Paying homage from afar across mountains and seas

The JiaChen Year of British Yellow Emperor Worship Ceremony held successfully

Zhengzhou, Xinzheng in Henan, is the birthplace, the starting point of worship, and the capital establishment site of the Yellow Emperor, the ancestral figure in Chinese culture. "Worship the Yellow Emperor on the third day of the third lunar month" is an excellent tradition of the Chinese nation. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, a grand ancestral worship ceremony is held in the Yellow Emperor's hometown in Xinzheng, drawing hundreds of thousands of descendants from both within China and overseas to participate in this "Spring Festival Gathering". This event has become a highly influential and iconic cultural symbol in Chinese culture, serving as a guardian of the roots and soul of the Chinese nation and a crucial activity to unite the spiritual strength of Chinese people worldwide. While the Yellow Emperor Worship Ceremony in Zhengzhou, Henan, was in progress, the ceremony was also held simultaneously in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Taiwan region, as well as in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other locations.

On the morning of March 24th in the UK, the Yellow Emperor Worship Ceremony was celebrated in London's Chinatown. Approximately 300 members of the British Chinese community, business associations, and guests from various sectors gathered to pay their respects to the Yellow Emperor, the cultural ancestor, with reverence and wishes for world peace, harmony, and a serene life.

Nine Rituals to Worship the Yellow Emperor

The ceremony continues to uphold the theme of "same roots, same ancestry, same origin, peace, harmony, and amity," featuring nine rituals included prosperity with dragons and lions, presenting flower baskets, offering incense, reading worship texts, singing and dancing etc.

With the sound of gongs and drums and the dance of dragons and lions. At 10 a.m., the Master of ceremony, Brian Tai-Shen Wang who is the honorary chair of the UK Chinese Association of Descendants of Fighters in the Anti-Japanese War, the son of General Wang Boxiang and grandson of General Fang Ying, officially announced the beginning of the ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies, Brian Tai-Shen Wang, presided over the ceremony.

Liu Hongmei, The Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs in the UK, delivered the opening speech. She warmly congratulated the successful holding of the ceremony on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK and expressed her hope that the vast number of Chinese nationals living in the UK and friends from all walks of life will continue to be spreaders of Chinese culture, storytellers of China's stories, promoters of mutually beneficial cooperation, and facilitators of people-to-people friendship between China and the UK. She encouraged continuous efforts to contribute to the realisation of the Chinese Dream and to play a greater role in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK, as well as sustaining the sound and steady development of the Sino-British relations.

Opening speech by Liu Hongmei, counsellor for overseas Chinese affairs of the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

The chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, Chu Ting Tang OBE, stated in his speech that the Yellow Emperor culture, as an important part of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, embodies rich wisdom, courage, and a spirit of inclusiveness. These core values inspire generation after generation of Chinese people, becoming a powerful force that keeps our nation thriving and passing on from generation to generation. In the UK, a land of diverse cultures, worshipping the Yellow Emperor is not only about remembering our ancestors and passing on our culture but also about conveying to the world the profound essence of the Yellow Emperor culture and the beautiful vision of unity and harmony of the Chinese nation.

The ceremony was hosted by London Chinatown Chinese Association and UK Yellow Emperor Cultural Innovation and Development. Organisers of the event expressed their aspiration to enlighten attendees on the spirit of the Yellow Emperor, offering them a gateway to the endless fascination of Chinese culture. This initiative aims not only to celebrate the rich heritage but also to spearhead a new era of friendly exchanges and deepen cultural communication between China and the United Kingdom, heralding a future of mutual respect and understanding.

Speech by Chu Ting Tang OBE, Chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association.

Liu Hongmei,The Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs of UK; Chu Ting Tang OBE, The chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association; Cheng Jian, Director of Phoenix TV Europe; Jiao Jianguo, Chairman of the UK Yellow Emperor Culture Innovation and Development Foundation; Ren Xiang, Chairman of the China-UK Technology Innovation Platform; and Ye Yuwei, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, presented flower baskets.

Cheng Jian, Director of Phoenix TV Europe, presented a flower basket.

Li Wei, the academician of the British Academy, the Academia Europaea, and the Academy of Social Sciences; Huang Ping, President of the Zhejiang UK Association UK; Li Qiang, President of the Nouvelles d'Europe UK Edition; Wang Xingang, a Surrey local councillor and Justice of the Peace; Wu Lili, President of the UK Hunan Fellow Association and President of the UK Hunan Specialist and Scholars Association; and Liao Xiuqin, headmaster of the London Mandarin School, purified their hands and offered incense. Zhu Xiaojiu, the granddaughter of the renowned patriotic general Zhang Zhizhong, President of UK Society of Chinese Lawyers, and recipient of the Order of the British Empire, served as the main officiant, leading the guests in the reading of the worship text.

Zhu Xiaojiu, the granddaughter of the renowned patriotic general Zhang Zhizhong, President of the Sino-British Lawyers Association, and recipient of the Order of the British Empire, served as the main officiant, leading the guests in the reading of the worship text.

Wang Beibei, President of the Sino-British Performing Arts Association, together with more than twenty Chinese children from the London Mandarin Chinese School, sang "Ode to the Yellow Emperor." The melodious tune and resonant singing filled the ceremony site, expressing the overseas Chinese community's reverence and remembrance for their ancestral forefather.

Wang Beibei, President of the Sino-British Performing Arts Association, together with more than twenty Chinese children from the London Mandarin Chinese School, sang "Ode to the Yellow Emperor."

At the end of the ceremony, the guests poured the grains into a vessel symbolising "Heaven Earth Humanity Harmony" signifying "A bumper grain harvest, Heaven Earth Humanity Harmony", carrying the good wishes of the British Chinese diaspora for the motherland.

Li Wei, the academician of the British Academy, the Academia Europaea, and the Academy of Social Sciences (far right), participated in the Heaven Earth Humanity Harmony ceremony.

The "Yellow Emperor's Band" Surprises Overseas Appearances

On the day of the Yellow Emperor, the "Central Plains Culture Goes Overseas" series of events were also successfully held. Loaded with the rich cultural heritage of "Hometown Henan," the "Yellow Emperor" and "Youxiong" made an appearance at the UK event, bringing surprises to the Chinese community there. Their immense popularity and vividly adorable representation attracted guests and international friends on site to come forward for photos and interactive exchanges.

As ambassadors for Central Plains culture, the "Yellow Emperor" and "Youxiong" led guests and international friends through an immersive experience at the "Xuan Yuan Market," focusing on Central Plains culture. Participants enjoyed a variety of cultural activities, including traditional Chinese costume check-ins, Hanfu fashion shows, Chinese calligraphy, and intangible cultural heritage creative products，all these activities fully showcased the unique charm and value of Central Plains culture, greatly admired by guests and international friends alike.

During the event, the "Fragrance of Books from Central Plains to the UK" book donation ceremony, the launch ceremony for the overseas spread of Central Plains culture, and thematic sharing on cultural integration were also held simultaneously. These sessionss explored new pathways for taking Central Plains culture international through a multimodal approach, from media to methods.

"With the same root, the same ancestor and the same origin; developing peace, friendship and harmony" the Yellow Emperor worship ceremony has been held consecutively for five years in the UK, receiving strong support and recognition from the local overseas Chinese community and becoming a significant cultural event for Chinese compatriots in the UK to seek their roots, pray, and make vows.

On the third day of the third lunar month, some guests from the UK will cross oceans back to their homeland to participate in the Jia Chen Year of Yellow Emperor Worship Ceremony in Zhengzhou, Henan. Alongside overseas Chinese from around the world, they will unite in spirit and purpose to worship their common ancestor, fulfilling a "spiritual covenant" and seeking the "roots of their spirit."