Cultural experts have suggested setting up a Chinese equivalent of Mother's Day, during a forum¹ in eastern China's Shandong province.

近日，在山东省一论坛举行期间，文化专家提议设立中国人自己的“母亲节”。

Academics with the Chinese Academy of Mencius (CAM) proposed setting April 2 on the Chinese lunar calendar as "Chinese Mother's Day" at the forum that started last Tuesday in Shandong's Zoucheng city, hometown of Mencius.

该论坛于上周二在孟子家乡山东省邹城市举行，孟子中文学院的学者于会上提议将农历4月2日设立为“中华母亲节”。

Mencius (372-289 BC) was a pupil of Confucius' grandson, and traveled his life teaching Confucianism. Both Mencius and Confucius are ancient Chinese philosophers.

孟子（公元前372-289）是孔子孙子的学生，一生都致力于宣传儒家学说。孔子和孟子都是中国古代著名的哲学家。

Mencius's mother is regarded as one of the four great mothers in ancient China, and is seen as a symbol of Chinese mothers, known for her kindness, simplicity², diligence and strong will.

孟母被认为是中国古代最伟大的四位母亲之一，并且被当做中国母亲的象征--以慈爱、纯朴、勤奋和坚强闻名于世。

Li Cunshan, CAM special deputy dean, said that more than 80 countries in the world had a Mother's Day, while China did not.

孟子中文学院特别副院长李存山表示，全世界80多个国家都有母亲节，而中国却没有。

"Many Chinese people show their affection to their mothers on the second Sunday of May, or Mother's Day that is originally celebrated³ in the United States," Li said. "We do expect to have our own Mother's Day."

李存山说道：“许多人都在五月第二个星期日表达对母亲的爱--这个母亲节起源于美国。而我们希望中国能有自己的母亲节。”

Experts at the forum said that the achievements of Mencius were greatly influenced by his mother, and that China should set up a Chinese Mother's Day and make it a public holiday.

专家们在该论坛上称，孟子的成就很大程度上是受到了孟母的影响，而中国应该设立自己的母亲节，并将其作为公定假日。