The creative team behind the musical drama Southern Confucianism made a grand appearance at the 2024 China Musical Association Annual Gala on Jan 8, held at the Shandong Grand Theatre in Jinan, East China's Shandong province.

The musical was named a Special Jury Mention for "Chinese Story" Themed Works. Its creative team also garnered several prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Stage Design of the Year for Ren Dongsheng, Potential Actress of the Year for Ming Jiaxin, and Most Popular Character of the Year for Madam Kong, played by Huang Shuang.

A stage photo of the musical Southern Confucianism. [Photo/Tide News]

Since its premiere in 2023, Southern Confucianism has been continually refined and shown at numerous significant events. It has not only captivated audiences but also received high praise from experts, winning multiple provincial and national awards and honors.

Since its creation in August 2023, the musical has been performed nearly 50 times nationwide. In 2025, the team plans to embark on a third national tour, with an estimated 30 additional performances.

The musical is the national first based on Southern Confucian culture. It tells the tale of Kong Zhu (1231-91), the 53rd direct descendant of Confucius, who, following the emperor's decree, relinquishes his title and returns to Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province to dedicate himself to promoting Confucian culture.