CHINA INN

The Birthday of confucius is celebrated with a dawn ceremony-parts of which date back nearly 3,000 years-at Confucius Temples around the island. The ceremony includes a ritual dance, costumes, music, and other rites. (Due to limited space, the ceremony in Taipei is by invitation only, but dress rehearsal are open to the public.)

The teachings of Confucius are not a religion. Rather, are a guide to appropriate personal behavior and good government, and they stress the virtues of self-discipline and generosity.

Confucius held the radical view that all who possessed the depth and desire to learn, not just the aristocracy, deserved the opportunity of formal education. For this reason, his birthday, Sept. 28, is celebrated as Teacher's Day, and is a national holiday in the ROC.