Taoists hold a prayer ritual at the opening ceremony of the Third International Taoist Forum at the foot of Longhu Mountain, Yingtan, Jiangxi Province on Nov. 25, 2014. [Zhang Rui/China.org.cn]

The Third International Taoist Forum opened on Tuesday in Yingtan, Jiangxi Province, bringing together 400 representatives and guests from the Taoist world in 27 countries and regions.

The forum is being held from Nov. 25 - 26 at Longhu Mountain, a famous mountain that is one of the cradles of Chinese Taoism. The first Heaven Master, Zhang Daoling, established the religion there in the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Longhu Mountain has 10 Taoist palaces, 81 Taoist temples and 36 Taoist courts.

Ma Biao, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Taoism arises from ancient human civilization and tradition, is rooted in Chinese culture, developed on Chinese soil and converged with other forms of Oriental wisdom. He stated that Taoism has a long history of developing alongside Confucianism and Buddhism, and together they formed and created Chinese traditional culture and enriched Chinese people's spiritual world.

Ma also said that now that the Taoist classic the Daodejing has been translated and published around the world, many foreigners see the text as the essence of Eastern wisdom and quote it frequently. He believes that wherever Chinese people are, Taoist culture will also be there. Taoism has been the spiritual bond to connect Chinese people around the world, and it has acted as a cultural bridge for communication and exchange with foreign cultures.

"The philosophy that forms a part of Taoism will still enlighten the world and teach people how to live harmoniously with nature, the environment, animals and the world," Ma said, pointing out that the theme of the forum, "Promote the Tao and establish virtue, aid the world and benefit others," revealed the essence and theme of Taoism, meeting the demands of the era and reflecting the good will of Taoism’s followers and supports both in China and around the world.

On a rainy Tuesday morning, the Taoists held a grand ritual for prayers before several top leaders from Chinese central and local governments and heads of Taoist associations took the stage at the opening ceremony to give speeches. The opening ceremony was followed by big Taoist-themed artistic performances. Xiong Maoping, head of the forum’s organization committee, said it is the first time that the prayer ritual and opening ceremony have been held in the open air instead of inside a temple.

Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng, Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and UNESCO also sent congratulatory letters to the forum.

180 Taoist representatives and 200 special guests from 27 countries and regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and South Korea are scheduled to attend the forum. An additional 2,500 Taoist practitioners, experts, academics and reporters from around the world will also participate in the event.

Jiang Jianyong, the secretary-general and vice chairman of the China Religious Culture Communication Association, said at a Monday press conference held in Yingtan that it was expected that the Taoist forum will help with the innovative transformation and development of Taoist culture, exploration of Taoist ethics and moral ideals, promotion of traditional virtues, the showcasing of the cultural uniqueness of Taoism, and the improvement of Chinese Taoism's international influence.

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