Day 4, Sept 28: Confucius Ceremony

After the ceremony we ate lunch at Mr. Kong's residence. Mr. Kong is the 75th eldest grandson of Confucius. He asked us to write three articles, one of which was on how our impression of the Confucius Ceremony. I've included my article here for day 4.

Discipline and Unruliness

Formality and Familiarity

Logical Sequence and Fluidity

in Confucius Ceremony

The Confucius Ceremony straddled two worlds and also perfectly blended those two worlds. Before our arrival we were strongly advised on what would be appropriate attire for the event. Additionally, a trio of young women delivered our beautifully crafted, individualized invitations. We were also shown a grid of where our delegation would be standing. With this attention to detail and formality, the tone of the ceremony was set.

Upon our arrival at the temple, my sight was immediately drawn to two uniform lines of school children wearing their matching clothes and the youngest wearing their primary scarves, standing in stiff attention, trying very hard to be still and obedient. But as they are school children some were more prone to wiggling and distraction than others. We walked in through the high doorway and into a sea of gold and red. Everything was draped in red and gold, and it looked crisp and new, yet under foot were uneven boards to be wary of. We were then escorted into a swarm of activity as more people filtered into their place on the grid. We tried to form straight rows and columns but had little success, perhaps due to our American non-conformity ways, perhaps due to other factors; some groups were better at this than us. The ceremony eventually began with many readings, the gift of flowers, the hymns, and recitations. On one hand the linear portion of the ceremony persisted throughout the ceremony. Everything seemed measured, prescripted. The children’s recitations marched from them in sharp solid fashion. Yet, those around me even noted how they did not understand the analects. I’m not sure if that’s because of the formality of them, or because of the intellect of Confucius, or for some other factor I’m not aware of. We were told that the hymn was about a Utopian world, full of peace and harmony. I wondered about what peace and harmony comes from grids and lines and sharp straight conformity. Perhaps harmony does come from discipline, perhaps it comes from creativity, non-conformity, freedoms. Perhaps there is some place where people create freely, think freely, yet have discipline and respect. I listened and looked around a little closer, trying hard to stay in my place in the grid, but I see that the lines are askew in large part because the trees and uneven ground around the roots in the courtyard. I realize that nature has once again taught me about balance between conformity and creativity. The solid upward strength of the trees, standing in conformity, yet each one is different and has its own place. The roots force the ground upward yet the ground is solid and stable. After the ceremony we were allowed to explore the temple briefly. I was able to get a better look at the incense pot where straight incense sticks released undisciplined smoke wafts to the heavens but like so much in life, only some of the smoke was lifted to the heavens. Some escaped into me and there it will forever remain. Through the visions of yellow and gold, the physical feeling of straight lines, the touch of the heat on our dress suits, the smell of the incense I was able to experience Confucius’ teachings on human nature: creativity, balance, discipline, respect, strength, harmony, peace.

From China

From China

This would be about heaven for me, having a drawing, writing, art room overlooking an outdoor courtyard. Not to mention eating in the courtyard like we did on this afternoon.

From China

After the ceremony we went to the airbase where the US bombers were housed. That was really cool. Any time you can go visit history it's so much more alive...

From China

From China