Door to adulthood

Modern teens find meaning in coming-of-age ceremonies as old as Confucius, Wang Kaihao discovers.

On a recent Thursday morning, the mood is solemn at the Beijing Confucius Temple and Imperial College. More than 300 senior high students from the capital's Guangqumen High School have gathered to stage a traditional coming-of-age ritual of the Han ethnic group. It's a milestone in life, stimulating visitors' curiosity and a continuous sparkle of camera flashes. It all began with a simple commemoration ritual in front of a Confucius statue in the temple at 9 am. The adjacent college was home to the country's highest educational institution during the Yuan (1271-1368) to Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and was a place to pay homage to the famous educator Confucius (551-479 BC).

Such customs are unfamiliar to students today, and they hardly know how to behave properly at such a dignified moment. So there is some quick rehearsing beforehand-with no detail ignored.