A Confucian Education

When you travel to Beijing, you may be familiar with The Lama Temple due to its sounds and smells of incense. However, not to be overlooked and perfectly situated opposite the Lama Temple, you can find the country's historic centres of educational excellence. Specifically, these are called The Temple of Confucius (The Temple) and the Imperial Academy (The Academy). The Temple was built in 1302 and is the second largest Confucian Temple only to the one in Confucius's home of Qufu. On the other hand, the Academy was the equivalent to a state-run university and was the highest institute of education in China. The Temple is down Guozijian Street which is fairly easy to spot as the street is fronted by a large gate. Furthermore, Guozijian Street can be reached via Yonghegong Lama Temple subway station. Along the street there also are plenty of shops to buy Confucius-related goods after visiting the Temple. In general, Beijing flights are a useful source of information for anyone who wants to get their experience of the ancient city started. Both The Temple and The Academy are famous for their respect towards academia. From a personal perspective, anyone interested in political thought will certainly appreciate the exhibitions shown at The Temple. That said, the English text at the exhibitions is written in a straightforward manner for visitors to understand the basic principles of Confucianism. Out of the two, The Temple is the one which exclusively showcases the spiritual element Confucianism. The Temple, for instance, comprises of the Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Accomplishment) and Chongshengci (Worship Hall). Dacheng Hall is a particularly interesting building to visit as this where offerings such as musical instruments are placed in homage to Confucius. The tranquillity of the grounds around the Temple and the Academy make it a very pleasant place to stroll. The grounds are adjacent to each other so buying a ticket to visit both would be worthwhile. The courtyards around the Temple and the Academy certainly allow you to picture what it may have been like either a learned scholar at The Temple or as a student in the Academy. This is especially true after viewing the superb Biyong Palace which is encircled by a moat within the Imperial Academy and was where the Emperor would read from his throne. With so much history, these courtyards obviously have a few stories to tell. Amongst other things, some intriguing features for visitors to view is the Temple's 700-year-old Chujian Bai (Touch Evil Cypress) and the hundreds of stone carved tablets displaying names and examination results of previous scholars. Confucius (551–478BC) developed on a quest of self-discovery from an early age after his aristocratic family was driven to poverty after the death of this father. He eventually rose to become a skilled statesman and helped expand ancient China. To understand the Chinese attitude towards life, either in terms of business or the home; it is helpful to gain an insight into Confucianism. Going to The Temple can provide this. For instance, visitors can learn of some of the important values of Confucianism such as 'self-cultivation'. In addition, visitors can learn how Confucian thought has influenced modern China by taking into account the concepts of meritocracy and equality. More interesting, if you visit The Temple you may even be surprised to read how Confucianism has influenced European thinkers which later led to the industrial revolution. To experience this captivating part of the city, here are some nearby Beijing hotels to consider. from China Travel Blog http://blog.chinatraveldepot.com

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