(Photo/Chinanews.com)

A grand spring fete was held in Nishan Town, Qufu of Jining City, east China’s Shandong Province, on April 4 to commemorate the respected ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, Chinanews.com reported on Thursday.

More than 400 people from China and overseas, including descendants of Confucius, took part in the ceremony, which was presided by vice-president of the World Federation of Confucius Descendants Kong Lingyu.

(Photo/Chinanews.com)

Kong Chuizhang, a 79th generation lineal descendant of Confucius, offered incense on behalf of all participants at the Confucius Temple located in Nishan Town, where Confucius was born in 551 B.C. Then everyone offered flowers and bowed three times before the statue of Confucius.

Participants also took part in a poetry recital after the fete, reciting poems in Chinese classics including The Book of Songs in a beautiful traditional way.

(Photo/Chinanews.com)

The ceremony commemorating Confucius was initiated two years after the death of Confucius, when the then king of Lu Kingdom ordered people to build a temple for Confucius at his old residence in Qufu to commemorate and offer sacrifices to him. 

(Photo/Chinanews.com)