The grandeur of the Cemetery of Confucius makes it more than a resting place for the dead. While its gates, memorial arches, paths, bridges, halls, temples and pavilions lend appropriately weighty touches of solemnity, it might otherwise be just another large public park. Many of those buried in this necropolis have at least this in common: they are all of the Kong family.

During the annual Qingming and National Day festivals anyone with the surname of Kong is allowed to enter the cemetery free of charge, says Kong Yan, who works for the Qufu Tourism Bureau and is a member of Confucius’ 77th generation.

"Though the cemetery is for everyone surnamed Kong, not everyone is allowed a stone tablet."

This hierarchy in the way the dead are honored is even reflected in the size of gravestones: the more important a person is the grander is his grave marker.