“Mountain does not have to be high, a fairy can make it famous.” According to “The Book of Historical Records • Confucius Family”, Shulianghe, the great master of Changpingzu in the State of Lu, and Yanzheng prayed to Confucius on Niqiu Mountain. Legend has it that once, after Yan Zheng prayed, she gave birth to Confucius in a cave on her way home, and the cave was later called “Master’s Cave”. Niqiu Mountain where the “Master’s Cave” is located is called Nishan by later generations to avoid calling it by Confucius’ name.
Drive 25 kilometers southeast from the city center of Qufu, and you will see Nishan hidden among the lush woods. Here, five peaks stand together, five rivers converge, and the springs are endless. The trees provide shade, and the ancient cypresses tower into the sky. The mountain is surrounded by water, and the holy mountain, holy water, and holy land unique to Chinese culture, as well as the holy father, holy mother, and holy man, form the holy environment and holy pattern of Nishan. Therefore, it is called the holy place of Nishan.