Rise and shine, culture lovers! 🌅 This Sunday, hundreds of friends and families gathered at Taipei Confucius Temple to honor the birth of the great philosopher Confucius, born 2,576 years ago. It was an early-morning moment you didn’t want to miss! At around 6 a.m., the temple courtyard came alive with a beautifully choreographed, 37-step ritual that lasted about an hour and a half. Deputy Mayor Chang Wen-te led the ceremony as principal presentation officer, while Kung Tsui-chang—Confucius’ direct 79th-generation descendant—served as consecration officer. Talk about keeping it in the family! 👏 The ceremony’s “deacons” included respected local elders, students from Taipei Minglun High School and Taipei Municipal Lishan High School. Meanwhile, younger talents from Taipei Municipal Chongqing Junior High School filled the air with traditional melodies, and Dalong Elementary School students dazzled everyone with a ritual dance. 🎶💃 “This is her first time performing, and she’s practiced so hard,” shared a proud Mr. Wang as he captured every moment of his daughter’s musical debut. “As long as she loves it, we’ll be there to cheer her on!” But Taipei wasn’t the only spot celebrating. Across the island of Taiwan, more than 40 Confucius temples—from Tainan’s 1666 landmark to smaller community shrines—held similar ceremonies, connecting past and present in a wave of cultural pride. “I’m thrilled to witness this grand ritual in person,” said resident Hsu, who traveled from Taoyuan just for the event. “Every step is so thoughtfully designed—it really showcases the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. Such customs must be passed down!” Whether you’re a history buff, a philosophy fan, or simply hunting for a unique sunrise experience, this annual homage to Confucius proves that old-school traditions still shine bright in today’s modern world. 💡✨
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Taipei Confucius Temple holds annual ceremony marking Confucius' birth
cgtn.com
