A ceremony known as Kai Bi Li was held at the Confucius Temple in Datong, North China's Shanxi province on Aug 21, to celebrate the beginning of education for preschool children, sxgov.cn reported on Aug 21.
Datong Confucian Temple, originally built in the 29th year of the reign of Emperor Hongwu, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), is located in the southeast of the city.
With a fascinating history, it was once the top institution of higher education in ancient China.
Its original site used to be at the country's highest institution, located at Zhong Shu Xue (the central educational institution) in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557 AD), and then at the Imperial College in the Liao (916-1125 AD) and Jin (1115-1234 AD) dynasties. The current architecture was renovated during the Ming Dynasty.
In ancient times, in addition to writing and reading, teachers would teach students the basic principles of life during their first class in school. Then, they would pay respects to the statue of Confucius before being formally enrolled.
The ceremony held in Datong Temple involves going through a series of procedures. Firstly, children are required to wear appropriate clothing, which the ancient sages thought was the first step for a child to become an educated person.
Then, teachers would dot the middle of the forehead using cinnabar, in the hope of making children become more intelligent and develop a love for reading.
The last two steps involve playing drums and teaching children how to write the Chinese character for ren (which means person), encouraging them to become a person of integrity and honesty.
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A teacher uses a writing brush to paint a red dot on the forehead of a child in a ceremony held at the Confucius Temple in Datong, North China's Shanxi province on Aug 21. [Photo/sxgov.cn] |
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A number of preschool students dressed in traditional costumes take part in a ceremony held in the Confucius Temple in Datong, North China's Shanxi province on Aug 21. [Photo/sxgov.cn] |
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A child learns how to write the Chinese word ren, at a ceremony held in the Confucius Temple in Datong, North China's Shanxi province on Aug 21. [Photo/sxgov.cn] |
