Archeological Exploration of the Lu City at Qufu

Abstract

The city of Lu is located in the Qufu district of Shandong at the edge of the southwestern foothills of the Taiyi mountain chain, between the Si and Xiaoyi rivers. The Si River winds around the north and west of the city, and the Xiaoyi River flows to its south. On the city's western side is a broad plain. In 1961 the State Council declared the city of Lu a major national cultural site. From 1971 to 1978 the Shandong Archeological Department under the direction of the National Cultural Bureau carried out a systematic survey of the northern part of the Lu city from the east to the west, along with major excavations involving the ancient city wall and the remains of residences, workshops, and the palace. The first task was to ascertain the dating, form, and basic ground plan of the city. This is a general introduction to the results of those explorations.