A solemn ceremony, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of traditional drums, was held at Tainan Confucius Temple in southern Taiwan early Thursday morning, coinciding with the spring equinox, to honor the revered ancient Chinese educator and philosopher.

In keeping with ancient rites, the temple hosts biannual ceremonies in spring and autumn to promote Confucian values of reverence for teachers and scholarly traditions.

Comprising 20 procedures, the ceremony adheres to traditions that trace back to Qufu in Shandong Province -- the birthplace of Confucius. The ceremonial music is primarily rooted in Zhangzhou in Fujian. Local primary school students performed an ancient ritual dance at the ceremony, paying the highest tribute to Confucius.

The Confucian philosophy is an important component of Chinese civilization and a cultural bedrock for social development in Taiwan. Incomplete statistics indicate that there are over 40 Confucius temples across the island, with the Tainan Confucius Temple, built in 1666, being the oldest.