The South Entrance Door of the Hall of Great Accomplishment with Inscribed Plaquette declaring "To be a Teacher for Millions of People".
(4) Central Hall of Great Accomplishment - Da Cheng Dian
This page was last updated: August 15, 2011
The Hall of Great Accomplishment at the Confucius Temple of Beijing
The Hall of Great Accomplishment is a large stately Hall, poised atop it's own white marble platform, with a double-eaved roof. It has two flanking Wing Pavilions, one in the West and one in the East.
The Central Staircase of the Platform, on the south on the central axis of the Confucius Temple, is decorated with two dragons frolicking in clouds and holding a pearl, signifying the highest Imperial Status given to this Temple Structure.
Inside the Hall Great Accomplishment is the Shrine of Confucius, the actual place where the Worship of Confucius took place during the Yuan, Ming and Ching Dynasty Era's.
The Eastern Wing Pavilion of the Hall of Great Accomplishment is was the location of the Exhibition on the History of Beijing part of the Capital Museum (now moved to a new location).
Details of the Central Shrine Altar inside the Hall of Great Accomplishment, reserved for paying hommage to the first master himself, and the four Sages.
Adjoing Shrines for the 12 Philosophers, the Confucian Literati of a lesser Status than the Four Sages and the First Teacher.
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The Central Shrine Altar for K'Ung-Fu Tzi (Confucius), the Grand Master of Chinese State Philosophy.
(Ceramic) Sacrificial animals and other utensils of worship and the paying of proper tributes to the Masters of Philosophy, the shepherds of the State.
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An Overview of the Hall of Great Accomplishments' Interiors.
The Altars for the greatest Masters of Chinese Philosophy are arranged inside the space as follows : Central on the Main Altar there is the Stone Tablet for Confucius. Under him rank the Four Sages, who are Yan-Zi (Yan Hui), Zeng-Zi, Zi Si and Meng-Ke (or Mencius), who's stone tablets are smaller and arranged two by two beside the Tablet of Confucius The Tablets of Yan-Zi (or Yan Hui) and Zi-Si are on the East flank of the Confucius Tablet. Those of Zeng-Zi and Meng-Ke on the West Flank side.
Wooden Plaquette declaring in Golden Guilded Letters, "The Road (of Confucianism) proper for the Same (Everyone)".
The Full List of the Masters honored in the Temple with a description of the spacial arrangements of their altars and some backgrounds to each.
The Masters of Chinese Philosophy and Literature at Confucius Temple
Confucian Career at an early age. Except for Yan Hui there was no better student at the Academy and Zeng-Zi had a great memory for the subjects he had studied, which were many. In his long life Zeng-Zi wrote a multitude of Books, of which his "Rites from the Elder Tai" is the Chinese standard work on Filial Piety. Filial Piety was a central theme in Confucianism, and a corner stone of Chinese Feudal Society.
Last but not Least it was Zi-Si (483 BC - 402 BC) He lived 81 long years. More information on him will follow later !
There are however more Confucian Masters that are honored at this Shrine Hall. The remaining space of the giant hall is built full with the Altars for honoring no less than twelve more ancient Literati,to be exact those who became known as "The Twelve Philosophers".
The Altars for the greatest Masters of Chinese Philosophy are arranged inside the space as follows : Central on the Main Altar
second teacher of Confucianism, only behind Confucius in regards of rank.
Yan Hui (521 BC - 490 BC), also known as Zi-Yuan, in turn was a direct disciple of Confucius and only 30 years younger than Confucius. Yan Hui lived in Lu State with his Master Confucius and was his favorite pupil. Unfortunately Yan Hui aged quickly and died when he was only 32. Nevertheless he is by now considered "the continuator of the Sage", a title officially confered on him in the Year 1530 AD during the JiaJing Reign of the Ming Dynasty.
Zeng-Zi (503 BC - 435 BC) was another pupil of Confucius, who at age sixteen was sent by his parents to Chu State where Confucius was teaching, in order to gain knowledge directly from the Master. Zeng-Zi therefor started his
View of the Marble Platform, main staircase and the Gate of the First Teacher beyond.
On the Inside of the Hall is a surprising amount of space, which nevertheless is quite well crowded with a large number of items and what seem to be shrines.
Between the large red pillars of the Hall stand a collection of musical instruments - mainly with bronze bells-, interspersed with ceramic ritual animals, incense burners and even urns. The coffered ceiling of the Hall itself is impressively decorated with classical designs in green and blue shades, giving an extra air of sanctity to the place. There are no murals, nor Statues.
In the middle of the Hall, facing south is the Central Altar for the First Master, Confucius. Arranged in order of Importance are the "Spirit-Tablets" of a number of 16 other "Immortals", altogether known as the Masters of Chinese Philosophy and Literature.
When the offerings to the Master Confucius are made at this Altar, the four sages receive tribute at the same time, as if they were sharing in the Honors. The Sages share in these honors because they are were all Masters of Confucianism, only of a later age, making them second only to Confucius himself.
there is the Stone Tablet for Confucius. Under him rank the Four Sages, who are Yan-Zi (Yan Hui), Zeng-Zi, Zi Si and Meng-Ke (or Mencius), who's stone tablets are smaller and arranged two by two beside the Tablet of Confucius The Tablets of Yan-Zi (or Yan Hui) and Zi-Si are on the East flank of the Confucius Tablet. Those of Zeng-Zi and Meng-Ke are on the West Flank side.
When the offerings to the Master Confucius are made at this Altar, the four sages receive tribute at the same time, as if they were sharing in the Honors. The Sages share in these honors because they are were all Masters of Confucianism, only of a later age, making them second only to Confucius himself.
Meng Ke, known in the West as Mencius was a later student of Confucius works who lived in the Warring States Period of the Late Eastern Zhou Dynasty. He was born in the State of Zhou itself, very near to the Birthplace of Confucius. During his Life, from 372 AD to 289 BC (others insist it was 385 BC - 302 BC), Mencius served as an Official for the State of Qi, for seven years, after which he mainly devoted his life to philosophy and Confucianism . Mencius has been held to be the main reinterpreter of the original works and teachings of Confucius thereby giving birth to Neo-Confucianism. Mencius thus is the
The Twelve Philosophers of Confucianism
The twelve philosophers are Min Sun (536 BC-487 BC), Ran Yong (522 BC-? BC), Duanmu Ci (520 BC-? BC), Zhong You (542 BC-482 BC) and Bu Shang (507 BC-? BC). Further You Ruo (515BC-? BC), Zai Yu (522 BC-548 BC), Ran Geng (544 BC-? BC), Ran Qiu (522 BC-? BC), Yan Yan (506 BC -? BC), Zhuansu Shi (503 BC-? BC) and Xu Zhi (1130 AD-1200 AD).
K'Ung Fu Tzi (Confucius), the First Teacher.
Source DVD
"Lives & Noodles + Hometown of Confucius & Mencius"
