This year's ceremony featured the bayi dance, a complex routine centered on the theme of "great harmony". The dance's 32 movements, each corresponding to a word in the hymn, visually express Confucian values such as trust, peace, and virtue. The use of traditional instruments like bianzhong (chime bells) and bianqing (chime-stone) further enhances the ceremony's ancient atmosphere, making it a vivid display of cultural heritage. Yan believes that modern technology can breathe new life into these ancient traditions.

The use of traditional instruments enhances the dance's ancient atmosphere, making the ceremony a vivid display of cultural heritage. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_8bece179bb98]

Virtual screens and global online participation during the Confucius festival have expanded the ceremony's reach, allowing more people to experience this cultural treasure. Through careful preservation and innovative presentation, the sacrificial dance for Confucius will continue to be a testament to China's rich cultural legacy.

Dancers practice the sacrificial dance. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_8bece179bb98]