On September 22nd, the 43rd Annual Northern California Confucius Ceremony was held at 10 a.m. at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center to commemorate the 2574th anniversary of Confucius’s birth. Following ancient rituals, the event highlighted the spirit of respecting teachers and emphasizing the importance of propriety, attracting nearly 500 attendees.
The main activity of the ceremony was the “Dedication Ritual” to honor Confucius, with “Dedication” symbolizing the set-up ceremony and “Ritual” representing the offering of sacrifices and offerings. The ceremony was officiated by Li Zuotang as the Chief Offeror, with Richard Lai, Director of the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, Julie Chuang, Director of the Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center, Lu Fangyun, Honorary Chairman of the Qilu Club, and Li Naya, President of the Northern California Chinese School Association, serving as Assistant Offerors.
At 10 a.m. on that day, amid the sounds of bells and drums, the Dedication Ritual officially commenced. The Chief Offeror, Assistant Offerors, Attendant Sacrificer, Ceremonial Master, as well as the Rites and Dancers, entered according to protocol, performing rites such as opening the door, welcoming the deity, presenting offerings, reciting sacrificial texts, withdrawing the offerings, seeing off the deity, closing the door, and concluding the ceremony. Accompanied by the choir’s melodious singing and drum music, 36 dancers performed solemn traditional dances to convey sincere reverence to the venerable master Confucius. Throughout the rite, participants bowed thrice as a sign of respect.
Mu Shanzhu, the convener of the 43rd Confucius Ceremony, stated that the ceremony not only upholds the inheritance of Chinese culture but also embodies Confucian ideals. He emphasized that the ceremony helps in understanding the spirit of respecting teachers and upholding ethical standards centered on humanity. Through the Confucius Ceremony, they aim to promote the profound thoughts of Confucius and the spirit of respecting teachers abroad.
Richard Lai expressed that he attended the ceremony on behalf of the government of the Republic of China to carry forward the essence of Chinese culture with everyone. He mentioned that Chinese culture is vast and profound, with Confucian principles deeply shaping Chinese society for thousands of years. The concept of respecting teachers and upholding propriety has long been ingrained in people’s hearts. Taiwan is highlighted as the place preserving Chinese culture most comprehensively, with the continued use of traditional characters being crucial to maintain the integrity of Chinese culture.
Several elected officials, including Congressman Ro Khanna, Assemblymember Evan Low, Mayor Carmen Montano of Milpitas, and Councilmembers Yang Shao, Jieyi Huang, and Raj Salwan, among others, along with community leaders, attended the ceremony. Many officials presented commendations during the event to extend their felicitations.
At the ceremony, Ro Khanna awarded commendations to the Confucius Ceremony Committee and honored teachers, emphasizing the immense relevance of Confucius’s teachings in today’s society, particularly in the United States. He stressed the importance of mutual respect and politeness, even amidst differing opinions, as crucial values amidst global extremism and escalating violence. He expressed pride in the region’s acknowledgment of Confucius, his philosophies, and values, as the ceremony signifies the legacy of the visionary ideals outlined by Confucius for the nation and the world.
Following the ceremony’s conclusion, students from the Northern California Chinese School recited the Confucian classic “The Standards for Being a Good Student and Child.” Subsequently, awards were presented on-site, including Excellent Teacher Awards, Qilu Outstanding Student Scholarships, and Special Contribution Awards, to promote the spirit of respecting teachers and upholding ethical values. This year’s activities also included honoring outstanding K-12 teachers from mainstream school districts, further disseminating the concept of respecting teachers within the American mainstream community.
Since 1982, the Confucius Ceremony has been jointly organized by the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, the San Francisco Bay Area Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Service Center, the San Francisco Bay Area Qilu Club, and the Northern California Chinese School Association. This traditional ceremony has become one of the most solemn cultural events in Northern California, with the California State Assembly passing Bill No. 177 in August 2000, designating September 28th as California Confucius Commemoration Day.