Confucian thought has waxed and waned in popularity in the two millennia since the sage's death. The recent restoration of a namesake temple in Beijing can only contribute in today’s modern world.
Renovation of the 700-year-old Confucius Temple near the Lama Temple on Beijing's second ring road was completed on Sunday. It will open to the public at the end of the year.
Ma Fazhu is director of the temple's administrative office, which is under the Beijing municipal administration of cultural heritage.
He said: "The temple will be the second largest amongst important ancient architectural sites in Beijing after the Forbidden City." The three-year-long facelift is the first since 1937, on the eve of World War II (1937-45). Wars and upheavals over the past 68 years had destroyed some of the buildings while other structures had fallen into disrepair and were no longer safe.
The temple's main building was built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
The garden and most of the other buildings were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Occupying a 2.2-hectare site, it is the second largest temple dedicated to Confucius, after one in his hometown of Qufu, in East China's Shandong Province.
Confucius' teachings have been revived since China opened its doors to the rest of the world three decades ago. The philosopher has come to represent the totality of Chinese civilization. Cultural centers called Confucius Institutes have been built in more than 50 countries.
Interest in the teachings of the ancient philosopher has grown at home, too. More than 100,000 people visited the "Confucius blog club" on the popular portal Sina.com in its first 10 days. It was set up by a group of more than 100 university professors last year.
Questions:
1.The Confucius Temple is how old?
2.The temple’s main building was built during which dynasty?
3.Where is the largest temple dedicated to Confucius located?
4.How many people visited the "Confucius blog club" in the first ten days it was set up?
Answers:
1.700 years old.
2.Yuan Dynasty
3.Qufu
4.100,000
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
