AsthehometownofConfucianculture,ShandonghaswitnessedtheformationanddevelopmentofConfucianism,whichisthecornerstoneoftraditionalChineseculture,aswellasacompleteideologicalsystemcreatedbyConfucius.

DuringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod(770-476BC),today'sShandongwashometothethenmajorstatesofQiandLu.

Backthen,educationwasmonopolizedbythearistocracy,yetduringthesixthcenturyBC,aquietintellectualrevolutionwasunfoldingalongthebanksoftheSishuiRiver,whichranthroughtheQiandLustates.

Surroundedbythechaosanddisintegrationofsocialorder,ConfuciusestablishedChina'sfirstprivateeducationalinstitutioninQufu,whichwashishometownwithintheLustate.

Thenewschoolwasopentostudentsfromvarioussocialclasses,includingnobles,merchantsandcommoners.ThemovereflectedConfucius'educationphilosophyof"youjiaowulei"(educationforallwithoutdiscrimination)andexpandedthereachofeducationfromthearistocracytocommonpeople.

Itwasthere,intheshadeofapricottrees,thatheandhisstudentsengagedinprofounddiscussions,compilingthe"sixclassics"—TheBookofSongs,TheBookofHistory,TheBookofRites,TheBookofMusic,TheBookofChangesandTheSpringandAutumnAnnals,andlayingthefoundationofConfucianismcenteredonren(benevolence).

BecauseofConfucius'practice,educationalsitesandeventheeducationcommunityarereferredtoastheApricotAltar.

TheConfucianphilosophy,withrenasitscore,li(ritual)asitsnorm,andhe(harmony)asitsideal,formedacomprehensivesystemofpersonalandsocialethics.Themoralself-awarenessof"renzheairen"(benevolentloveforothers),theempatheticprincipleof"donotimposeonotherswhatyoudonotwishforyourself",andthewisdomof"harmonywithoutuniformity"collectivelyformthefoundationofConfucianthought.

Confucius'travelsandestablishmentofprivateeducationinthelandofQiandLulaidthegroundworkforConfuciandoctrine.

Mencius'advocacyofbenevolentgovernanceandXunzi'stheoriesofritualgovernancegraduallyintegratedintoandperfectedtheConfuciansystem.

DuringtheWesternHanDynasty(206BC-AD24),withthesupportfromEmperorLiuChe,Confucianismwasestablishedastheofficialorthodoxideology,becomingthemainstreamoftraditionalculture.

Confucianculturerosefromlocalknowledgetonationalideology,permeatingeverylayerofsocietythrougheducationandtheimperialexaminationsystem.

Beneaththemillennia-oldcypresstreesoftheQufuConfucianTemple,ConfuciancultureevolvedfromlocalknowledgeintothebackboneofChinesecivilization.TheopennessandinclusivityofQiculture,combinedwiththeritualisticconservatismofLuculture,fosteredthedialecticalthinkingofConfucian"moderation".

Formorethantwomillennia,thelineageofConfuciusinQufuhasbeenpreserved,withtheConfucianTemple,Mansion,andCemeterystandingassignificantsymbolsofConfuciancivilization.

TheFengshanCeremonyatMountTaiofimperialsacrificesintegratedConfucianritualswithimperialgovernance,makingShandongakeyarenaforthepracticeofConfucianceremonialculture.

Today,ShandongcontinuestoshoulderthemissionofinheritingandpromotingConfucianculture,anditispassingonsuchculturethroughinnovativemethods.

EachyeararoundSept28,thebirthdayofConfucius,theInternationalConfuciusCulturalFestivalisheldinQufu.

Thefestivalwasestablishedin1989withtheaimofcommemoratingConfucius,promotingtraditionalChineseculture,andfosteringglobaldialogueamongcivilizations.Itattractsguestsfromvariouscountriesandregions,enhancingfriendshipsamongpeopleworldwide.

Additionally,thefestivalfocusesontheexperiencesofGenerationZ.Throughactivitiessuchastheonline"ConfuciusinMyEyes"globalGenZphotoandshortvideocontest,aswellasofflineeventslikeDialogueswithConfuciusandConfuciusCultureEntersCampus,afestiveoccasionrichinConfucianculturalelementswascreatedforyoungpeoplearoundtheworldduringthe2024event.

                                By Fan Zitong