Pursuing the Footprints of Saints: A Humanistic Journey to Shandong

Pursuing the Footprints of Saints:

A Humanistic Journey to Shandong

为期四日的山东之旅就要告一段落了，现在在高铁上带大家回忆一下我们前三天充实的研学旅程。

The four-day trip to Shandong has come to an end. This enriched study trip left with each of us so many unforgettable memories.

在去往泰安的高铁上，我们就开始读“《论语》心得”做摘抄和读后感。大家都非常专心致志，沉浸在知识的海洋中。

On the high-speed railway to Tai’an, we immersed ourselves in reading “The Analects of Confucius” while making excerpts and post-reading impressions.

到达泰安，吃过中饭，大家就开始赶往岱庙。 岱庙丰富的藏碑也是它最为著名的景点之一。现存历代碑刻300余通，林立而群，形制各异，令我们大开眼界。 离开了岱庙，我们去观看了泰山皮影。它是一种古老的传统民间艺术，听其唱，观其形，无一不透着泰山文化的深厚、古朴。故事大多以夸张的手法来讲述，因此同学们经常被某些情节逗得前仰后合。

After we arrived at Tai’an and had lunch, we rushed to Dai Temple, which is famous for its more than 300 existing inscriptions in successive dynasties. These monuments, standing in groups and with different shapes, opened our eyes.

Another highlight of Day One is the Taishan Shadow Play. It is an ancient traditional folk art, listening to its singing and viewing its shape, all of which are permeated with the profound and simple Taishan culture.

今天我们拜访了孔子的故乡——曲阜。

山东曲阜的孔府、孔庙、孔林，统称曲阜“三孔”，是中国历代纪念孔子，推崇儒学的表征。

孔庙是我国历代封建王朝祭祀孔子的庙宇，位于曲阜城中央。大成殿里供奉着孔子塑像，大家都怀着虔诚的心请求孔圣人保佑我们学业有成。

黄瓦红垣，雕梁画栋，碑碣如林，无一不使我们感慨万千。

孔府，又称衍圣公府，是孔子嫡长子孙的府第。孔府占地240亩，共有厅、堂、楼、房463间。

孔林，本称至圣林，是孔子及其后裔的家族墓地，是世界上延续时间最长的家族墓地。

孔庙的巍峨气派，孔府的富丽堂皇，孔林的广阔肃穆，都留给我深刻的印象。它们是孔子辉煌人生的成就，也是中华文化的历史见证。

In the hometown of Confucius, we visited Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple and Confucius Forest, collectively called “Three Confucius”, which are the symbols of the commemoration of Confucius in Chinese dynasties and the praise of Confucianism.

We were deeply impressed by the majesty of Confucian temple, the magnificence of Confucian mansion and the vastness and solemnity of Confucius Lin. They are the achievements of Confucius ‘brilliant life and the historical witness of Chinese culture.’

邹城是战国时期伟大的思想家、教育家、儒家学派代表人物孟子的故里。

一清早，我们前往孟府去参加成人礼。中国古代的成人礼指冠礼和笄礼，这个传统从西周一直延续到明朝。我们换上了汉服，激动之情溢于言表。这对于我们来说不仅仅是一个礼仪，更是告诉我们应该更加独立自主，不再依赖父母。即使孟府没有孔府那般富丽堂皇，色调主以灰色为主，但显得十分高雅和庄重，透着一股清高的气息。静谧的气氛使得我们的心平静了许多，感觉离这传说中的亚圣又近了一步。下午去孔子六艺城上了国学讲堂，并且体验了孔子周游列国的坎坷和六艺中的“射”和“数”，使我们实践了许多平时在学校里学不到的技艺，收获满满。

Zoucheng was the home of Mencius, a great thinker, educator and representative of Confucianism in the Warring States Period.

Early in the morning, we went to Meng Mansion to attend the Adult Ceremony. We changed into Chinese clothes and our excitement was overflowing. This is not only a ritual for us, but also tells us that we should be more independent and no longer rely on our parents.

In the afternoon, we went to Confucius Six Arts City to attend the Chinese Classics Seminar, and experienced the frustrations of Confucius ‘travels around the world’. Besides, we tried our green hands in the “shooting” and “counting” in the Six Arts.

这次的游学行程紧凑，生活很充实，上午早早出发去景点学习，晚上回来还得写作业来回顾当天学到的知识。但我觉得这是一次很难得的体验和磨练。离开山东，想必大家都多少有些不舍吧！
We reluctantly set off for Shanghai and ended our trip in Shandong in a respectful mood.