SHANTUNG-CHINA'S HOLY LAND 



243 



their great ancestor from the 

 first, there was no public venera- 

 tion of Confucius in any State 

 temple for several centuries. As 

 Confucian doctrines gained more 

 and more recognition, no doubt 

 a temple was erected near the 

 birthplace of the Sage, and suc- 

 cessive emperors, granting ever 

 higher titles of dignity, no doubt 

 enlarged and beautified the edi- 

 fice. 



There was a rather complete 

 restoration of the old buildings 

 in the reign of Yung Cheng 

 (1723- 1 736), from which time 

 most of the present establish- 

 ment probably dates. 



The main temple building 

 stands on a terrace in the center 

 of the grounds. The outer ex- 

 tremities of the high carved roof 

 are supported by great stone pil- 

 lars about fifteen feet high, ten 

 on each side of the building. 



The pillars at the front are 

 round and magnificently carved 

 with immense dragons coiling 

 around each pillar. They are 

 perhaps the most remarkable fea- 

 ture of the whole temple. We 

 often carve in marble, but here 

 are columns eight feet in circum- 

 ference, some centuries old, 

 carved four inches deep in solid 

 granite. They constitute a real 

 marvel of Chinese sculpture. 

 The marble stairs and ramps 

 leading to the shrines are also 

 finely done. 



The pillars on the sides and 

 rear are octagonal and trace- 

 carved in the favorite cloud ef- 

 fect with various figures. 



Within the main building, called "The 

 Hall of Perfection," sits the canopied 

 image of the great Sage, of which there 

 are not more than two or three duplicates 

 throughout the Empire. Ordinarily, 

 Confucian temples do not contain an 

 image of the Sage, but a simple tablet 

 before which veneration and devotions 

 are expressed. 



The Chinese are masters in fine carv- 

 ing and decoration, and their execution 

 in this case corresponds well with the im- 



Photograph by Richard M. Vanderburgh 



A SOLID BRONZE TABLET IN A TAI SHAN TEMPLE 



All along the Pan Lu, the great paved highway from 

 the north gate of the city of Taian to the summit of 

 the Sacred Mountain, six miles in length, there_ is_ an 

 almost unbroken avenue of temples. The mountain is a 

 Mecca for the Chinese of three faiths. 



perial rank and honors ascribed to the 

 Sage. The size and beauty of the altar 

 and shrine are imposing and in keeping 

 with the dimensions and character of the 

 building in which they are the center of 

 interest. All is heavily lacquered and 

 richly gilded. Handsome silk hangings 

 serve the double purpose of ornamenta- 

 tion and protection. 



The statue itself is of wood, larger 

 than life size, and represents the Sage 

 seated, holding in his hands the imperial 

 tablet or scepter as a symbol of his soy- 



