Sharing Story | The Confucius Trail

Famous in China as birthplace of the ‘Great Sage’, otherwise known as Confucius, Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history. Over the millennia, the province has also served as a pivotal center for Taoism and Buddhism. 

In Shandong programs, we seek out the origins of Chinese culture and civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River, visiting Confucian sites and remote Buddhist temples, and climbing the verdant heights of Mount Tai, China’s most sacred peak…

Shandong Fast Facts: 

• Shandong has many major sites devoted to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism 
• Shandong was once occupied by Germany, Japan, and England during the early part of the 20th century 
• The province is a major producer of wheat, and many Shandong natives eat “mantou” 馒头or steamed buns rather than rice 
• Shandong is China’s 3rd wealthiest province 
•  The nickname for Shandong is Qilu 齐鲁, named after Shandong’s former kingdoms of Qi and Lu during China’s Spring and Autumn Period 

Highlights of Shandong Programs 

Learning about History and culture

Shandong has many important temples (Buddhist, Taoist and Confucius). Besides visiting and storytelling of these places, temple etiquette is also highlighted and will be learned. Here are some basic rules: 

• Silence is Gold. Maintain a quiet atmosphere to show respect. This includes turning phones on silent mode and using low voices for conversation, especially in shrines. 
• Dress to respect. When entering a shrine make sure to cover your shoulders and thighs. Hats should be removed, and in some locations disposable slippers will be provided to cover shoes. 
• Statues are holy. Please avoid taking pictures of, touching, or pointing at Buddha statues. 
• Posture is key. When sitting, be careful not to sit with legs outstretched. Lying down should also be avoided. 

Learning about the Legacy of Confucius

Confucius (551 BC–479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period. The philosophy of Confucius, also known as Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. 

We will visit a number of sites relate to Confucius and play creative and engaging activities to help students learn his philosopher and legacy. 

Hiking on Mount Tai

One of the holiest of China’s mountains, Mt.Tai has been a spot for emperors, philosophers, and officials to visit throughout China’s history. Facing the East, the direction of the Sun, this mountain is one of the five most important Taoist mountains in the country. It is associated with: 

• BIRTH 
• SUNRISE 
• RENEWAL 

Emperors as far back as 3,000 years ago began to worship Heaven by ascending the summit. Many of them wrote poems. One of the most famous poets from the Tang Dynasty, Du Fu 杜甫wrote the following poem, “Gazing at Mount Tai”: 

“How is Mount Tai?
Its green is seen beyond State Qi and State Lu,
A collection of creation’s spirit and beauty.
Its slopes split day into Yin and Yang.
Its rising clouds billow in my chest. Homecoming birds fly through my wide-open eyes. 

I should climb to the summit
And in one glance see all other mountains dwarfed.”

望岳

岱宗夫如何? 齐鲁青未了。

 造化钟神秀，阴阳割昏晓。

 荡胸生曾云，决此入归鸟。

 会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。

Visiting all these historical sites will give students a firsthand look at the philosophical and religious roots of Chinese culture. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the way Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have coexisted for centuries, and how they remain relevant in modern Chinese society.

Learning through experience - School Exchange

Meet, have fun and learn with students from local schools in Shandong. We partner with local schools and give students opportunities to engage with local community.  

We firmly believe that learning by doing is the key to a meaningful experience. That’s why all our programs are designed to be uniquely interactive and hands-on.

Meet our team leader – Luke Giles

Our resident Taishan expert, no Hutonger has scaled Taishan more times than Luke (including at least one time where he trekked up twice in one week!). 

A former exchange student at Shandong University, and office manager for a Confucius Institute, he is no stranger to the Great Sage, and loves bringing students to Confucius' home town of Qufu. Soaking up the ambience of Qufu’s Confucian temple and cemetery offers a great chance to learn about and discuss Confucius’ enduring influence on Chinese culture and history. However, when asked his favorite part of a Shandong program, Luke just can’t go past the tasty ‘Lu Cai’ (Shandong Cuisine) that the region is famous for!

More reading:

Scan the QR code to visit our webpage for more information about our education programs:

https://education.thehutong.com/about

Follow our official account