Qufu, the birthplace of China's ancient philosopher Confucius, plans to hold a festival on Confucianism study for students from July 10 to August 20.

The festival, the first of its kind in China, will invite students from home and abroad, including overseas and local Chinese students, college and middle school students from southeast Asia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and western countries, said Liu Xubing, deputy director of the Qufu City Tourism Bureau.

Focusing on Confucius thought, the festival will include speeches given by noted Chinese scholars who will lecture at the exact place where Confucius gave lessons to his 72 disciples about 2,000 years ago.

The scholars will provide teaching on Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, seal cutting, cuisine, traditional medicines and marital arts.

The festival will also held an ancient crowning ceremony in which graduates don a cap to indicate the beginning of their adulthood.

The city of Qufu will also establish a fund to help the young men travel to Qufu to learn about Confucius. They will be provided with subsidized accommodation.

The core of Confucianism rests in courtesy, loyalty and benevolence, which, for more than 2,000 years, Chinese feudal rulers enshrined as the orthodox school of thought.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)