China builds museum on ancient philosopher Confucius

Beijing: China is building a museum to display over 100,000 cultural relics related to ancient philosopher Confucius.

The museum is being built in the eastern Shandong province, Xinhua reported. Built at a cost of 500 million yuan (around $79 million), the museum located in Confucius` hometown of Qufu will cover over 56,000 square metres. A total of 110,000 pieces of cultural relics and 260,000 archive materials about Confucius will be showcased in the museum, to be completed in three years. Confucius (551-479 B.C.), an educator and philosopher, founded a school of thought called Confucianism that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life. Confucius` teachings form the foundation of much of subsequent Chinese education of how an individual should live his life and interact with others. The teachings also speak of the forms of society and government in which an individual should participate. IANS