En svensk i Taiwan

Vilken lättnad! Det första barnet i den åttionde generationen i direkt nedstigande led från Konfucius är fött, här i Taiwan. Kinesisk kultur världen över kan dra en lättnadens suck.

Kung Teh-cheng, en 77:e generationens ättling i direkt nedstigande led till den vise mannen, och dessutom rådgivare till Taiwans president, meddelade den glada (?) nyheten igår. Barnet föddes på nyårsdagen, d.v.s. 29 januari. Födseln måste registreras så att ungen kan ärva posten som Ämbestman ansvarig för de heliga riterna.

The 80th-generation lineal descendant of the philosopher Confucius has been born in Taiwan, a family member said yesterday. Kung Teh-cheng, Confucius' 77th-generation descendant, who is the chief "sacred rites official" at rituals in memory of the ancient sage and also a senior adviser to President Chen Shui-bian, said his great-grandchild, Kung You-jen, was born on New Year's Day. "He is a healthy baby," 87-year-old Kung said, adding that the family will soon inform the Ministry of the Interior of the birth in order to qualify the child to inherit the ceremonial position in the future. The "sacred rites official" is a government post held by the eldest male descendant of Confucius. In Taiwan, Confucius' birthday, Sept. 28, is celebrated as Teacher's Day. The Kung family moved to Taiwan from China in 1949.
Från Taipei Times