Tradition Meets Technology At Yan Emperor Ceremony

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) – A grand ancestral worship ceremony honouring the Yan Emperor Shennong took place in Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province, on May 23, blending age-old traditions with modern innovation.

Held at the Lieshan Ancestral Worship Square, the event opened with the deep resonance of drums and the harmonious sounds of bells. Worshippers stood in formation and, guided by a ceremonial procession, paid solemn tribute to Yan Emperor—widely regarded as a founding figure of Chinese civilisation—on his lunar birthday, the 26th day of the fourth month.

This year's festival, highlighted by sophisticated ritual music, seeks to create a national-level sacrificial ceremony rooted in cultural traditions while reflecting contemporary values, according to a statement.

A notable feature of this year’s celebration was the integration of digital technology. Suizhou introduced an online co-sacrifice initiative, enabling participants worldwide to interact with a digital representation of Yan Emperor and engage in virtual candle lighting and flower offering.

First launched in 2009, the festival has grown into a significant cultural symbol. In 2011, the Suizhou Shennong sacrificial ceremony was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, underlining its role in preserving and promoting Chinese ancestral traditions.

This year’s event was jointly organised by multiple government and cultural organisations, including the People's Government of Suizhou City, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, amongst others.

Alongside the main ceremony, various exchange platforms were held to promote sectors such as emergency response, cultural communication, and special-purpose vehicles—underscoring the festival’s role in fostering both cultural pride and economic development.

-- BERNAMA