Ma Ying-jeou (front right), former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, and Song Tao (front left), head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attend the commemorative ceremony for Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, in Tianshui, Northwest China's Gansu province on Saturday. [Photo by Yin Sainan/for chinadaily.con.cn]
Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, reaffirmed the strong belief of Taiwan people in Chinese culture and identity, calling it an enduring virtue during a commemorative ceremony on the mainland on Saturday.
On Saturday, Ma led a delegation of students from Taiwan to participate in the annual ceremony honoring Fuxi, a legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, held in Tianshui, Northwest China's Gansu province. Tianshui is the birthplace of Fuxi and cradle of Fuxi culture. Since ancient times, it has had a tradition of commemorating Fuxi.
The ceremony took place simultaneously across the Taiwan Strait, with a parallel event held in New Taipei City, marking the 12th consecutive cross-Strait joint ceremony to pay tribute to Fuxi.
Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, and Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attend the commemorative ceremony for Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, in Tianshui, Northwest China's Gansu province on Saturday. [Photo by Yin Sainan/for chinadaily.com.cn]
"This is not only a time-honored tradition of the Chinese nation to trace its roots and honor its ancestors, but also a valuable opportunity for young people to experience the profound influence of Chinese culture and civilization," Ma said in an interview after the ceremony.
Fuxi is considered the first mythical emperor in Chinese history. The ceremony, which began at 9:50 am, featured a series of solemn rituals, including the reading of a eulogy, bowing in tribute, ritual music and dance performances, as well as paying respects at the ancestral temple.
Ma stated that bringing students to participate in the ceremony highlighted the importance Taiwan people place on honoring their ancestors and respecting traditional Chinese culture, and to raise awareness about the need to preserve and pass on the nation's cultural heritage.
The ceremony at the Fuxi Temple drew 759 participants from home and abroad, including more than 240 compatriots from Taiwan.
