Twenty-seven renowned scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Jiaxiang county, Jining,  Shandong province on March 25, for the Zengzi Thought Seminar and the inaugural Zengzi Cultural Award ceremony. 

The seminar, centered around the theme of "Zengzi Thought and Chinese Culture," included keynote speeches, high-end interviews, expert discussions, field trips, and award ceremonies, all of which aimed to promote the cultural heritage of Zengzi. 

Zengzi, a disciple of Confucius and an influential Chinese philosopher, lived from 505 BC to 432 BC.

At the seminar, the Zengzi Cultural Award was established to recognize outstanding publications, articles, and literary works related to Zengzi culture. The award will be presented every two years, with book and essay categories included.

In addition to the seminar events, participants had the chance to explore Jiaxiang's cultural and historical sites, including the Zengzi Temple and the Wu Family Ancestral Hall. Exhibitions showcasing local cultural heritage items, such as Jiaxiang woodcarving combs and Lujin, a type of traditional fabric, were also held to provide a comprehensive understanding of local culture.

Jiaxiang has been hosting Zengzi Thought seminars since 2003 and has organized more than 10 events over the years. The seminar has become an important platform for promoting traditional culture, as well as for fostering communication and cooperation between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Jining municipal government's Taiwan affairs office, the Jiaxiang county committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Jiaxiang county government.

The Zengzi Thought Seminar and the inaugural Zengzi Cultural Award ceremony takes place in Jining on March 25. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]