Tests and Temples and Trees, Oh My!

Today I went to the Confucian Temple here in Beijing.  It’s the second biggest temple dedicated to Confucius in China.  The other one is located in his hometown of Qufu in the ShanDong province.  I really enjoyed going to the Confucius temple, as I apparently do with all temples...

One of the featured displays at the Confucius temple were tons of these 8 foot high stone blocks.  But these aren't just your average stone blocks that date back to the Sui dynasty.  Engraved upon these relics were the names of all the people who had obtained adequate scores on "the exam".  And not just any exam, the Imperial Exam.  This examination set the standard for all people (which was perfection), and anyone who was anyone would be able to pass.  This exam was used to determine those had government positions and any other good jobs, and those who perished in the village farming.  People would study for days on end to prepare for this test; guess we know where the Chinese get their study habits from.  While the test was in session, the tester would be locked in a tiny room with the bare essentials; food, water, bedding, a chamber pot, and of course, ink, and a brush.  The exam period lasted for three entire days in which the tester would attempt to write an "eight-legged essay," or an essay with eight sections.  The examination was brutal, so obviously cheaters were abundant; one guy even wrote notes of his underwear.  So the next time I think about complaining about a test I really should just be grateful it doesn’t last three days, and most importantly force me to forsake my comfy bed.  Imperial Exams, man, they were intense; I'm glad I didn’t have to deal with them.  But mostly I wouldn't have to deal with them because I wasn't in China growing up, also I'm a girl and girls just didn't do those things back then.  So even though to us they are just some stone slabs, to the people who studied hard enough they were a representation of all the back-breaking work, and lost hours of childhood spent indoors.

Now for some serious thoughts.  Something interesting about Confucianism is that it is not centered on a God.  Confucianism started off first and foremost as a philosophy.  It is very centered on life on this earth.  Confucius himself talked little of heaven or deities; he mostly focused on creating the chun tzu, or Confucian gentleman.  He believed that good people would create good governments and in turn bring happiness to others.  However, it’s interesting to note that at these Confucian temples he is treated like a God.  From the philosophy, a religion, has sprung forward and is now considered a cult; with Confucius as the center.  People bow, leave offerings, pray, and burn incense to his statues.  Quite ironic if you ask me.  Confucian was so focused on this world and bettering it, and now, even in death people call upon him for assistance.  Although I don’t understand this thought process, it is easy to see why he was deified.  His impact on the Chinese culture is unmistakable.  For example, the imperial exams influenced education, and the concept of a group has influenced the government.  Although I don’t feel like worshiping Confucius, I still think he had some good things to say.

The other thing that I liked in this temple was a tree. But this is no ordinary tree.  It may appear to be one tree, but it’s really two!  Legend has it that a Cyprus tree was planted but the trunk became hollow and filled with refuse.  Latter a bird dropped a mulberry seed into thetree trunk and a mulberry tree grew out of it.  It’s like inception, but real; and the correct term would actually be treeception…