Qufu: History, Former Names & Timeline
Capital of the state of Lu under the Zhou and home of Confucius; his temple, family mansion and cemetery have stood for more than two thousand years.
QufuExplore Qufu in the interactive map
Former names of Qufu
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 BC | Qufu | capital of Lu |
Timeline of Qufu
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 551 BC | Confucius is born in the state of Lu |
| 478 BC | Confucius’s house becomes a temple and his worship begins (traditional date) |
| 256 BC | The state of Chu conquers Lu |
| 1994 | The Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius become a World Heritage Site |
Who ruled Qufu
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–201 BC | Zhou states |
| 200 BC–2 BC | Han Empire |
| 1 BC–299 | Han |
| 300–499 | Jin |
| 500–599 | Jin Empire |
| 600–699 | Sui Empire |
| 700–999 | Tang Empire |
| 1000–1299 | Song Empire |
| 1300–1399 | Great Khanate |
| 1400–1499 | Ming Empire |
| 1500–1649 | Ming Chinese Empire |
| 1650–1782 | Manchu Empire |
| 1783–1814 | Qing Empire |
| 1815–1919 | Manchu Empire |
| 1920–1937 | Chinese Warlords |
| 1938–1944 | Chinese warlords |
| 1945–today | China |
Famous people of Qufu
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 551 BC – 479 BC | Confucius | Philosopher and teacher |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Qufu
Which states have ruled Qufu?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Qufu lies within 16 different states: Zhou states, Han Empire, Han, Jin, Jin Empire, Sui Empire, Tang Empire, Song Empire, Great Khanate, Ming Empire and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Qufu?
551 BC: Confucius is born in the state of Lu. 478 BC: Confucius’s house becomes a temple and his worship begins (traditional date). 256 BC: The state of Chu conquers Lu. 1994: The Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius become a World Heritage Site.
Which famous people are connected with Qufu?
Confucius (philosopher and teacher, 551 BC – 479 BC).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.