It is great that Taiwan still celebrates the birthday of Confucius, even after 2,555 years, and calling the day Teacher's Day is a fitting tribute to all teachers. However, I wonder why the day is celebrated here annually on Sept. 28 on the Western solar calendar, instead of on Aug. 27 on the lunar calendar, which is Confucius' real birthday.
All the other major festivals in Taiwan, from Tomb-Sweeping Day to Ghost Month, are celebrated according to dates on the lunar calendar, including, of course, Lunar New Year's Day. So why does the government place Confucius' birthday on a solar calendar schedule?
According to a Google search, in 1939, the Ministry of Education called for Aug. 27 on the lunar calendar to be an annual holiday to honor Confucius. However, in 1952, the government changed the date to Sept. 28 on the solar calendar.
Why?
Dan Bloom
Chiayi
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