Temple of Mencius, Zoucheng (孟庙)

The Temple of Mencius stands on Mengmiao Road in Zoucheng, Jining, Shandong, China, about 25 kilometres south of Qufu, and honours the philosopher Mencius (372-289 BC), regarded as the most important Confucian thinker after Confucius. Mencius was born in the state of Zou, and the first shrine here is traditionally dated to the Song dynasty, with an early recorded construction in 1037. It was enlarged in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the layout seen today largely results from rebuilding after fires and repairs in the Ming period and later. The temple is one of the Three Kong-Meng-Yan sites of Zoucheng and Qufu, associated with Confucius, Mencius and Yan Hui. The compound follows the north-south courtyard plan of state-sponsored Confucian shrines. Visitors pass through gates and courtyards to the main hall, the Yasheng Hall, or Hall of the Second Sage, which houses the statue of Mencius and is set on a raised platform with a yellow-tiled roof and carved stone pillars. Other named features are the Sitting Room of the Mother, honouring Mencius's mother, whose upbringing methods, including moving the household three times to find a good neighbourhood, are famous in Chinese culture, and the halls dedicated to the philosopher's disciples. A collection of stone steles inscribed by emperors and scholars is displayed in the courtyards, and old cypress and juniper trees give the grounds a quiet character. The site works as a walk-through of ritual spaces rather than a museum with themed galleries. Maintenance has been carried out by heritage authorities, and the complex remains in a good state of preservation compared with many local temples. Because it draws fewer tourists than Qufu, the atmosphere is calmer, and it suits visitors interested in the development of Confucian thought after the founder. The Mencius Family Mansion stands nearby and is often visited with the temple.