Happy Teachers' Day！2561st Anniversary Ceremony of Confucius, the Greatest Sage

By Chi Bing-hui, compiled and reported

Today is a memorable Teachers' Day—have you wished those hardworking teachers a happy Teachers' Day yet? This year marks the 2561st anniversary of Confucius, the Greatest Sage. At dawn, the Changhua County Government grandly held the Sacrificial Ceremony at the Changhua Confucius Temple, a first-class historic site in Changhua City, with...

At just 5 a.m., when the sky was barely bright, participants and spectators had already filled the Confucius Worship venue. As the solemn and elegant “Yin Shen Xian He” (Welcoming the Spirit – Harmonious Music) played, the worship ceremony at the Chong Sheng Shrine officially began. The entire ceremony followed ancient rituals. County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan, serving as the Chief Sacrificer, along with four Deputy Sacrificers—County Government Secretary-General Lai Chen-kou, Civil Affairs Department Director Qiu Shiping, Education Department Director Lin Tian-fu, and Changhua City Mayor Qiu Jian-fu—followed the guidance of the ritual master to complete each step, including presenting offerings, offering incense, performing the First, Second, and Final Libations. The ceremony at the Chong Sheng Shrine concluded with the “Song Shen” (Sending Off the Spirit) music.

At 6 a.m., the ceremony at the Dacheng Hall began. The master of ceremonies directed the ritual assistants to open the Ji Men (Rank Gate) in front of the Dacheng Hall. As the sound of drums and bells echoed, officials entered the hall to offer sacrifices. Six ritual dancers, holding yak-tail whisks and feathered banners in both hands, performed to the accompaniment of elegant music, evoking deep reverence for the ancient sages. The 36 ritual musicians and 12 ceremonial singers of the Confucius Worship Ceremony were performed by students from Changhua Senior Commercial School, while the six ritual dancers were played by 36 students from Changxing Junior High School. All participants wore traditional robes and hats, conducting the rites with formal precision.

After the ceremony, Magistrate Cho led the ritual assistants, ceremonial performers, participating students, and spectators through the Diligence Gate and Wisdom Gate. They touched the sacrificial offerings and tasted the ritual food, believed to share the wisdom of the ancient sages, and to pray for blessings that help students think carefully, discern wisely, gain wisdom, and expand their knowledge.