A ceremony marking the 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius is held at Confucius Temple in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2022.

An educator and philosopher, Confucius (551-479 B.C.), who founded a school of thought known as Confucianism, profoundly influenced later generations of Chinese society.

Confucius was also the first to set up private schools in China that enrolled students from different social classes.

Ceremony marking 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius held in Qufu

Ceremony marking 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius held in Qufu

Ceremony marking 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius held in Qufu

Ceremony marking 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius held in Qufu

Ceremony marking 2,573rd birth anniversary of Confucius held in Qufu