LIU CHEN/CHINA DAILY

As the hometown of Confucian culture, Shandong has witnessed the formation and development of Confucianism, which is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture, as well as a complete ideological system created by Confucius.

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), today's Shandong was home to the then major states of Qi and Lu.

Back then, education was monopolized by the aristocracy, yet during the sixth century BC, a quiet intellectual revolution was unfolding along the banks of the Sishui River, which ran through the Qi and Lu states.

Surrounded by the chaos and disintegration of social order, Confucius established China's first private educational institution in Qufu, which was his hometown within the Lu state.

The new school was open to students from various social classes, including nobles, merchants and commoners. The move reflected Confucius' education philosophy of "you jiao wu lei" (education for all without discrimination) and expanded the reach of education from the aristocracy to common people.

It was there, in the shade of apricot trees, that he and his students engaged in profound discussions, compiling the "six classics" — The Book of Songs, The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music, The Book of Changes and The Spring and Autumn Annals, and laying the foundation of Confucianism centered on ren (benevolence).

Because of Confucius' practice, educational sites and even the education community are referred to as the Apricot Altar.

The Confucian philosophy, with ren as its core, li (ritual) as its norm, and he (harmony) as its ideal, formed a comprehensive system of personal and social ethics. The moral self-awareness of "ren zhe ai ren" (benevolent love for others), the empathetic principle of "do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself", and the wisdom of "harmony without uniformity" collectively form the foundation of Confucian thought.

Confucius' travels and establishment of private education in the land of Qi and Lu laid the groundwork for Confucian doctrine.

Mencius' advocacy of benevolent governance and Xunzi's theories of ritual governance gradually integrated into and perfected the Confucian system.

During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), with the support from Emperor Liu Che, Confucianism was established as the official orthodox ideology, becoming the mainstream of traditional culture.

Confucian culture rose from local knowledge to national ideology, permeating every layer of society through education and the imperial examination system.

Beneath the millennia-old cypress trees of the Qufu Confucian Temple, Confucian culture evolved from local knowledge into the backbone of Chinese civilization. The openness and inclusivity of Qi culture, combined with the ritualistic conservatism of Lu culture, fostered the dialectical thinking of Confucian "moderation".

For more than two millennia, the lineage of Confucius in Qufu has been preserved, with the Confucian Temple, Mansion, and Cemetery standing as significant symbols of Confucian civilization.

The Fengshan Ceremony at Mount Tai of imperial sacrifices integrated Confucian rituals with imperial governance, making Shandong a key arena for the practice of Confucian ceremonial culture.

Today, Shandong continues to shoulder the mission of inheriting and promoting Confucian culture, and it is passing on such culture through innovative methods.

Each year around Sept 28, the birthday of Confucius, the International Confucius Cultural Festival is held in Qufu.

The festival was established in 1989 with the aim of commemorating Confucius, promoting traditional Chinese culture, and fostering global dialogue among civilizations. It attracts guests from various countries and regions, enhancing friendships among people worldwide.

Additionally, the festival focuses on the experiences of Generation Z. Through activities such as the online "Confucius in My Eyes" global Gen Z photo and short video contest, as well as offline events like Dialogues with Confucius and Confucius Culture Enters Campus, a festive occasion rich in Confucian cultural elements was created for young people around the world during the 2024 event.