On the afternoon of September 29, 2026, a delegation including Teacher Kong Jun, the 76th-generation descendant of Confucius from the Xiaoshao Qin Academy, Kong Lei, Deputy Secretary of the Chongqing Confucius and Confucianism Research Association, and Li Zhiru, Vice President of the association, visited Chongqing Bahuang Academy. They held exchanges on qin studies and Confucian culture with Teacher Li Cheng, person-in-charge of the academy. Accompanied by the melodious sound of the guqin, both sides savored tea and engaged in philosophical discussion, talking about the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese qin art and Confucian culture.

Fragrant tea wisped through the academy, and the lingering guqin music filled the hall. The two parties conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as the cultural connotations of the guqin, performance techniques, and the contemporary inheritance and promotion of qin studies. They shared insights and practical experience gained from the dissemination and teaching of guqin.

Kong Jun presented Li Cheng with a rubbing of The Sage Confucius Teaching, and Li Cheng reciprocated with incense sticks.

The development and inheritance of qin studies cannot be achieved overnight, nor can it be confined to old ways or accomplished in a single leap. Cultures thrive and diversify through exchange; likewise, the connotation and scope of qin studies are continuously deepened and expanded through communication. Chongqing lies in southern China while Qufu is in the north. This exchange was not merely a sharing of insights and experience, but also a rendezvous of northern and southern qin traditions. It serves as a valuable opportunity to explore regional characteristics of guqin art and systematically trace the overall lineage of qin studies. Moving forward, both sides will continue to strengthen interactions in traditional culture, working hand in hand to advance the spread and development of guqin art and Confucian culture.

Kong Jun
A native of Qufu, Shandong — the hometown of Confucius — Kong Jun is a 76th-generation descendant of the Confucius lineage, the rightful heir to the tradition of Kong Family ceremonial music, and the founder of the artistic exchange team dedicated to the Kong Family guqin tradition and the authentic sounds of classical ceremonial music.

She currently serves as Instructor at the Zhisheng Ritual and Music Transmission Institute of the Qufu Confucius Academy, Secretary-General of the Confucius Artists Association, Council Member of the Jining Guqin Society, Founder of Xiaoshao Guqin Studio, and Instructor at the Confucius Guqin Cultural Exchange Center. She also holds the concurrent position of Deputy Director of the Qufu Poetry, Ritual, and Ceremonial Music Troupe. Kong Jun stands as a leading figure in the living transmission of China’s Kong Family qin scholarship and ancient classical ritual music.

Immersed since childhood in the ritual and musical heritage of Que Li — the sacred birthplace of Confucius — Kong Jun has inherited the profound foundations of the Kong Family tradition of qin music. She has devoted herself to intensive study of such rare and canonical works of Kong Family qin scholarship and musical temperament as the Dacheng Yuelü Quanshu (Complete Compendium of Great Achievement Music and Temperament) and the Qinyuan Xinchuan Quanbian (Complete Transmission of the Qin Garden). Through years of dedicated effort, she has focused on the textual research, restoration, recomposition, and performance of long-lost Kong Family guqin compositions and chapters of the Great Achievement Ceremonial Music. She has accurately revived the ancient playing techniques of the Kong Family guqin and the balanced tonal principles of classical ceremonial music, fully preserving the orthodox lineage of Kong Family qin music and resolving numerous challenges that once threatened the continuity of this ancient musical tradition. Through her work, the authentic sounds of Kong Family qin music, once on the verge of extinction, have been brought back to vibrant life.

For guqin instruction, guqin purchase, traditional Chinese culture study programs, educational tours to the hometown of Confucius, Confucius memorial ceremonies, cultural and artistic exchanges, lectures, and related events, please contact: chinaguqin@outlook.com .Address: Confucius Cultural Park, Dacheng Road, Qufu City, Shandong Province, China.