Enfeoffment of Confucius's Descendant

Timeline

1. 1028Xianyuan County (Qufu) · JiningKong Shengyou was the 46th-generation descendant of Confucius; in 1021 (Tianxi 5) he had already inherited the title of Duke Wenxuan and the office of magistrate of Xianyuan. In Tiansheng 6 the court continued to recognize his title and local office, with him presiding over sacrifices at the Confucian temple, reflecting Emperor Renzong's continued veneration of Confucianism.
2. 1028Qufu Confucian Temple · JiningSince Emperor Zhenzong's Fengshan sacrifice at Mount Tai, the court had granted the Kong family sacrificial fields, money, and silk to maintain temple sacrifices. During the Tiansheng era, with Kong Shengyou in office, the court maintained financial and institutional support for the Qufu Confucian Temple, laying the groundwork for Kong Zongyuan's later change of title to Duke Yansheng.