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Elsie Leung Oi-sie, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee and former secretary for justice,is invitedas the guest of honor to officiate the2016 Qing Ming Ancestral Commemoration Ceremonyat the AsiaWorld-Expo Center in HKSAR, on April 4. (Photos provided to China Daily)
Approximately 8,000 Chinese descendents from around the globe gathered in Hong Kong on April 4, attending the 2016 Qing Ming Ancestral Commemoration Ceremony for "Forefathers of some 23,000 Surnames" together at the AsiaWorld-Expo Center in HKSAR.
Elsie Leung Oi-sie, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee and former secretary for justice, was invited to be the guest of honor to officiate the grand and solemn ceremony.
Ms Leung said that paying respect to ancestors is a typical way for Chinese to remember where our root and happiness come from. It serves as a vital link between the past, present and future, helping us to carry forward the time-honored merits and virtues of our forefathers. She made the remarks after the one-hour long ritual that proceeded in a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
“History has told us that ‘For governing a country and guiding its people, the priority should be given to education’, likewise, for solving current dilemmas of social dispute and chaos, Chinese traditional education will be the remedy,” Venerable Master Chin Kung, a 90-year-old master of Buddhism who has been advocating and perpetuating the tradition for over 58 years, told China Daily.
About 8,000 people attend the2016 Qing Ming Ancestral Commemoration Ceremony.
The ceremony has been held consecutively for five years and drawn more than one million participants. “In the age of globalization, honoring and remembering our forefathers helps us to revitalize their traditional teachings,” said Tsai Li-hsu, representative of the host of the ceremony -- the Hong Kong Buddhist Education Foundation.
The event took place in Qing Ming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, a one-day public holiday both in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland to memorize people that have passed away. Originally conducted by individual families, the tradition is now in modern days more frequently seen in large-scale ancestor worship rituals.
For Chinese people, the tomb sweeping tradition has been followed for centuries. Qing Ming Festival is also an opportunity for both mainland and Hong Kong people to better cherish Chinese traditional culture and their ancestors’ wisdom and merits.
Elsie Leung Oi-sieprays at the2016 Qing Ming Ancestral Commemoration Ceremony.
Rituals are in process at theceremony.
Traditional music intruments are playedat the2016 Qing Ming Ancestral Commemoration Ceremony.
A performer hits the drumat theceremony.
(CHINADAILY)
