The Ceremony of Sacrifice to Confucius was traditionally called ¡§Shi Dian¡¨.The Book of Rites said, ¡§As a student, you should hold ¡§Shi Dian¡¨ for your teachers in four seasons.To begin studying, you must hold ¡§Her Dian¡¨ for the former teachers and saints¡¨.The ways of ¡§Shi Dian¡¨ are ¡§Animals Sacrifices¡¨, ¡§Music Playing¡¨, and ¡§Sacrificing¡¨.From Han to Tong dynasty, people all worshipped Confucius and called him ¡§Saint¡¨, so the ceremony of Sacrifice to Confucius was called ¡§Shi Dian¡¨ according to the ancient rules.
In 478 B.C., Duke Lu Ai began to establish a Confucius Temple in Confucius¡¦ hometown, Chufu County, in Shan Tong Province.In 195 B.C., the Emperor Han Gao came over Chufu County, and he worshipped Confucius with beef, pork, and mutton.Later, the Emperor Han Wu adored Confucianism and respected Confucius more and more with abandoning other theories.The Emperor Han Wu conferred many king and duke titles upon Confucius.Until Tong and Song dynasty, the Ceremony of Sacrifice to Confucius was almost the same as an emperor.During Ming and Ching dynasty, the government set up the rules of the ceremony.People held ¡§Shi Dian¡¨ in the early morning every February and August.During Ming dynasty, the emperor sent his prime minister, Hanlin Scholar, and Guozi minister to hold the Sacrifice for Confucius.In 1645, the Emperor Shun Zi conferred a posthumous title ¡§Dacheng Extreme Saint Wen Shiung Former Teacher¡¨ upon Confucius.After twelve years, the title was changed into ¡§Extreme Saint Former Teacher¡¨, and the Confucius Temples were established in many counties and provinces.Until the Era of the R.O.C., people continue holding the Ceremony of Sacrifice for Confucius in every province according to the rules of Ching Dynasty. |
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The R.O.C. Government announced September Twenty-eighth is Teacher¡¦s Day.On that day, people in every place should hold the ceremony of Sacrifice for Confucius in the Confucius Temples.The former officer of the ceremony is Decheng Kong who was conferred ¡§Duke Yen Sheng¡¨ in 1935.However, in 1999, because of Mr. Kong¡¦s worse health, his grandson Chuichang Kong who is the seventy-ninth generation after Confucius took over his grandfather¡¦s position.Besides, every county magistrate is also the Main Sacrifice Officer in every Confucius temple.
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The Process
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The Culture
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Wisdom Hair
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