Taiwan holds ritual to commemorate legendary hero in Chinese culture

TAIPEI, June 22 -- A grand ceremony was held Wednesday in Taipei to commemorate legendary hero Fuxi, who was said to be the first man to use ropes to make nets for hunting and fishing.

A similar annual event was also held the same day in Tianshui, Gansu Province, where Fuxi was born. It was the third time since 2014 that compatriots across the Taiwan Strait jointly commemorated this legendary character.

After a drum beat and three tolls of a bell, participants made offerings and bowed in front of an icon resembling Fuxi in a large hall in downtown Taipei. A visiting delegation from Gansu also attended the event.

During the ritual, a eulogy was read lauding the great contributions made by Fuxi to Chinese culture and wishes of common development and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait were expressed. A dance was performed at the end of the ceremony telling of Fuxi's feats.

"It is significant for both sides of the Strait to jointly commemorate Fuxi," said Lin Junq-tzer, vice chairman of Kuomintang (KMT), at the ceremony.

Much of Taiwan's cultural and religious traditions have their roots on the mainland, he said.

"Fuxi is our common ancestor. Jointly commemorating him will promote cultural exchange and strengthen the sense of national identity," said Li Zhenya, head of the Gansu delegation.

According to old records, Fuxi created "bagua" (a set of divination symbols), invented writing, advised people to marry and taught people to fish with nets. Tianshui in Gansu is recorded as Fuxi's birthplace and there are many Fuxi-related relics and historical sites located in and around the city.