Qufu (曲阜三孔)
My dear friends，
Welcome to Qufu，the hometown of Confucius.Confucius had a famous remark:“What a delight to have friends from afar.”Today I am very glad to have an opportunity of making new friends and to be your tour guide.I wish to thank you for your cooperation and am also ready to take your suggestions and advice regarding my service.
The Confucius Temple
What we are visiting now is the Confucius Temple.This temple is where sacrifices are offered to Confucius.Work on these structures began during the second year after Confucius's death.The Confucius Temple imitates the imperial palace's construction.The layout is as follows: there are 3 roads，9 courtyards，466 buildings，halls，palaces and workshops，54 gates and pavilions，and over 1000 stone tablets and steles.It covers an area of 21.8 hectares(equals to 327.5 mu) and is over 1 kilometers long from north to south.It is magnificent and resplendent and irrespective of the angle from which you enjoy viewing the temple，it is commensurate with influence and fame of Confucius.As such，it is very rare world historial treasure.
The Confucius Temple's first gateway is called Golden Sound and Jade Vibration Gateway.“Golden Sound”and“Jade Vibration”symbolize the whole process of playing music.The music starts with the beating of a drum and ends with the striking of an inverted bell.This means that Confucius's thoughts are a comprehensive expression of all previous saints' ideas.
Unicorns called“avoiding evil spirits”or“growling towards the sky”are engraved on the stone gateway and lotus throne.These decorations were used only for the mansions of dukes in feudal society.
［Ling Star Gate］This gate was erected in Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt in 1754.The three characters were written by Emperor Qianlong.The legend has it that there are 28 constellations in the galaxy.The star in charge of culture has been given the three names: the“Ling Star，”“Wenqu Star，”and“Tianzhen Star”.The ancient Chinese offered sacrifices to Ling Star before offering sacrifices to Heaven because it was believed that their reverence to Confucius was just as important as it was to Heaven.
There is one stone stele on the temple gate's eastern wall.It is written on this stele that“officials should dismount here.”In the past，the civil and military officials and people in the street were required to get off from their horses or sedan chairs and walk on foot when they passed by to show their reverence for Confucius and his temple.
We are now entering the Hongdao Gate.The name is taken from a remark in Lunyu:“Man can carry forward virtues，but virtues can not carry forward man.”It implies that Confucius elucidated virtues of Yao，Shun，Yu and Tang as well as Zhou Wengong and Zhou Wugong who were considered virtuous rulers.Two stone tablets lie at the foot of the gate; the one on the east side records the development of Qufu through dynasties; the one on the west side writes Grave Inscriptions for Mr.Chu Shi and has high calligraphic value.
The Great Middle Gate is Confucius Temple's Song Dynasty gate.It is also called“Middle Gate”.This copies Confucius's thoughts of mediocrity.“Impartial is the kingly way，and mediocrity is the theorem of the world.”Justice can not be done without being impartial and mediocre.One must be unbiased in one's words and action.“Mediocrity”is actually the highestnorm of dealing with people，and it is hard for commoners to do so.It is absolutely different from modern society's“trying to mediate differences at the sacrifice of principle”.
This stele is a famous one in the Temple of Confucius.It was erected during the Ming Emperor Xianzong Zhu Jianshen's reign.The stele has two characteristics: one is that the regular script is standard and exquisite; the other is the inscription singing the highest praise for Confucius.I'd like to ask you a question.There is an animal similar to a tortoise under the stele.I wonder if any one of you can tell me its exact name.All right，no one? Let me tell you then.The animal carrying the stele is not a tortoise but a dragon called Bixi.Bixi is the 8th son of the dragon and it is fond of literature and can carry heave things.Therefore，it is assigned to carry the imperial stele.
This was originally a building to preserve books given by the emperors.Itwas built in 1018 and has stood here for more than 900 years.This unique and grand construction is one of the famous wooden pavilions in China.It has remained intact through many earthquakes.In the 5th year of the Qing Emperor Kangxi's reign，“nine out of ten collapsed in the earthquake”，but the Kuiwen Pavilion stood rock-solid there.
This is the 6th courtyard of the Temple of Confucius.There are 13 stele pavilions，with 8 in the south and 5 in the north.55 stone steles were erected during the Tang，Song，Jin，Yuan，Ming and Qing dynasties.The inscriptions are all in commemoration and evaluation of Confucius，given by emperors and imperial envoys when they came to pay tribute or offered sacrifices to Confucius.The stele was made of a block of stone quarried from Beijing's Western Mountain and was carried all the way down the Grand Canal to Qufu.It weighs 65，000 kilograms.The ancient people transported the stone on icy road and could only move it a few meters each day.This story illustrates how much Emperor Kangxi revered Confucius and how hardworking and great the laboring people were.
［Dacheng Gate］The Temple of Confucius is divided into three layouts from here.Themiddle gate is the Dacheng Gate; the two beside the Dacheng Gate are the Golden Sound Gate on the left and Jade Vibration Gate on the right.The one on farther western side is the Qisheng Gate and the one on farther eastern side is the Chengsheng Gate.
This is the main hall of the Temple of Confucius.Dacheng Hall，together with the Forbidden City's Hall of Supreme Harmony and Daimiao Temple's Tiankuang Hall in Tai'an city are called the three greatest halls in China or“the Three Greatest Halls in the East”.This hall is24.8 meters high，45.78meters wide and 24.8meters deep.It is surrounded by 28 dragon columns carved out of whole blocks of stone.The 10 columns in front are deep relief sculptures and the others are shallow ones.They are made with exquisite technique and are treasure of the whole world.Carved on each column are two dragons twisting and flying.They are made true to life and are completely different from each other.The birthday of Confucius is on September 28th and grand commemoration activities are held here in which people pay homage to Confucius.During the festival，music and dancing are performed and visitors from home and abroad swarm to Qufu.Various cultural and tour activities are rich and colorful and you're welcome to come to attend this festival and enjoy yourselves in this world-famous event.
This memorial temple is designed to enshrine Confucius's wife Qiguan.It is the third largest in Confucius Temple.Qiguan came to Shandong from Henan Province and married Confucius at the age of 19.Later，she gave birth to Kongli.Qiguan was a good mother and virtuous wife and died 7 years before Confucius passed away.There are also 28 stone columns outside the palace.Seventy-two phoenixes are carved on each column.The number equals that of dragons and this is so-called“the dragon and the phoenix bringing prosperity.”
My dear friends! The Temple of Confucius is not only a grand and large history museum，but a sacred culture museum.No matter from what aspect you try to appreciate it，you will always find it amazing.Well，that is all about the temple，and now let's move on and visit the“First Family under Heaven，”the living Quarters of Kong Family.
The Living Quarters of Kong Family
The Kong Family's Living Quarters is also called the“Duke Yansheng's Mansion”.Like the Confucius Temple，the Kong Family's Mansion was also divided into 3 layouts with 9 courtyards.It covers an area of 16 hectares(equals to 240 mu) and has 463 halls，buildings and houses.
Two stone lions guard the gate on both sides to show the dignity.Mounting stone and dismounting stone are in front and at the back respectively.In the middle of the gate hangs an inscribed board with“圣府”(pīnyīn:Shènɡfǔ) written on it.There are a pair of antithetical couplets on the two sides of the gate.All the characters are written in golden color with a blue background.This antithetical couplet eulogizes the Kong Family for it went through thick and thin with the nation and would survive to the last day of the earth.Two characters are written wrongly on purpose.One is“fu”.It lacks a lot and this implies there is no end of wealth; the other is“zhang”.You can see there is a vertical stroke through the character and this means that the articles reflect the universe.
Above the gate are characters“Gate of Saints”.Entering the second gate，you will find a gate which does not connect the walls and has four wood columns to prop up the roof.Usually it was closed and was open only on grand occasions，including ceremonies held by the emperors，the reception of imperial edicts，and sacrifices made to honor Confucius.
［The Major Hall］This is where“Duke Yansheng”read imperial edicts，received officials，heard cases and held grand ceremonies.
The second hall is also called the“back hall”.Duke Yansheng used to receive officials above 4th rank here.The stone steles and inscribed boards in side were bestowed on Dukes of Yansheng and their wives by the Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi.It is said that in the past when officials made obeisance to the emperors，they were only allowed to be accompanied by two servants，but Duke Yansheng could be accompanied by four servants.
The third hall is where Duke Yansheng tackled internal affairs of the family.The above-mentioned three halls demonstrate the rigid stratification and the dignity and influence of the Kong Family.
After the three halls，we now come to the“Interior Residence”.In the past，people were not allowed to go inside without special permit.Dozens of guards were on watch in turns and if anyone disobeyed the order，the guards would have the right to beat him to death.The water storage in the west of the gate to the Interior Residence is called Shiliu.In the past，the water carriers were not allowed to enter either，so they poured the water into Shiliu and the water would flow into the Interior Residence.
The Qiantang building is a two-storey building with 7 rooms.You can see the magnificence.The things set out inside are what they were at that time.Rare calligraphic works，paintings，treasure and clothes are also on display inside.The inner bedroom was for Kong Lingyi's wife，Madam Tao.
The Houtang building has three supplementary buildings.This is where Mr.Kong Decheng held his wedding ceremony.Wedding items and inscriptions and gifts given by celebrities are displayed inside.
The Back Garden was built in 1503 and was designed by Li Dongyang，Minister of the Board of Civil Office.He was also the father of Kong Wenshao's daughter-in-law.Kong Wen-shao was the 62nd generation descendant，by the way.During the reign of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty，another powerful minister Yan Song helped renovate the garden.The granddaughter of Yan Song married the 64th Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian.In the Qing Dynasty，Emperor Qianlong married his daughter to Kong Xianpei，the 72th Duke Yansheng，and much new construction was undertaken to rebuild the garden.After these three big renovations，the garden is larger than that of the Forbidden City.There are various rare flowers and plants，as well as ancient trees and famous rocks here.Please have a good look while we move on.
There are a good number of priceless cultural relics in the Kong Mansion.One particular treasure is the over ten thousand volumes of archives of the Kong Family's history.
Just now we have visited the temples where sacrifices were offered to Confucius and the Kong Family's Mansion.Nextwe will visit the Graveyard of the Kong Family where Confucius and his off springs were buried.
The Graveyard of the Kong Family
After his death，Confucius was buried here，south of Sishuiand north of Zhushui.During the Qin and Han dynasties，the area of the graveyard was less than one hectare，but as Confucius's fame grew，the graveyard became larger and larger.After the Han Dynasty，it underwent 13 renovations，5 tree plantings，and 3 expansions.Now the total area is 200 hectares(equals to 3000 mu)，and the circumference is7.5 kilometers.The Kong Family's Graveyard has the longest history and largest area of any family graveyards in China.It has been listed as a cultural relic under the state protection and is also a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.It is said that when Confucius passed away，his disciples transplanted here rare trees and plants from everywhere.Now there are some 100，000 trees in the graveyard，including old and famous trees.Qufu's stone steles also together make up one of China's three largest stele forests in China.Among the 5，000 steles，3，000 are placed in the graveyard.Stele inscriptions written by many famous calligraphers，such as Li Dongyang，Yan Song，Weng Fanggang，and He Shaoji，can be seen in this graveyard.
As we are now walking along the 5-km-long Huanlin Road，it would good for us to learn more about the graveyard.The people buried in the graveyard are all Confucius's descendants.According to the customs of the Kong Family，there were 3 kinds of familymembers who were not allowed to be buried in the graveyard: the first are those who died before18; the second are those who violated the state law and were sentenced to death; the third are daughters who got married.
This is the tomb of Confucius.It is surrounded by a red enclosure.The house to the west of the tomb is where Zi Gong guarded the tomb.After Confucius's death，his disciples guarded the tomb for 3 years and lef tone after another except ZiGong who stayed there for another 3 years.To the right of the Confucius's tomb is Kong Li's tomb，and the one in front of the Confucius's tomb is that of his grandson，Kong Ji.The three graves are in the shape of“carrying the son and the grandson.”These pavilions are called“Zhubiti Pavilion”and used to be the resting-place for the emperors when they came to pay homage to Confucius.
My friends，that ends my introduction.If you have any questions，please ask me，and I will try my best to give you detailed answers.At last，may you have a nice stay here and thanks for your cooperation.I hope that you can come again.See you next time!
各位嘉宾:
不知道您读没读过《论语》，那上面开篇有一句话叫“有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎”。那么我就以孔子的这句名言，热烈地欢迎您来孔子的故乡曲阜参观游览。下面，就由我陪同各位游览并进行导游服务，非常感谢您的合作，并衷心地希望您对我的工作多提出批评意见。
孔庙
现在我们参观孔庙。孔庙位于曲阜城中心，是我国古代封建王朝祭祀孔子的地方，始建于孔子死后第2年。孔庙仿皇宫之制，分九进院落，左右对称排列，整个建筑群共有五殿、一阁、一坛、两庑、两堂、17座碑亭、54座门坊，共466间，南北长约1千米，占地21.8公顷(约合327.5亩)。孔庙恢弘壮丽，面积之大，历史之久，保存之完整，是世界建筑史上的唯一范例。
孔庙的第一座石坊叫“金声玉振坊”。“金声”、“玉振”表示奏乐的全过程，以击钟开始，以击磬告终，比喻孔子的思想集古圣先贤之大成。石坊上面莲花宝座上各刻有一个独角怪兽，称“辟邪”，也叫“朝天吼”，这是封建社会王爵府第才可使用的饰物。
棂星门建于明朝，1754年重建。“棂星门”三个字为乾隆所书。传说天上有28个星宿，掌管文化的星宿被称为“棂星”或“文曲星”、“天镇星”。中国古代官员下令在祭天之前必须先祭祀文曲星，他们认为赞颂孔子思想如同天地生育万物。
孔庙大门东墙外面有“官员人等至此下马”的碑刻，过去，文武官员、庶民百姓从此路过要下轿下马徒步而行，以表示对孔子的尊敬。
我们进入的大门，称“弘道门”，取“论语”中“人能弘道，非弘道人”之意。赞扬孔子总结了先贤先圣的经验，尤其弘扬了尧舜禹汤，文武周公之道。弘道门下有两块石碑，东边的四棱碑是“曲阜历代沿革志”，记载了曲阜沿革变迁的历史，史料价值很高。西边的是“处士先生墓志”，具有很高的书法价值。
大中门是宋代孔庙的大门，称“中和门”，意为用孔子的思想处理问题都可以迎刃而解。此门也称为“大中门”，赞孔子的学问是集人类知识之大成。中，取“中庸”之意，“中者天下之正道，庸者天下之定理”，中不偏，庸不易。离开中者，就不是正道。
现在大家眼前的这块碑是石孔庙中很有名的一块，它为明宪宗朱见深所立。这块碑因书法精湛而著称于世，碑文用论辩形式写成，在极力推崇孔子方面，可以说是一最。问大家一个问题，碑下面有个很像乌龟的动物，有谁能告诉我这动物的确切的名字吗?没有人吗?让我来告诉大家吧，这碑下面的动物不是乌龟，叫赑屭，是龙的第八个儿子，特别能负重，所以用来驮碑。
我们面前的这座木结构建筑名叫“奎文阁”，是收藏御赐书籍的地方，始建于1018年，有900多年的历史了。这座唯一且庞大的建筑是中国最著名大木结构宫殿之一，历经多次地震之后仍安然无恙。康熙五年间曲阜曾有过一次大地震，“人间房屋倾者九，存者一”，而奎文阁却傲然屹立，安然无恙，由此可见我国古代劳动人民的聪明智慧和高超的建筑艺术。
我们现在进入孔庙的第六进院落，展现在大家面前的是13座碑亭，南边8座，北边5座。亭内保存着唐、宋、元、明、清各代石碑共55幢，碑文多为皇帝对孔子的追谥加封、拜庙亲祭、整修庙宇的记录，用汉文、八思巴文、满文等刻成。此排中间的这座碑，重约65吨，采自北京的西山，当时人们在冰面上运送这块石头，一天只能移动几米。从这可以看出康熙对孔子的尊重及劳动人们的伟大。
［大成门］孔庙在此被分为3道门。最西边为启圣门，是供奉孔子父母的地方，中路为孔庙最中心的地方，东为承圣门，原为孔子故居。
矗立在我们面前的大殿就是名扬天下的“大成殿”，它是中国的“三大殿”之一，与北京故宫的“太和殿”，泰山岱庙的“天贶殿”齐名，其雄伟壮丽有过之而无不及。殿高24.8米，宽45.78米，深24.8米，雕梁画栋，金碧辉煌，特别是周围28根石柱，为世界文化瑰宝，均以整石雕刻而成。前面10根为深浮雕，每柱二龙戏珠，盘绕升腾，栩栩如生，刀法刚劲有力，各具变化。两侧及后廊的龙柱为浅浮雕，每柱72条龙，总共1296条。大成殿内供奉着孔子塑像，两侧为四配，东西是复圣颜回、述圣孔及，西面是宗圣曾参和亚圣孟子。再外是12哲。每年9月26日、9月28日，我们都在这里举行盛大的国际孔子文化节和孔子诞辰纪念仪式，表演大型祭孔乐舞和“箫韶乐舞”，举行丰富多彩的文化、旅游活动，欢迎各位到时光临。
寝殿是供奉孔子夫人齐官氏的专祠，是孔庙内的第三大殿。齐娟19岁从河南来到山东嫁给孔子，后来生下孔鲤。她是一位优秀的母亲和善良的妻子，先孔子7年辞世。寝殿外还有28根石柱，每根石柱上刻有72只凤凰，与龙的数量相同，这就是所谓的“龙凤呈祥”。
孔庙是一个巨大的文化博物馆，我们匆匆看一次，只可窥豹一斑，不能观其全貌，尤其是不能会其神韵，那就留待各位以后再来时细细品味吧。下面我们参观孔府。
孔府
孔府即“衍圣公府”，是全国重点文物保护单位。与孔庙相似，孔府也分为三路布局，九进院落，有厅、堂、楼、房463间，占地16公顷(约合240亩)。
孔府大门有一对石狮守卫，更加显示了其尊严。上马石和下马石分别位于前后。孔府大门上方高悬蓝底金字“圣府”二字。有趣的是门两边这副对联:上联是“与国咸休安富尊荣公府第”，“富”字缺上面一“点”，寓“富不到顶”，下联为“同天并老文章道德圣人家”，“章”字一竖直通“立字”，寓“文章通天”。“与国咸休”“同天并老”，这是多大的气派!
孔府二门里，这座独具风格的门叫“恩赐重光门”，进门后你会发现一个没有靠墙只有四根柱子支撑的门。过去这门一般都是关着的，只有盛大的场合如皇帝举行大典或者孔府接到圣旨后者祭祀孔子的时候，此门才会打开。
孔府“大堂”，是“衍圣公”宣读圣旨、接见官员、审理重大案件，举行重大仪式的地方。
二堂，也叫后厅，是当年衍圣公会见四品以上官员的地方，里面的石碑和牌匾是清朝光绪、慈禧太后等封赐给衍圣公及夫人的。据说，过去官员赴京朝拜天子，一般只允许一主两伴，而只有“衍圣公”可以一主四伴。
三堂，也叫退厅，也是衍圣公私设公堂，处理家庭内部事务的场所。以上三个大堂，层层叠进，很是森严，足显出孔府的圣威和显赫。
三堂过后，我们进入“内宅”。在过去，内宅绝对不许擅入，有皇帝赐给的虎尾棍、燕翅镗、金头玉棍，由十几人轮流把守，有不遵令入内者，“打死勿论”。内宅门西边这个水槽叫石流，过去挑水夫不得进入内宅，只把水倒进石流，淌入内宅。
前堂楼是七间二层楼阁，富丽堂皇，室内陈设布置，全为当年原貌，内有珍奇书画墨宝、古玩衣冠，里套间为孔子后代孔令贻夫人陶氏卧室。
这个院子是后堂楼，各有配楼三间，后堂楼是孔德成先生当年结婚的地方，堂中陈列着当年结婚的用品和名人赠送的礼品和题字。
我们现在参观孔府后花园，它建于明弘治16年(公元1503年)，由吏部尚书太子太傅，也是孔子62代孙衍圣公孔闻韶的亲家李东阳设计监工建造的，到了明嘉靖年间，太子太傅、吏部尚书、当朝权臣严嵩又助修建，严嵩的孙女嫁给了孔子64代衍圣公孔尚贤为一品夫人。到了清代，乾隆将自己的女儿嫁给了72代衍圣公孔宪培，又为修建孔府花园大动土木。经过前后三次大修，花园成了现在的规模，面积比北京故宫的花园还要大些。这里面有各种奇花异草，古树名石如“五柏抱槐”“太湖石假山”等，请各位随意观赏一下。
孔府存有大量无比珍贵的文物，尤其是十余万卷孔府档案，更是稀世文物。
各位朋友，刚才我们看了祭祀孔子的庙宇，看了孔子后代居住的府第孔府，下边我们参观埋葬孔子以及孔子后代的基地--孔林。
孔林
孔子死后，葬在曲阜泗水之阳，洙水之阴，即现在的孔林。秦汉时期，孔林地不过一顷，随着孔子地位的提高，孔林的规模越来越大。自汉以后，孔林先后重修13次，增植树木5次，增地3次，圆周长7.5千米，总占地面积200公顷(约合3000亩)。孔林是世界上延时最久、面积最大的家庭墓地，为全国重点文物保护单位，世界文化遗产之一。相传孔子死后，弟子们从各地移来奇木异草栽植。现在孔林内有10余万株树木，其中不乏古树名木。曲阜是全国三大碑林之一，古碑数量最多，共约五千余块，其中孔林占三千块。林内尚有李东阳、严嵩、翁方钢、何绍基等书法大家的碑刻。
现在我们沿一条约5千米的环林路了解一下孔林的主要风貌。孔林内埋葬着孔姓后裔。按照孔家的风俗，孔林有三不埋:不满18岁的人死后不进孔林埋葬;犯了国家王法被判死刑的人不能进孔林;虽是孔姓妇女但已嫁出去的女人不能埋进孔林。
这便是孔子墓，周围用红墙围绕。墓西这座房子是子贡守墓处，孔子死后，众弟子守墓3年，尽皆离去，只有子贡守墓6年。孔子墓右边是孔子的儿子孔鲤墓，前边是孙子孔及墓，三座坟墓呈“携子抱孙”形。这座亭子，叫驻跸亭，是当年皇帝祭孔时休息的地方。
各位朋友，“三孔”的游览就到这里，如果对我的讲解有什么不懂的地方，请您提出来，我会尽最大的努力为大家讲解清楚。最后，祝大家旅途愉快，谢谢大家的合作，希望您再次来曲阜参观游览，我也希望再次为您提供服务。再见!
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