BEIJING: A Chinese political advisor has proposed a nationwide celebration for the coming of age of adolescents turning 18 to promote the traditional Chinese ritual.
The proposal was made during the two sessions by the deputy head of the Chinese Tax Institute Zhang Lianqi, who is also a member of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Entering adulthood was regarded as one of the most important occasions in one’s life in ancient China, as documented in history books, when grand ceremonies and rituals would be held, such as the wearing of hats for men and the wearing of hairpins for women.
Such occasions not only symbolize coming of age or the transition from teenager to adult, but also the maturity of mind, said Zhang. Holding the rituals could raise awareness among young people of a sense of responsibility to themselves and to society, he added.
However, less attention has been paid to such rituals in recent years, and its role in the growth of young people is gradually fading, said Zhang. Therefore, he suggested September 30 as a day for coming of age ceremonies to be held nationwide in all schools and among all adolescents turning 18.
Although schools across China have been holding the ceremonies in a variety of ways, there is no set time for holding such events, and the process has not been standardized, resulting in an insufficient expression of its meaning.
– The Daily Mail-Global Times News exchange item
