Over 100 researchers and enthusiasts from China, South Korea and Germany gather together at the annual nine-day. [Photo/taihainet.com]

The workshop gathered over 100 researchers and enthusiasts from China, South Korea and Germany, including from Peking University, Xiamen University, Fu Jen Catholic University, Sungkyunkwan University and the University of Trier. 

The nine-day workshop held longer sessions than previous workshops, taking Tongan as the starting point, then discussing Wuyi Mountain, Wuyuan and other relevant subjects.

An abundance of activities included a worship ceremony, a mourning activity at Zhu's tomb and keynote speeches and seminars.

In the opening worship ceremony related to the thinking of Zhu, participants experienced an ancient Chinese traditional ritual to formally acknowledge someone as one's master at the Zhuzi institution in Tongan district.

Zhu Jieren, the general counsel of the Chinese Zhuzi Academy, said that Tongan is closely connected to Zhuxi. Zhu held office in Tongan for four years, giving him a direct personal experience and understanding and of local customs and habits of the people at that time. Those four years played a key role in the formation and maturation of his Neo-Confucian disciplines.

The workshop provided a platform for researchers to share information on studying Zhuzi and his classic Neo-Confucian thoughts.