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ZHENGZHOU, China, April 24, 2023 /Xinhua=KYODO JBN/--

On April 22, the third day of the third lunar month, a grand ancestor worship

ceremony was held in Zhengzhou City, capital of central China's Henan Province.

Many Chinese across the world came to worship their common ancestor, the Yellow

Emperor, pray for the prosperity for China and wish the world peace and harmony.

Chinese legend has it that the Yellow Emperor was born, established a country

and set his capital in the area of Zhengzhou over 5,000 years ago. He unified

many tribes to form the Chinese nation and was revered as Chinese

civilization's ancestor.

Archaeological discoveries in Zhengzhou in recent years have confirmed that the

time of the emergence of a state on this land coincides with the legendary

Yellow Emperor era. Therefore, Zhengzhou is regarded the Yellow Emperor's

hometown.

The third day of the third lunar month is the birthday of the legendary Yellow

Emperor. Since the period of 770 BC - 221 BC, there has been a folk tradition

of worshipping the Yellow Emperor on this day.

Since the start of the 21st century, Zhengzhou has held 18 consecutive

ceremonies. Nine fixed rituals including saluting, presenting flower baskets,

offering incense, performing worship, reading worths, singing praises, dancing,

praying for China and global peace and harmony, have been listed as national

intangible cultural heritage. This year's ceremony is especially grand as it

marks the first year of offline ancestor worship after the COVID-19 pandemic,

according to the Organizing Committee of the Yellow Emperor Hometown Ancestor

Worship Ceremony.

The worship ceremony in the Yellow Emperor's hometown has long found its echo

abroad. This year, San Francisco, London, Sydney, Bangkok and other places

followed Zhengzhou to hold worship activities.

Ancestor worship is the cornerstone of Chinese belief. Wang Liqun, a famous

Chinese cultural scholar, said that the worship culture retains the unique

cultural memory of the Chinese nation, and is the meeting point of emotional

identity and communication among the Yellow Emperor's descendants, which forms

a strong spiritual cohesion to maintain families, clans and even the whole

nation.

Being one of the eight ancient capitals of China, today's Zhengzhou integrates

ancient and modern elements, and enjoys convenient transportation and booming

trade.

As a developing national central city and a key player in China's historical

civilization inheritance and innovation, Zhengzhou harbors the lives and dreams

of over 10 million people. With rich ancient civilization and vibrant

modernity, Zhengzhou is embracing the world with open arms.

Source: The Organizing Committee of the Yellow Emperor Hometown Ancestor

Worship Ceremony

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   Caption: The 2023 Yellow Emperor worship ceremony at the common ancestor's hometown