Global cultural festival pays tribute to Confucius

The words of the Analects rose into the autumn air, set to ancient music at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong province, on Monday. A crowd stepped forward to place flower baskets and bow. The ceremony was measured and solemn, a tribute to Confucius that has continued in various forms for centuries in Qufu, his hometown.

This year marks the 2,577th anniversary of Confucius' birth, an influential educator and philosopher whose teachings became the foundation of Confucianism and shaped Chinese society and thought for generations. He advocated teaching students regardless of their social background.

The tradition of commemorating Confucius began in 478 BC, a year after his death, and has evolved to feature ancient music, ceremonial dances and traditional rituals.

The gathering was part of this year's China International Confucius Cultural Festival that carries the theme "Benevolence and Rituals for a World of Shared Harmony".

The festival drew about 300 participants from 44 countries and regions, including foreign dignitaries, diplomats, UNESCO Confucius Prize laureates, overseas travel agents, and young Sinologists.

The festival runs through Oct 7 and takes Confucian culture overseas through study tours, brings it into everyday life through temple fairs, promotes the reading of Confucian classics worldwide, and follows Confucius' legacy along the Grand Canal.