Mount Ni

Mount Ni
Chinese: 尼山; pinyin: Níshān
Shandong, China
Elevation	340 m (1,115 ft)
Location
Coordinates	35°30′10.89″N 117°13′2.50″E / 35.503025°N 117.217361°E / 35.503025; 117.217361Coordinates: 35°30′10.89″N 117°13′2.50″E / 35.503025°N 117.217361°E / 35.503025; 117.217361

Mount Ni (Chinese: 尼山; pinyin: Níshān) is a hill about 30 km to the southeast of the city of Qufu^[1] in Shandong Province, China. The hill is culturally significant because it is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Confucius. It is also the site of a historical temple dedicated to Shu Lianghe, the father of Confucius, a Confucian academy (Chinese: 尼山书院; pinyin: Níshān Shūyuàn), and the Yusheng Memorial Temple (Chinese: 毓圣侯祠; pinyin: Yùshèng Hóucí).^[1]

According to the Han-Dynasty historian Sima Qian, Confucius parents to be, Shu Lianghe and Yan Zheng, went to pray at Mount Ni and Yan Zheng gave birth to Confucius afterwards.^[2]

The existence of the Temple of Shu Lianghe can be traced back to the times of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–535 CE). However, the temple was abandoned and restored repeatedly during the Later Tang, Later Zhou, Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties.^[1] A major reconstruction was undertaken during the Ming Dynasty (in 1417, the 15th year of the rule of the emperor Yongle).^[1] Further expansion of the temple followed during the Qing Dynasty.^[1] As a result, most of the extent structures of the temple date from either the Ming or the Qing era.^[1] The current architectural complex contains three sets of buildings, the Shu Lianghe Temple, the Confucian Academy, and the Yusheng Memorial Temple.^[1]

The Shu Lianghe Temple consists of the following halls: the Dacheng Hall (literally "Hall of Great Achievement") dedicated to Confucius, a "Sleeping Palace" dedicated to his wife Qiguan, the Hall of Qi Shengwang and the Sleeping Palace of Qi Shengwang.^[1] The Yusheng Memorial Temple is dedicated to mountain spirit of Mount Ni.^[1] The Confucian academy contains a lecture hall as well as rooms that were used by the temple management staff.^[1] Other structures in the academy include the Erdai and Sandai Halls, the Liang Wu, the Lingxing Gate (灵星门), the Shen Bao, the Tudi Temple (dedicated to the local god of the land), and the Guan Chuan Pavilion.^[1] The entire complex on Mount Ni is walled in.^[1]

Outside the eastern enclosure wall lies the Confucius Cave (Chinese: 夫子洞; pinyin: Fuzi Dòng). According to the legend, Confucius was abandoned in this cave after birth by his mother because of his ugliness. The baby was then taken care of by a tiger and an eagle, which convinced his mother to take him back.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Extension Project of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu: Temple of Confucius at Nishan Mountain, Temple and Cemetery of Mencius and the Meng Family Mansion, Temple of Yanhui and Temple of Zeng Zi, Unesco World Heritage Tentative List
2. ^ Ann-ping Chin: "The Authentic Confucius: A Life of Thought and Politics", Simon and Schuster, 2007, pg. 25
3. ^ Jun Jing: "The Temple of Memories: History, Power, and Morality in a Chinese Village", Stanford University Press, 1998