Students, teachers, parents, community leaders, and guests gather at Edison Chinese School to commemorate Confucius and celebrate the enduring value of education and cultural heritage.
TECO-NY Director-General Wei-Ren Huang (top left) and TECO-NY Culture Center Director Yi-Ju Wang (top right) ; (bottom) Several leaders of overseas Chinese communities and Chinese school principals served as etiquette officers and Ceremonial Deacons.
16 FASCA Princeton Chapter members from 5 Chinese schools performed the Six-Yi Wu with FASCA Vice President Jayden Hsu playing the drums. The Huayin Youth Choir and the NJ Women Choir performed "The Chapter of Great Harmony (禮運大同篇) ".
Wei-Ren Huang (4th from left) and Yi-Ju Wang (8th from left) presents the OCAC Overseas Chinese School Teacher Awards honoring educators for their years of service.
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, approximately 200 community leaders, educators, Chinese school principals and teachers, students, parents, and community members gathered at the Edison Chinese School gymnasium for the 16th Annual New Jersey Confucius Memorial Ceremony, commemorating the 2,576th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, the revered Chinese philosopher and educator.
Hosted by the Association of New Jersey Chinese Schools (ANJCS) and Edison Chinese School, the ceremony brought together generations to honor Confucius and promote the traditional values of respecting teachers and valuing education.
The solemn ceremony followed traditional ritual procedures, beginning with the resounding beats of the ceremonial drums. The program included the opening of the gates, welcoming the spirits, three bows, the first offering, reading of the prayer text, the second offering, the final offering, and the presentation of flowers.
A highlight of the ceremony was the graceful Six-Yi Wu (六佾舞), performed by Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA) Princeton Chapter members and students from 5 Chinese schools—Northern New Jersey Chinese Association Chinese School, Edison Chinese School, Princeton Chinese School, Tzu Chi Chinese School, and Mid-Jersey Chinese School. The young performers presented the dance during the first, second, and final offerings, demonstrating the discipline, coordination, and respect required by this centuries-old ceremonial tradition.
The Six-Yi Wu participants completed four instructional and practice sessions under the guidance of Senior FASCA members Pauline Kung and Tiffany Mai. Pauline and Tiffany have been performing the Six-Yi Wu at Confucius Memorial Ceremony since fifth grade.
Deputy Director General Wei-Ren Huang of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO-NY) , who served as Director-General, emphasized that the Confucius Ceremony is more than a tribute to the ancient sage. He described it as an important opportunity to pass Chinese culture and the spirit of “respecting teachers and valuing the Way” to younger generations. The 2026 ceremony marked the first New Jersey Confucius Memorial Ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director Yi-Ju Wang of the TECO-NY Culture Center expressed special appreciation to Tina Liu, FASCA counselor for coordinating the Six-Yi Wu training and to Pauline and Tiffany for teaching the students. She also recognized the dedication of teachers who continue to nurture Chinese language and cultural education in New Jersey.
Pauline, who has served as a Six-Yi Wu instructor since 2019, reflected on the significance of passing the tradition to a new generation. “Confucius transformed education and inspired generations through his timeless teachings. I am honored to serve as a Six-Yi dance instructor and share this important tradition with our community.”
Pauline also recalled attending the Confucius Ceremony at Taipei Confucius Temple while serving as a Fulbright English teacher in Taiwan in September 2025, where she watched her elementary school students perform.
Tiffany returned this year as an instructor. “Beyond guiding the dancers to achieve precision and perfect synchronization,” she said, “I hope they take pride in personally participating in this deeply meaningful ceremony.”
For first-year participant Catalina Su-Ortiz, the experience represented a family tradition. After watching her brother participate in the ceremony, she followed in his footsteps.
FASCA members Chenhsin and Chenyu Hsu are twin sisters, and they described the experience as both challenging and meaningful. Chenhsin learned the importance of patience, teamwork, and staying calm during a formal performance; while Chenyu said the ceremony gave her a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and the importance of preserving traditions for future generations.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of outstanding Chinese school teachers through the OCAC Overseas Chinese School Teacher Award, honoring educators who have dedicated 5, 10, and 20 years to overseas Chinese education.
Reported by FASCA Princeton- Catalina Su-Ortiz, Lyla Liu, Chenhsin Hsu, and Chenyu Hsu
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