Grand ceremonies were held on both the Chinese mainland and
Taiwan on Thursday, the 2,557th birthday of Confucius, to
commemorate the great ancient Chinese thinker and philosopher
revered around the world.
Amid peaceful music and incense smoke, 2,557 people filed into
the Confucian temple in Qufu of east China's Shandong Province, hometown of Confucius,
shortly after a brief gate opening ceremony at 9 AM.
Descendants of Confucius from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and
other parts of the world, Qufu mayor Jiang Cheng, government
officials and worshippers of Confucius were in the procession, with
young men in ancient costumes standing on each side of the
red-carpet path in welcoming poses.
China Central Television and Shandong Television carried live
broadcasts of the event, with scholars commenting on its
significance.
"The thoughts of Confucius have influenced the minds of Chinese
people for more than 2,000 years. They are embedded in our behavior
and speech," said Yang Chaoming, a leading Confucius researcher at
Qufu Normal University. "Confucius and his disciples advocated
positive self-discipline, healthy living, maintaining harmony in
family life, peace and order in the country, peace in the world,
seeking great harmony in the world, self-improvement every day, and
enjoying harmony while still keeping one's own characteristics.
These ideals are important to not only Chinese people, but also
people throughout the world."
The procession stopped about half an hour later at Dachengdian
(Hall of Great Success), the main hall of the temple and site of
the grand commemoration ceremony.
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Soil from Qufu and Taiwan, and holy soil and holy water from a hill
where Confucius was born were brought to the door of the hall,
followed by floral baskets dedicated by descendants of Confucius,
dignitaries and worshipers.
Mayor Jiang read out a eulogy in front of the Dachengdian.
"People of Qufu, compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan
Straits and friends from all over the world are here in the autumn
of 2006 to mark the 2,557th birthday of Confucius. People on both
sides of the Taiwan Straits, who are of the same cultural roots,
jointly pay respect to our ancient teacher and remember his words
and deeds with pious feelings."
A family prospered because of internal harmony and people
enjoyed stable and happy lives if a country was in harmony. "We
hope all nations live in harmony and the whole world enjoys peace,"
he read.
Toward the end of the ceremony, 80 college students attended a
ceremony marking the attainment of adulthood; 100 primary school
students read out teachings from the Analects of Confucius and 100
"Confucius-style businessmen" read out commitments to do business
in an honest way.
In Taipei, city mayor Ma Ying-jeou chaired the commemoration in
the local Confucian temple. Commemoration activities were held in
many other Confucian temples on the Chinese mainland and in
Taiwan.
According to a mainland team working on the family tree of
Confucius, there are about 4,000 descendants in Taiwan. The
influence of Confucius is greater in Taiwan than on the
mainland.
The Confucian temple in Qufu and the Confucian temple in Taipei
exchanged replicas of treasured sacrificial utensils before the
ceremony. Former Kuomintang vice-chairwoman Lin Cheng-chi, who now
heads the party's central appraisal committee, and Kuomintang
vice-chairwoman Chang Jen-Hsiang also attended the commemoration
ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2006)