Across China: China observes 2,567th anniversary of Confucius' birth

JINAN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A grand ceremony was held in Qufu City, hometown of Confucius, in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday to celebrate the 2,567th anniversary of the birth of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.

More than 2,000 people recited classic quotes from "The Analects," a collection of Confucius' famous sayings, in front of the Confucius Temple.

The participants, including government officials, UNESCO officials, scholars, students and descendants of Confucius, from over 20 countries and regions, marched toward the Confucius Temple wearing yellow ribbons.

The ceremony started around 9:30 a.m. Dancers wearing Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) costume staged a ritual dance. Representatives presented flower baskets in front of a statue of Confucius, and all participants bowed three times toward the statue.

The Qufu government organized experts to conduct research on the current name, time, venue, procedure, code of etiquette, sacrificial offerings and ritual dance of the ceremony, to ensure it was suitable occasion.

Ceremonies were held also in a number of Chinese cities throughout China on Wednesday.

In Changchun, about 20 descendants of Confucius participated in a ritual ceremony held at the city's Confucius Temple.

After the ceremony, Jin Haifeng, a professor with the college of Liberal Arts of Changchun University, gave a lecture on ancient Chinese civilization.

On Wednesday, a Confucianism museum opened to the public in Quzhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province. The museum displays ancient books and materials on Confucianism, and in the future will invite Confucianism experts from home and abroad.

The museum will serve as an education base for traditional Chinese culture and etiquette training.

Some foreigners also attended the ceremony in Quzhou. David Peter Maclellan, an advisor of the Confucius Institute at Saint Mary's University in Canada, said Confucianism is helpful for solving the basic problems of a country and a society.

Kong Xiangkai, a descendant of Confucius, told overseas students attending the ceremony that he hoped people around the world could strive to realize the peace and social harmony in Confucius' teachings.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.), an educator and philosopher, founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools that enrolled students from all walks of life. He is believed to have been born on September 28.