Today is the 32nd Chinese Teacher's Day – a festival celebrating the 2,300-year tradition ofrespecting teachers and education in China.
It's similar to the birthday of Confucius or the birthday of private school tutor in ancient China.
The history of Teacher's Day traces back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). According torecord, during the Han (202 BC–AD 220) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties, on August 27 eachyear, the birthday of Confucius, the emperor would go to Confucius' temple and pay tribute to theancient philosopher followed by court officials, and would also invite royal teachers to the imperialcourt for a banquet. Local officials followed the court, and on this day, teachers around the nationenjoyed a day's vacation and were given dried meat as gifts.
The capital, all states and counties would also stage sacrificial ceremonies to worship Confucius,with local chiefs or the emperor leading rituals. Excellent-performed teachers would be chosenfrom academies and learning institutions nationwide, reporting to the royal court and given 500liang (两) silver coins as awards.
Until the Qing Dynasty, the sacrificial ceremony, on August 27, was of a larger scale. Theteachers' salaries in schools and academies around the nation were raised, and well-performingteachers would be conferred official titles or promoted to higher positions.