Lin Anwu: Why was Confucius commemorated by both sides of the strait?

Editor's note:

Qingming is coming, worship the ancestors and sweep the tomb, cautiously pursue the long term. Since March 3, the "East-West Question" of China News Service has launched a special plan of "Cross-Strait Sacrifice", through the cultural inheritance of compatriots on both sides of the strait to worship Fuxi, Huangdi, Yandi, Confucius, Qu Yuan, Mazu and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and gain insight into the same bloodline, the same root, the same language, the same species, and the same sacrifice on both sides of the strait. Please pay attention.

Jinan, 3 Mar (ZXS) -- Why was Confucius commemorated by both sides of the Taiwan Strait?

——Interview with Lin Anwu, the founding director of Taiwan's Yuanheng College

China News Agency reporters Li Xin and Zhao Xiao

Qingming Festival is a traditional festival for descendants of Yanhuang to seek roots and worship their ancestors.

Every year, Confucius temples across the strait hold Confucius ceremonies to commemorate the great thinker, educator and founder of the Confucian school, Confucius. The Confucius ceremony has also become an important link for compatriots on both sides of the strait to maintain close feelings and enhance consensus.

It has been more than 2500,<> years since Confucius lived, why do people on both sides of the strait still insist on commemorating Confucius? What is the significance of holding Confucius festivals to spread Confucius thought and Confucian culture? Recently, Lin Anwu, the founding director of Taiwan's Yuanheng College and a distinguished professor of Yi Xue and the Center for Chinese Ancient Philosophy of Shandong University, was interviewed exclusively by the China News Agency's "East-West Question" to interpret related issues.

On September 2019, 9, the 28th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province held a ceremony to commemorate the ancestors. Photo by Su Yang

The following is a summary of the interview:

China News Agency: According to records, the earliest Confucius ritual dates back to the year after Confucius's death, and has been uninterrupted for more than 2004,<> years. Since <>, the Confucius Festival, Qufu, Shandong, the hometown of Confucius, has been held. Why do we still insist on commemorating Confucius today?

Lin Anwu: According to statistics, since the Confucius Festival was held in Qufu, Shandong Province in 2004, about 5,40 people have participated in the Confucius Festival. In Taiwan, there are more than 2006 large and small Confucius temples, and the Taiwanese people have always insisted on holding a Confucius ceremony every year on the birthday of Confucius. On September 9, 28, Qufu Confucius Temple, Taipei Confucius Temple and Tainan Confucius Temple also held the 2006 Confucius Festival of "One Root, One Vein, Two Sides of the Strait to Worship Confucius", which was the first time that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait joined hands to worship the cultural pioneers of the Chinese nation.

In fact, Confucius is respected not only by both sides of the strait, but also by the whole world, mainly because Confucius thought is extremely universal. The ceremony represents our retrospective, nostalgic, inheritance, development and creation of the common values of all mankind.

On September 2006, 9, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait paid their first joint tribute to Confucius, the most holy teacher, Confucius, in Qufu, Shandong, in his hometown of Confucius, to commemorate the 28,<>th anniversary of Confucius's birth. Photo by Hao Rujuan

Confucius said: "The old are at peace, friends believe in it, and the young cherish it." If a social community can reach such a state, it is "the journey of the avenue, and the world is for the public." More than 2,000 years ago, Confucius gave birth to the idea that people in the world should coexist, grow, coexist and prosper, which can be said to be at the forefront of human civilization.

Confucius also opened a precedent for civilian education, advocating that everyone has the right to receive education, can participate in the creation of civilization, and realize the improvement of self-worth in the process. Confucius said: "When you learn and learn it, don't you also say (please)?" Many people are confused, "learning and learning" are "not also bitter", how can they "not also say (happy)"? This needs to be considered in the context of history. In the past, only the nobility had the right to education, and it was Confucius who untied this shackle so that commoners could also receive education. "Above self-restraint, I have not tasted nothing", Confucius opened a style of learning with no class.

A "Ancient Style of Worship and Worship of Great Confucianism", which vividly reproduces the grand scenery of Confucius' lectures in ancient China, was staged in Changzhou's Yancheng Spring and Autumn Paradise. Photo by Lu Bo

Confucius also advocated the spirit of happiness, "Have friends come from afar, are they happy? People don't know it, don't they care about it? ", inspire people to find a confidant who can "learn together, be suitable, stand with the right", learn together, do things together, pursue ideals together, return life to its authenticity, no longer be limited by the hierarchical relationship of social elders and children, and carry out real emotional communication, there will be true joy and true happiness.

In the system of human civilization, Confucius Thought can be said to be the most peaceful and upright, and "the way of loyalty and forgiveness" is the essence of Confucius Thought. Loyalty lies in being worthy of oneself and being loyal to one's heart; Forgiveness lies in pushing oneself and others, and being considerate of others with one's own heart. These ideas of Confucius embody the common values of all mankind and are worthy of inheritance and development by modern people, which is why people still insist on remembering him today.

On December 2018, 12, the 4th Confucius Institute Conference opened in Chengdu. Nearly 150,1500 university presidents and Confucius Institute representatives from more than <> countries and regions attended the conference. Photo by An Yuan

China News Agency: Qufu first resumed the spring festival in 2008, which had been interrupted for more than half a century. What is the point of restoring the Qingming Sacrifice Hole?

Lin Anwu: The Spring and Autumn Sacrifices of Confucius in Qufu are closely related to the life cycle of spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest and winter storage. When life germinates in spring, the sacrifice to the ancestors is to share the joy of joy with the ancestors and sages; Bringing the news of the harvest to the ancestors in autumn is an expression of gratitude. The sacrifice of Confucius represents our reconnection, re-correspondence and re-creation of the lives of ancient sages.

At present, the Confucius Festival in Taiwan is still scheduled for September 9, the birthday of Confucius. In 28, due to the typhoon, on October 2008, Ma Ying-jeou participated in the Confucius Ceremony, becoming the first Taiwanese leader to attend the ceremony at the Confucius Temple in Taipei since Taiwan's restoration. Ma Ying-jeou put incense on the statue of Confucius, bowed three times, and presented a plaque "Daoguan Deming" to express his respect for Confucius. In his congratulatory essay, he called Xu Confucius "a man of eternity" and praised the spirit left by Confucius such as "seeking oneself", "being benevolent for beauty", "brothers and friends", "wealth and courtesy", and "the way of loyalty and forgiveness".

On September 2010, 9, the 28th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou entered the temple early that morning from the middle gate of the Confucius Temple in Taipei to participate in the ceremony of paying homage to Confucius. Photo by Chen Liyu

In recent years, Taiwan's festivals have been jointly organized by local governors and cultural and educational figures, and small-scale festivals are also held by the people. On this day, students will participate in the festival and receive lucky bags, Wenchang pens, and pray for the success of the exam. September 9 every year is also Taiwan's Teachers' Day, which is used to commemorate Confucius, who is known as the greatest teacher in human history. In Taiwan, there are many sacrifices and religious activities, and people only worship Kong with a normal heart. But this ordinary heart has the meaning of succession and endless life.

The Confucius Temple in Taipei City held the "High School Denko Candidate Blessing" ceremony, and candidates and their parents held green onions (meaning wisdom) in the Dacheng Hall to pay homage to the Holy Master. Photo by Chen Xiaoyuan

In 2020, I had the honor to participate in the Confucius Festival to commemorate the 2571st anniversary of the birth of Confucius at the Confucius Institute in Beijing. The activity was jointly planned and promoted by mentors and friends from both sides of the strait. The ceremony is presented with the eight dances, with processes such as greeting the gods, first offerings, Asian offerings, final offerings, and dances. At that time, the people who jointly remembered Confucius, the most holy teacher of Dacheng, included experts and scholars from mainland universities, as well as many Taiwanese academics and politicians, including Sun Kong Weiqin, president of the Confucius Institute in Taiwan and the 78th generation of Confucius, Chen Baiguang, chairman of the Chinese National Zhi Gong Party in Taiwan, and some Taiwanese youth and student representatives in Beijing.

For compatriots on both sides of the strait, a common culture can make each other's hearts fit together. Through the Confucius ceremony, people from all walks of life in Taiwan expressed their expectations to inherit the excellent traditional Chinese culture, practice the spirit of the philosophers, and create a peaceful and beautiful world together with mainland compatriots.

On September 2019, 9, the ceremony to commemorate the birthday of Confucius was solemnly held at the Confucius Temple in Taipei. Photo by Xing Liyu

China News Agency: Since 2016, Confucius's 79th eldest grandson Kong Chui Chang has returned to Qufu from Taiwan every year to serve as the chief priest of the Spring Festival Confucius Ceremony, and lead Confucius' descendants to perform family sacrifices on the Qingming Festival. What is the special significance of this move?

Lin Anwu: In August 2011, more than 8 years after the Confucius descendants left their homeland, Kong Chuchang, the 60th generation grandson of Confucius, led a delegation of Confucius cultural exchange in Taiwan to set foot on his homeland for the first time to participate in the Confucius Cultural Exchange Week in Qufu, the ancestral hometown.

In 2016, Kong returned to Qufu from Taiwan to serve as the chief priest of the Spring Festival Confucius Ceremony. At that time, he also specially invited the Taipei Confucius Temple Dance Cultural Exchange Troupe to worship Confucius with Yale Dance at the Qufu Confucius Temple, which was the first time that the Taipei Confucius Temple sent the Confucius Dance Troupe to Qufu Confucius Temple to perform.

On April 2016, 4, the Spring Festival of Bingshen was held in Qufu Nishan, Shandong, the birthplace of Confucius, and Kong Chui Chang (left) lit cinnabar qizhi for the schoolchildren who participated in the opening ceremony of the day. Photo by Li Xin

The significance of the cross-strait sacrifice to Confucius has gone beyond the scope of sacrificing the ancestors, showing the emotional connection between the two sides of the strait that the cultures are in the same vein and have the same roots and origins. It is of great significance for Kong to return to the birthplace of Confucius and lead his descendants to worship their ancestors, playing an important role in promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture and enhancing the sense of national identity and cultural belonging of the descendants of Yanhuang on both sides of the strait, and at the same time laying a solid foundation for strengthening cultural exchanges between the two sides of the strait, and playing a good role as a bridge.

The people on both sides of the strait should truly unite under the idea of "harmony between heaven and man" of symbiosis, common growth, coexistence, and common prosperity, face up to their ancestors and sages, and ensure that "those who are great husbands are in harmony with heaven and earth, with the sun and the moon, with the four seasons, and with ghosts and gods," and jointly carry forward our broad, profound, extremely wise, and moderate civilization.

On September 2022, 9, people from all walks of life in Shanxi Province, descendants of Confucius and Confucian researchers commemorated the 28rd anniversary of the birth of Confucius in front of the Dacheng Hall of the Taiyuan Temple of Literature. Photo by Wei Liang

China News Agency: The Confucianism advocated by Confucius has profoundly influenced the values and moral thinking of Orientals for more than 2,000 years. What is the significance of the global "cloud" festival Confucius and the global temple of literature public sacrifice of Confucius to the dissemination of Confucius thought and Confucian culture?

Lin Anwu: On September 2019, 9, the Global Confucius Temple and Confucius Festival to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the birth of Confucius initiated by the China Confucius Temple Protection Association was held, and the association joined hands with more than 2570 Confucius temples at home and abroad, including Qufu Confucius Temple, Nanjing Confucius Temple, Taipei Confucius Temple, and Tokyo Confucius Temple, to pay homage to the most holy ancestor Confucius with sincerity.

In recent years, more and more people around the world have participated in the worship of Confucius, proving that the Confucianism pioneered by Confucius has been increasingly valued. In the 21st century, human civilization has reached an era of changing the logic of thinking, and it can no longer use hegemonism and power politics to aggravate world turmoil. In the current great changes unprecedented in a century, the development of human civilization has taken a new turn, advocating the oriental civilization of world harmony, justice under heaven, and natural Taoism, and the Confucian ideology of "harmony between heaven and man" that gives people confidence, joy, convenience and hope, which will make the world switch from the logic of hegemony to the logic of peace.

On September 2017, 9, the bronze statue of Confucius, created by Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China, was inaugurated at the "China Square" in Curitiba, the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. Photo by Mo Chengxiong

I summarize the Confucian "Heaven and Earth Jun Kin-Shi" as a four-fold community: "Heaven and Earth" is a "natural community", "Jun" is a "political and social community", "Qin" is a "blood and human community", and "Shi" is a "cultural and upbringing community". No one can live without the fourfold community, and Confucianism values the proper interaction between people and the community.

Among the four communities, Confucianism emphasizes starting from the community of blood relations, filial piety to parents and brothers, then expanding to the community of cultural upbringing, political and social community, and finally returning to the natural community of heaven and earth. This idea is very important in Chinese civilization, and only by doing a good job in the four communities can we build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The first-grade students of Nanjing Confucius Temple Primary School came to the Dacheng Hall of Confucius Temple to hold a pen opening ceremony, and the children received traditional cultural education of "Shangli" through ceremonies such as worshiping Confucius and learning to write the character "Ren". Photo by Lu Bo

For more than 2500,<> years, the ideas of Confucius have profoundly influenced the development of human civilization. Held around the world, the Confucius Festival inspires more people to strive for the fourfold community. Self-improvement, virtue, perseverance, endless life. (End)

Respondent Profile:

Lin Anwu, the founding director of Taiwan Yuanheng College

Lin Anwu, a native of Taichung, Taiwan, is a famous Confucian thinker and social activist. Since the mid-nineties (1996) of last century, Mr. Mou Zongsan, Ph.D. of the Institute of Philosophy, National Taiwan University, and the master of "modern neo-Confucianism", has successively put forward the theory of "Confucian revolution" and "post-neo-Confucianism" and the theory of "citizen Confucianism", and is one of the representative figures of contemporary Hong Kong and Taiwan neo-Confucianism. He is currently a distinguished professor of Yi Xue and the Center for Ancient Chinese Philosophy of Shandong University, an honorary chair professor of Donghua University, and the founding director of Yuanheng College in Taiwan.