Across China: Chinese people pay tributes to legendary ancestor
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province. Approximately 5,000 Chinese people attended a grand ceremony on Thursday morning here to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor. March 3 on the Chinese lunar calendar, which fell on Thursday this year, is widely believed to be the birthday of Huangdi. As a legendary common ancestor of the Chinese people, Huangdi was believed to have been born in the county-level city of Xinzheng. Worshipping Huangdi is a tradition in China. The ceremony of ancestor worship in Huangdi's hometown was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
ZHENGZHOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 5,000 Chinese people attended a grand ceremony on Thursday morning in central China's Henan Province to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor.
Held in Xinzheng City, the ceremonial rituals included firing salute cannons, presenting flower baskets, burning incense, a worshipping ceremony, and tributes through music and dance.
Sixty-four dancers performed Bayi, an iconic ceremonial dance in ancient China, while 99 Chinese zither players sat around, playing melodious ancient music.
"The ancestral worship ceremony is an important ritual in Chinese traditional culture, which showcases the profound cultural heritage, solidarity and progressive spirit of the entire Chinese nation," said Wang Runze, deputy head of the School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China.
The ceremony was conducted simultaneously both on-site and online, allowing for wider participation and engagement.
In addition to the ceremony, numerous other activities were arranged, such as a merchants' conference, a cultural forum, and the start of a dedicated cultural week celebrating Huangdi.
March 3 on the Chinese lunar calendar, which fell on Thursday this year, is widely believed to be the birthday of Huangdi.
As a legendary common ancestor of the Chinese people, Huangdi was believed to have been born in the county-level city of Xinzheng, which is administered by the provincial capital Zhengzhou.
Xinzheng annually hosts grand ancestral worship ceremonies, initially organized spontaneously by local residents.
However, in the 1990s, the Xinzheng city government took the initiative to organize and promote these ceremonies, gradually elevating them into culturally significant events with widespread domestic and international influence.
Worshipping Huangdi is a tradition in China. The ceremony of ancestor worship in Huangdi's hometown was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. ■
Performers dance during a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024.(Xinhua/Hao Yuan)
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province.(Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province.(Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province.(Xinhua/Hao Yuan)
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province.(Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
Performers attend a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024.(Xinhua/Hao Yuan)
This photo taken on April 11, 2024 shows a view of a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
Performers act during a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
Performers attend a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
Performers act during a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024.(Xinhua/Hao Yuan)
Performers dance during a ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province, April 11, 2024.(Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
Related articles
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Tourism provides development engine for village
Fu Pingjun (right) discusses plant growth with villagers in Tengtou village of Ningbo, Zhejiang prov2024-05-21Borders no boundary to protecting cranes
Black-necked cranes winter at Dashanbao Nature Reserve in Zhaotong, Yunnan province, in December. WA2024-05-21‘Xinjiang Is a Nice Place' opens for a third year
A vivid demonstration of the richness and dynamism of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's culture is2024-05-21Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
Children have been evacuated from a school with Year 11 students told to leave mid-exam after a thre2024-05-21Xi Focus: Xi Charts Course for China
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-21
atest comment