Students participate in the First Writing Ceremony at the Confucius Academy of Guiyang in Guizhou province on Thursday. [Photo by Zhang Jie/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 400 students from Guiyang No 2 Experimental Primary School attended the First Writing Ceremony at the Confucius Academy of Guiyang in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, on Thursday.

承阳明教泽，为诸生启智。近日，贵阳孔学堂2024（甲辰）年开笔礼在孔学堂举行。

The First Writing Ceremony, also known as the Qi Meng (Enlightenment) Ceremony, was an important event for every student before being admitted to school in ancient China.

“开笔礼”又称“启蒙礼”，是古代中国每个学生入学前的一件大事。

Red dots are drawn on the students' foreheads to represent the opening of the wisdom eye. Teachers then give lectures on basic principles of behavior. The ceremony symbolizes that the children are ready to take a step in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

古有朱砂启智，今有师长点额。嘉宾们手执朱笔，轻触学子额头，一颗颗鲜艳的红痣跃然其上，象征着智慧之门的开启，寓意着孩子们将明眸善睐，勤学好问，未来可期。

Students participate in the First Writing Ceremony at the Confucius Academy of Guiyang in Guizhou province on Thursday. [Photo by Zhang Jie/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Students participate in the First Writing Ceremony at the Confucius Academy of Guiyang in Guizhou province on Thursday. [Photo by Zhang Jie/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Source: chinadaily

Editor:ChenDawei

Senior Editor:PangBo