Qufu, Jining, East China's Shandong province, is the hometown of Confucius and cradle of Confucianism with an assortment of cultural legacies. The city has cultivated a group of artisans who are dedicated to cultural relic restoration and protection, maintaining the enduring brilliance of history.

A group photo of the three generations of artisans from the ancient buildings of the Confucian Temple in Qufu, Shandong. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]

The restoration and protection to Confucius's legacies have never been ceased. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), there were specialized institutions and personnel for Kong Family Mansion's annual repairs, emphasizing constant upkeep, according to Kong Family Mansion Archives. In 1949, Qufu established an ancient building restoration team, which has been responsible for maintaining Qufu's ancient buildings for over 70 years. To date, the artisans have passed down their skills for five generations.

Artisans work on cultural building protection. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]