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Religion and Custom

medical and general care for both young and old. The association runs 13 secondary schools, seven primary schools, eight kindergartens and six Chinese medicine service units.

The major Buddhist festival takes place on Buddha's birthday, which falls on the eighth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar and is a public holiday. Followers visit temples across the city to pay homage. The association holds celebrations on that day and during the Ching Ming Festival to raise awareness of Buddhism.

Taoism

Taoism is an indigenous religion of China with a 2,000-year history. Hong Kong has over one million followers and more than 300 Taoist abbeys and temples, according to a 2010 survey by the Hong Kong Taoist Association. About 100 of these abbeys and temples are members of the association.

The association, set up by representatives of major temples in 1961, is a non-profit-making charity. It organises religious, cultural and charitable activities to promote Taoist scriptures and moral values. These activities include the annual Taoist Day held on the second Sunday of March to celebrate the birthday of the deity Taishang Laojun, or Laozi, whom Taoists believe is the founder of Taoism and author of Tao Te Ching, the main Taoist text dated to the late 4th century BC. Worshippers also mark the triennial Taoist Blessing Ceremony on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month and attend religious lectures, music lessons and tai chi classes.

Educational, social and charitable services include running more than 40 schools and kindergartens and subsidising tertiary-level courses. Taoists operate clinics, homes for the elderly, care homes, child care centres and community service centres in Hong Kong, and provide strong funding support for education, poverty alleviation and medical care in the Mainland, where they also help build and repair Taoist temples.

Confucianism

Confucianism is a set of religious, ethical and philosophical teachings derived from ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC) that emphasises the importance of tradition and

rites.

These values are introduced in local primary, secondary and university teaching through the advocacy of the Confucian Academy. Founded in 1930, the academy incorporates principles of Confucianism in the curricula of its own Confucian Tai Shing schools. The academy also organises various social services, such as a Fun Day for the Elderly and Children, to promote the thought of caring for the elderly and children.

Other local Confucian organisations include the Hong Kong Confucianism Association and Confucius Hall. The major Confucianism festival takes place on Confucius' birthday, which falls on the 27th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. The academy celebrates Confucian Day on the day following the Mid-Autumn Festival, recognised and supported by the government. Another main feast day is the birthday of ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius on the second day of the fourth lunar month.

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