A special memorial ceremony honoring the great philosopher Confucius was held on September 28 in Qufu, the city in east China's Shandong Province where he was born some 2,574 years ago.
Each year, thousands of attendees gather at the Confucius Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to honor the legacy and teachings of Confucius, who has wielded a profound influence over Chinese society for more than two millennia.
A procession of performers draped in red robes entered the Confucian Temple and undertook a series of rituals, accompanied by the soothing sounds of traditional Chinese stringed instruments and the smell of incense.
A memorial ceremony for Confucius is held on September 28 in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province. /CGTN
Professor of Economics at Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs, who attended the event this year, said: “The values of Confucius and Aristotle have many deep connections, and I find that very exciting because it means we have the basis of a worldwide global ethics (system), which will be very important for the whole world in the 21st century."
The memorial ceremony has now evolved into an opportunity for Chinese people to get together to honor their ancestors, preserve their time-honored traditions, and uphold the virtues of their rich cultural heritage.