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Central China city to stage Chinese ancestor memorial ritual

By Du Wenjuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-03-12 16:41

Xinzheng, the birthplace of the Chinese ancestral emperor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, is calling on all Chinese people both at home and abroad to join in a memorial ceremony later this month.

The ancient capital city south of the Yellow River is a county-level city of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province in central China.

People gather in front of the native residence of Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, considered the ancestor of all Chinese People, in Xinzheng, central China's Henan province in this April, 2007 file photo. [Dahe.cn]

The ritual, either organized by governments or marked by people gathering spontaneously for ages, is held annually on the third day of the third lunar month, and this year on March 29.

The organizers say a record 20,000 people from home and abroad are confirmed to take part in the ceremony in Xinzheng. "It will bring all Chinese closer together during the global economic downturn and hope for a united and prosperous China," said Ding Shixian, head of the publicity department of Zhengzhou, at a news briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

"Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong are both on the invitation list," Ding told the reporters. KMT honorary chairman Lien Chan has led delegations to the central Chinese city for the event twice in 2007 and 2008.

The statue of the Yellow Emperor located in Xinzheng, central China's Henan province. [File]

The ceremony will feature performances -- such as dragon dance, Shaolin kungfu and folk dances, a grand firework show and worshipping services like wreath-offering, praying, eulogy reading and singing.

It will also mark the start of a Chinese culture week and trade and tourism promotion activities until the end of March.

The Yellow Emperor, the leader of the earliest Chinese clan reigning 2,497-2,398 BC, is regarded as a Chinese sovereign and cultural hero. The mythical character, together with Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao and Shun, is called "five emperors" before China’s first recorded dynasty Xia. He was also credited with introducing the systems of government and law, teaching people working and living skills and inventing necessary tools in literature and legends.

China has commemorated the Yellow Emperor since the Spring and Autumn Period in around 8 BC.