A hair-pinning ceremony was held at Du Fu’s thatched cottage – home of famous Tang dynasty (AD 618-907) poet, Du Fu – in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province on May 4.

Nearly 100 high school girls attended the event. They observed a number of rituals such as bowing to parents and teachers and vowing to be successful and to contribute to the society.

The hair-pinning ceremony is a traditional ritual that was originated in Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC). Clan elders do a girl’s hair and use a hairpin to hold it, signifying that she is a grown-up and should take responsibility for herself.

It is both a key component of Confucian rites and an important part of humanistic heritage of the Han ethnic group, playing a significant role in inspiring individuals’ healthy personal development.