Around Mount Tai Tour - Lingxing Gate

Construction Time and Location: It was built in 1415 (the 13th year of the Yongle reign in the Ming Dynasty) behind Panshui Bridge in the Confucius Temple of Qufu City, Shandong Province. It is the first gate of the Confucius Temple. Originally, it was of wooden structure and was changed to stone columns and iron beams in 1754 (the 19th year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty).

Architectural Features: The archway is in the three - bay, four - column sky - piercing style. It is 10.34 meters high and 13 meters wide, connecting with the temple walls on both sides. It has a well - proportioned structure, an elegant shape, and exquisite carvings. The sky - piercing columns are delicately and vividly carved. The column heads are engraved with cloud - shaped jars, on which are round - carved figures of four Heavenly Generals, symbolizing that this gate is guarded by Heavenly Generals and serves as a towering gate to the sky. The lintels are supported by iron beams, with each beam cast with four dragon - head emblems. The stone - carved double dragons and cranes on the lintels are in low - relief, looking lifelike. In the center of the lintel, there is a round - carved flaming pearl. At the two ends of the lower part of the central bay, there are relief - carved cloud - cranes, and in the middle are three characters "Lingxing Gate" in a graceful calligraphy style, which were hand - written by Emperor Qianlong.

Cultural Connotations: According to ancient legends, Lingxing was a celestial star related to literature. Naming the gate after it implies that Confucius was a celestial star descending to the mortal world. It symbolizes that Confucius can be compared to Tianzhen Star in the sky, which is responsible for education and cultivating talents. It also means that scholars from all over the world gather here and are unified under the school of Confucianism.