Beijing Temple of Confucius
Ancient Confucian shrine with a legendary cypress said to expose corrupt officials by knocking off their hats.
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About this audio guide
This guide to the Beijing Temple of Confucius follows the legend of the Chu Jian Bai, or Touch Evil Cypress, and the day, sometime under the neglectful Jiajing Emperor, when a branch knocked the cap off Yan Song, his notoriously wealthy Grand Secretary, as he passed beneath it. It traces how word spread that the tree could expose a corrupt official, and reaches back to the temple's founding in 1302. Look for the stele slabs nearby recording tens of thousands of exam scholars across three dynasties.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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