Lineal descendant of Confucius dies aged 88, of heart failure
Lineal descendant of Confucius dies aged 88, of heart failurThe China Post news staffWednesday, October 29, 2008 9:40 am TAIPEI, Taiwan ––
Kung Teh-cheng, the 77th lineal descendant of Confucius, died of heart failure in Taipei yesterday. He was 88. Death came to the Sacrificial Official to Confucius at the Tzu Chi Hospital in Taipei at 10:50 a.m.
He is survived by four children. Born in Shandong on February 23, 1920, Kung was an honorary research fellow at Yale University at New Haven and received a honorary doctorate from Sung Kyun Kwan University at Seoul, South Korea. As a lineal descendant of China’s greatest sage and founder of Confucianism, Kung was made the Holy Duke in 1920. He held that title until 1935. He was then elected to the Constitutional National Assembly in 1946 and served as a member of the National Law-Making Committee in 1947-48.
As the Sacrificial Official to Confucius since 1935, Kung had to officiate at a family celebration of the birthday of the sage. He did not preside on October 5 this year because of poor health. Confucius’ birthday falls on September 28. This year’s celebration was deferred by one week because Typhoon Jangmi hit Taiwan on that day. He taught Chinese at Taiwan University, Fu Jen Catholic University and Soochow University for several years.
Kung was hospitalized on October 20. No dates have been fixed for his memorial and funeral services. President Ma Ying-jeou has to appoint Kung’s heir the Sacrificial Official to Confucius.