TAIPEI - The 2,553 birth anniversary of Confucius, a great Chinese educator and philosopher, was commemorated at Confucian temples around the island with traditional ceremonies, featuring such activities as the traditional row dance, eulogy readings, and incense and silk burning.

At the Confucius Temple in Taipei, the ceremony started at 6 a.m. with the beating of drums. Hundreds of visitors from home and abroad arrived at the temple before the ceremony started.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, as the chief executive official of the city, served as the ceremony's chief official, while the 77th descendant of the ancient sage, Kung Teh-cheng, was also present.

A similar ceremony at the Confucius Temple in Taichung attracted nearly 2,000 visitors this year.

Confucius was born in the year 551 B.C. in present-day Shantung Province in northern China. While his teachings have had a great influence on Chinese philosophy, his ideal of equilibrium in education made him a foremost educator in Chinese history.

The birth anniversary of Confucius was made into Teachers' Day to mark the great achievements of the dedicated educator who had accepted some 3,000 students during his life.