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| The Confucius Forest |
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Located on the northwestern outskirts of Qufu City, the Confucius
Forest (kong lin), burial ground for Confucius and his descendants,
is the oldest and largest clan burial ground in the world. It was
first built in the year following Confucius's death (479 BC) and has
been renovated many times since Confucianism was installed as a country
wide philosophy.
The forest covers a total area of about two square kilometers,
encircled by a 5.6km long wall. In the forest, there are over 20,000
pine and cypress trees. Buried here is the great philosopher himself
and his descendants. Lining the path leading to the tomb are a pair
of stone panthers, griffins and stone guardians.
The forest is an interesting way to spend a day, cycling or strolling
among ancient trees and tombstones, with a chance to get a bit of
solitude away from the crowds. The tombs of Confucius (Kongzi),
and his two immediate sons, Kongli and Kongji, are encircled by
a red wall, within the centre of the complex. |
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