintenance of ancient trees, planted more trees in the green belts, and did well the wok of lightning proofing , fireproofing and security. In 1977, Yan Temple was declared as a cultural relic site under the provincial protection. Application for national cultural relic site began in 1991. In 1994, the preservation areas and construction-controlling belts for Yan Temple were fixed, and were brought into the overall plan for Qufu urban development. In 2001, Yan Temple was recognized as a key cultural relic site under the national protection. Being adjacent to Confucius Mansion and Confucius Temple, located in the inner city of Qufu, and with complete enclosed walls, Yan Temple has been in perfect state of protection.

4. Temple of Zeng Zi

During the period between Jiajing 18 of the Ming Dynasty (1539 AD) and the end of the Qing Dynasty, according to the usual practice with Yan Zi and Mencius, the royal conferred the doctoral rank of the Five Classics on Zeng Zi's linear descendants. The rank could be inherited from generation to generation. They were in charge of the memorial ceremonies of Zeng Temple and his Cemetery. The cumulative land bestowed by the royal for the special use of memorial ceremonies had added up to 9460 Mu. The number of the households who were in charge of the protection and cleaning of the temple and the cemetery wood added up to 37. It was the royal and the all-level feudal officials who were in charge of the expenses for the repairs of the temple and the cemetery wood. After 1949, the people's government at the county level established Zeng Temple administrative station responsible for the management and protection, reinforced the repairs of the ancient buildings and the maintenance of ancient trees, and did well the work of lightning-proof, fireproofing and security. Therefore the ancient buildings in Zeng Temple were well protected. Even during the Cultural Revolution, the main architecture was not damaged. In 1985, Jining people's government declared it as a cultural relic site under the city-level protection. In 1992, Shandong provincial people's government declared it a cultural relic site under the provincial protection. In 1994, the preservation areas and construction-controlling belts were fixed, and Zeng Temple was integrated into the overall plan for Jiaxiang urban and rural development. In 2006, it was declared as a cultural relic site under the national protection. Based on the scientific protection principle, the cultural relics administrative departments carry out the daily repairs of the ancient buildings and the maintenance of the ancient steles and trees. There are complete records of the protection of ancient steles and trees. With complete enclosed walls, Zeng Temple has been in good state of protection.

Comparison with other similar properties

1. Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy boast a large scale and have been well protected. Because of Confucius' influence at home and abroad, as special temples for offering sacrifice to Confucius, Confucius Temples had been built in countries like China, North Korea, Japan and Vietnam, etc. Architectural system with unique characteristics of Confucius Temple had formed. In this system, the Confucius Temple in Qufu is the ancestral temple, and has the largest scale and the longest history. Being located in Qufu, Mount Ni, the birthplace of Confucius, has made Nishan Confucian Temple and the Academy more closely connected with the Confucius Temple in Qufu city than Confucius Temples in other places. Therefore, it has a special status and protection value among the over 2000 Confucius Temples in the world. Being located in the remote mountainous areas of Qufu, the buildings, the steles, the old and famous wood species, and the surroundings of Nishan Confucius Temple and the Academy remain undamaged by industrialization and urbanization, etc., which are prevalent in modern world. Thus, it has favorably endowed authenticity and integrity.

2. Mencius is an outstanding exponent of Confucianism. He carried on and developed Confucius ideological system, which is respectfully referred to as the Doctrine of Confucius and Mencius by later generations. Confucius is the founder of Confucianism, while Mencius is the key figure of it, who had great impact on later generations. Mencius not only carried on Confucius' thoughts, but also developed it creatively. Mencius has made special contributions to the Chinese culture.

Mencius Temple, Mencius Mansion and Mencius Cemetery are important cultural relic sites which were mainly built to commemorate Mencius, the great thinker and educator in ancient China. Their functional buildings for memorial were combined lengthwise along their axis in perfect order. They have a distinct feature of a building for personal memorial. Mencius Temple has halls in the front and bedrooms in the back, encircled by corridors and supporting houses. The overall layout is grand and orderly. The decorative workmanship of the single building is exquisite. Ya Sheng Hall, the major building, built in the style of the Song Dynasty, is the typical pattern of ancient Chinese architecture. The architecture of Mencius Mansion is well arranged, and is a typical example of combination of house and garden and that of house and office in ancient northern China. The integration of Mencius Cemetery and the natural surroundings is so harmonious that it has reached the state of the union of self and the Supreme Being. Like Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple and Confucius Cemetery, which have been placed on the World Heritages List, Mencius Mansion, Mencius Temple and Mencius Cemetery, are all carriers of ideological and cultural relics and cultural origins of the Chinese nation over the long historical period. They have condensed the essence of architecture of different dynasties, and possessed the beauty of architecture workmanship. At the same time, they have reflected the quintessence of Confucianism, thus they have very high historical and artistic values.

As the specialized places for commemorating Mencius, Mencius Mansion, Mencius Temple and Mencius Cemetery are inherently and inevitably related to Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple and Confucius Cemetery in Qufu. They are both essential parts of Confucianism. They themselves have possessed the qualifications of authenticity and integrity of the world heritage sites.

3. Yan Hui was Confucius' favourite student, who is also well known for his moral integrity. Yan Temple has demonstrated the teacher-student relationship between Confucius and Yan Hui, and shown how moral conduct has been so highly praised in Chinese culture. As a cultural giant, Confucius has been universally acknowledged for his contribution in the history of world culture. Some of Confucius' well known followers have also been highly praised by the later generations. There are special temples for their memorials or other memorial buildings. It is a special honor that a teacher and his followers have been both highly praised, and each has been offered a sacrifice throughout the ages. All over the world, only Confucius and his followers are worthy of this special honor. This is also a unique characteristic of the Chinese culture. Yan Temple is a temple for offering sacrifices to Yan Hui. The complex of buildings of Yan Temple has met the qualifications of authenticity and integrity of the world's relic sites.

4. Zeng Zi is the direct successor and propagator of Confucianism. He is the representative of the filial culture in ancient China. He is a famous thinker and educator. He collected the Analects of Confucius, wrote the Great Wisdom, and On Filial Piety. He practiced extreme filial piety and self-examination. His whole ideological system is composed of his political outlook that a good governing of a country is based on the good handling of a family, his views on self-cultivation, and his views on filial piety. This ideological system has had a deep and far-reaching impact on later generations. It has a high place in the history of the development of Confucianism and even in the whole history of the Chinese ideological and cultural development. Confucius is a cultural giant, and Zeng Zi has also been greatly honored. They both have been inherited and offered sacrifices. Among all the followers of Confucius, Zeng Zi is well known for his filial piety. Zeng Temple has demonstrated the teacher- student relationship between Confucius and Zeng Zi and the extremely high praise of filial piety in Chinese culture. Because of his great contribution to Confucianism, Zeng Zi had been highly praised in different ages. He was granted many titles in the Tang Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. He and Yan Zi, Si Zi and Mencius are qualified to enjoy the honor of Confucius Temple, and are called the Four Qualifiers. They four have been regarded as the Four Sages of Confucius' school of thought. Zeng Temple is a special temple for the memorial of Zeng Zi. The whole building group has also possessed the qualifications of authenticity and integrity of the world heritage sites.