On March 6, the plaque unveiling ceremony and illustrative performance for “Laozi Memorial Ceremony”as a representative item of the national intangible cultural heritage were held in Luyi County of Henan, the hometown of Laozi. The ceremony marked the birth of Laozi 2,594 years ago.

Under the theme “protecting and utilizing intangible cultural heritage and inheriting and promoting Laozi culture,”the event was meant to promote Laozi’s thought, build a tourist attraction with the classics of Laozi and Zhuangzi as the theme, and strengthen the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation.

It was the 15thday of the second lunar month, the day Laozi was born 2,594 years ago. It is understood that later generations have started the practice of organizing fairs and offering worship at Taiqing Palace in Luyi County on this day every year since the Han Dynasty. On the early morning of the day, endless streams of worshippers burn incense, offer wines on the incense table, and bow three times to the statue of Laozi as a gesture of great respect for Laozi.

The inclusion of “Laozi Memorial Ceremony”in the list of national intangible cultural heritage has milestone significance for the development of Laozi culture. Organizing the ceremony is of great importance for carrying on the cultural practice and strengthening cultural confidence.