Representatives of the Fuqing Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association Visit Nagasaki Confucius Shrine and Other Sites

Recently, Kofukuji Temple on Toomeizan in Nagasaki held an unveiling ceremony for the statue of Master Ingen donated by China, as well as a bell activation ceremony.The event was attended by Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura, Chinese Consul General in Nagasaki Zhang Daxing, Hirodo Kondo, Chief Abbot of the Japanese Obaku Sect, Chen Xi, Chairman of the Japanese Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association and Honorary President of the Fuqing Chamber of Commerce in Japan, along with other guests from both China and Japan。

During their time in Nagasaki, representatives of the Fuqing Chamber of Commerce in Japan and other overseas Chinese organizations also visited the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine, where they were warmly received by the shrine's director, Pan Xiugui, and others。

In May of this year, a fundraising campaign for the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine was actively conducted among overseas Chinese in Japan.The Nagasaki Confucius Shrine has historically relied on ticket sales as its primary source of revenue to maintain operations.Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, the shrine has faced increasing financial deficits, resulting in operational difficulties.In response, overseas Chinese organizations such as the Nagasaki New Overseas Chinese Association and the Nagasaki Chinese Women’s Federation called on their members to donate and issued an appeal to the broader overseas Chinese community in Japan, urging everyone to lend a helping hand to protect and preserve this piece of Chinese cultural heritage.This initiative received an enthusiastic response from many organizations, including the All-Japan Federation of Chinese Overseas Associations, the Japan Fujian Economic and Cultural Promotion Association, the Japan Fujian Economic and Cultural Exchange Association, the Fuqing Chamber of Commerce in Japan, the Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association, and the Fukuoka Youth Association, which all mobilized overseas Chinese to actively donate。

The Fuqing Chamber of Commerce in Japan actively responded to the call and directly contacted the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine to ensure the proper allocation of funds, delivering donations collected from community members to the shrine。

The Nagasaki Confucius Shrine was built in 1893, following the construction of the "Four Great Tang Temples" by Chinese community organizations in Nagasaki. It was established at the suggestion of the Qing Dynasty Consulate in Nagasaki, with funds equally contributed by the major community associations. It remains the only Confucius Shrine constructed by Chinese people outside of China, with a history spanning over a century.Through the eras of the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and the People’s Republic of China, the shrine underwent a formal re-registration in 1988, becoming a property of the People’s Republic of China.The shrine houses a Chinese Historical Museum, featuring artifacts collected by the shrine as well as periodic exhibits provided by the Palace Museum in Beijing. Some of these artifacts have never been publicly displayed in China. These exhibits are highly popular among tourists and Japanese school groups on educational trips, playing a vital role in promoting Chinese culture and fostering Sino-Japanese friendship。

It is worth noting that historically, Fujianese immigrants in Japan, particularly those from Fuqing, have made significant contributions to the construction and management of the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine.According to The History of Fuqing Overseas Chinese, the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine was destroyed by the atomic bomb during World War II.After the war, Fuqing expatriate Chen Yangchun (the second son of Chen Pingshun, owner of the Shikairo Chinese Restaurant in Nagasaki) took the initiative to raise funds from overseas Chinese in Kyushu, Japan. He purchased the land-use rights for the shrine's ruins for 65 million yen and spent 200 million yen on its reconstruction, which was completed in 1967. For many years, the directors of the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine and its Chinese Historical Museum have predominantly been Fuqing expatriates. The current director, Pan Xiugui, is a descendant of Fuqing Chinese immigrants。

Nagasaki is where Master Ingen first set foot in Japan and is considered the birthplace of Huangbo culture in the country.In 1654, Master Ingen, the abbot of Manpukuji Temple on Huangbo Mountain in Fuqing, was invited multiple times by Chinese temples in Nagasaki, such as Sofukuji and Kofukuji. He set sail from Xiamen to Nagasaki with a group of monastic and lay disciples.After landing in Nagasaki, Master Ingen traveled to various temples across Japan to spread Buddhist teachings.During his journey to Japan, Master Ingen not only disseminated Buddhist doctrines but also introduced advanced Chinese culture and scientific knowledge of the time。

During their stay in Nagasaki, the delegation also visited Choryusan Ryugen-in and other sites, promoting Sino-Japanese Huangbo cultural exchange and strengthening grassroots friendly relations。