most Chinese in the late imperial era (960-1911)--and all classically educated males--encountered him in the Confucius Temple. To understand why the court expended such great care in venerating the cultic Confucius, it is important to consider how this ceremony fits into the larger pantheon of gods and spirits venerated by court authorities in thousands of temples and shrines throughout the capital, across the empire and beyond. Civil officials in late imperial times drew upon the Classics to compose the rites celebrated at these temples.
Eric Beckman on 20 Aug 13While the title is obviously hyperbole, this short blog post has a world map with a circle highlighting India, China, and Indonesia: home to more than half of the world's people.
