Confucius Museum showcases 600 years of Kong Family furniture

The Kong Family Mansion Furniture Collection exhibition is on display at the Confucius Museum in Qufu, Shandong, marking the first systematic display of these historic treasures.

The exhibition features 52 pieces of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty furniture from the museum's collection, including 21 pieces from the Ming Dynasty.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: Ritual Offerings, Imperial Sojourns, and the Sage's Descendants. Highlights include Qing imperial furniture linked to Emperor Qianlong's eight pilgrimages to Qufu, including a huanghuali (Chinese rosewood) offering table, and a zitan (red sandalwood) throne, showcasing the diversity and refinement of Ming and Qing design while illuminating the cultural and historical value of the Kong family collection.

The Kong family mansion served as the residence and administrative seat of Confucius' direct descendants for more than six centuries, from the Ming through the Qing dynasties, preserving a rich array of heirlooms.

Among these, the furniture collection offers the most tangible connection to the family's daily life and ceremonial activities. Since 2022, the Confucius Museum has carried out two phases of conservation and restoration, reinforcing the stability of the pieces and repairing damage, allowing these treasures to regain their original splendor.

The full collection comprises over 900 pieces, encompassing a wide range of categories such as chairs, tables, beds, cabinets, and more. Together, they form a unique and significant body of work, whose historical narrative is corroborated by the Kong family archives, offering invaluable scholarly insights into the history of Chinese furniture.

During the exhibition, visitors can also engage with the craft firsthand at a "woodworking workshop", where they can explore the intricate mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques that define traditional Chinese furniture.

A total of 52 Ming and Qing furniture pieces from the Kong family collection are on display at the Confucius Museum. [Photo/Official website of Confucius Museum]