Ritan Park revives sun worship

Ritan Park revives sun worship

• Source: Global Times
• [10:44 March 11 2011]
• Comments

Residents play with hoops at a folk festival at Ritan Park on March 20, 2009. Photo: CFP

By Xuyang Jingjing

Ritan Park is bringing back sun worship rituals from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) for the first time since the tradition faded away over 100 years ago to popularize and preserve culture.

Two ceremonies will be held at 9:30 am on March 20 and at 10:20 am on March 21, the time of spring equinox, said Zhang Xinyuan, deputy director of Chaoyang Culture Center.

The display will last for an hour, and consists of three parts. First, over 100 people in a guard of honor will escort the royals (actors) to the altar; then there will be a song and dance, performed by folk musicians from Chaoyang district; the ceremony will end with everyone bowing to the east in respect of the sun.

The ceremony will resemble the rituals recorded in the Qing dynasty in every aspect including costumes, props, dances, and musical instruments. Ordinary citizens weren't allowed to watch the royal ceremony in the old days, said Zhang.

"We have been mulling over the idea of reviving the rituals for over 20 years," he added. The Chaoyang district government invested between 2 and 3 million yuan ($305,000-457,500) in the project, which was finally initiated in June last year.

The sun worship rituals will become a regular ceremony at Ritan Park in the future. The park was built in the Ming dynasty for emperors to pay their respects to the sun.

With the return of sun worship rituals, Beijing has now resurrected all four ancient rituals, worshipping heaven, earth, sun and moon, said Zhang.

Ritan Park will give out 480 free tickets each day to visitors, and those without a ticket can also watch the show live on the big screen outside the south gate of the Round Altar (Yuanqiu Tan).