Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party who is leading a delegation of Taiwan youth on a visit to the Chinese mainland, attended a ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, on Saturday in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.
At 09:50, the ceremony commenced in front of the city's Fuxi Temple, accompanied by the resonant sounds of drums and tolling bells. This was followed by a series of customs and rituals, including the reading of a eulogy. About 750 people from home and abroad gathered for the occasion.
Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Ma jointly presented a flower basket to the statue of Fuxi.
Ma called on young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to gain a deeper understanding of their identity as descendants of the common Chinese ancestors through such cultural events, and to continue working together to create a bright future for the Chinese nation.
“It has been important roots of the fine traditions of the Chinese nation for thousands of years and also the core values of Chinese culture to respect the deceased and remember the past, and to be grateful for the source of one's success. Through the solemn ceremony of worshiping the ancestors of Chinese culture, I hope that young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait can further join hands and work together to create a bright future for the Chinese nation," he said.
A similar event was held at the same time in New Taipei City of China's Taiwan region, marking the 12th consecutive year that the legendary figure has been commemorated simultaneously on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Tianshui is known as the birthplace of the mythical figure, who is worshiped for his contribution to teaching people about fishing, hunting and animal husbandry. According to historical records, the annual commemoration of Fuxi has a history of more than 2,000 years. It was listed as a form of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.
This is Ma Ying-jeou's fourth visit to the mainland after leaving office, lasting from June 14 to 27. Following the worshiping ceremony he will lead his delegation to visit the Hexi Corridor. Prior to his trip to Tianshui, he attended the 17th Straits Forum which began on June 15 in Xiamen, Fujian Province.
Former KMT chairman participates in ceremony worshiping mythical Chinese ancestor Fuxi
