The Thirteen Stele Pavilions, located within the courtyards of the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, are remarkable architectural and cultural relics. Arranged with eight pavilions to the south and five to the north, these square wooden pavilions preserve a total of 57 stone steles.
The southern pavilions, four of which date back to the Jin (1115-1234) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and others to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), as well as the northern five, built during the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, house steles inscribed in Chinese, Manchu, and other scripts, and display various styles of calligraphy.
The inscriptions detailing imperial tributes, temple renovations, and posthumous honors for Confucius are invaluable historical records. The Thirteen Stele Pavilions not only trace the history of the Temple of Confucius, but also reflect the ancient art of architecture, and stand as enduring monuments to the cultural legacy of the Chinese nation.