On the afternoon of September 10, Xi’an Shiyou University held the Unveiling Ceremony of the Bronze Statue of Confucius at Chaoyuan Square on its Huyi Campus. Over 150 people attended the event, including Wang Jinfu, President of the university, Zhang Mu, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee, Zhang Juntao, Vice President, representatives of teachers honored on Teachers’ Day, senior administrative officials at the division-head level on the Huyi Campus, and student representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Cheng Yongqing, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee.
In his address, President Wang emphasized Confucius as an ancient Chinese philosopher, educator, and founder of Confucianism. “His principles—such asInstruction knows no class distinction,Teaching students according to their aptitude, andReviewing the old to gain new insights—remain sparking and timeless,” he stated. “The moral code ofbenevolence, righteousness, decorum, wisdom, and integrityConfucius advocated has become part of the Chinese spirit.” Erecting the statue, he added, celebrates China’s cultural heritage and revives the essence of education and teacherly virtue. Highlighting future plans, Wang announced initiatives to integrate traditional culture with modern education, including Confucian classics recitation, Sinology lectures, and ethics training. “We aim to empower teachers and students with wisdom from Chinese traditions, fostering cultural confidence and global collaboration to advance creative transformation and innovative development of Confucian heritage,” he said.
Zhang Mu introduced the donation background of the Confucius bronze statue, expressed sincere gratitude to the donor, the Hong Kong Confucian Academy, and its President Tong Yun-kai for their kind deeds in supporting the university’s cultural construction and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, and expounded the important significance of erecting the Confucius statue for cultivating campus culture and inheriting the spirit of education. He pointed out that the completion of the Confucius bronze statue will add a landmark of humanistic spirit to the campus,and what’s more it willinspireteachers and students to cultivate morality, study diligently, and act with sincerity.
In his closing remarks, Cheng Yongqing emphasized that erecting the Confucius bronze statue will further enrich the campus culture and enhance the cultural awareness and confidence of teachers and students. We should draw the ideological essence of fine traditional Chinese culture from Confucian culture and constantly inspire teachers and students to uphold the spirit of “Never be contented with your study; never be impatient with your teaching”.
Professor Zhou Desheng, leader of the national Huang Danian-style teaching team and from the School of Petroleum Engineering, delivered a speech as a teacher representative. Combining his own teaching experience, he elaborated on the profound influence of Confucius’ educational thoughts on contemporary teachers, and called on all teachers to take Confucius as a model, abide by teachers’ ethics, devote themselves to educating people, practice the spirit of “Be a model in knowledge and behavior for others”, and contribute to cultivating new era talents who can shoulder the responsibilities of national rejuvenation and development.
Witnessed by all participants, Wang Jinfu, President of the university, Zhang Mu, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee, Zhang Juntao, Vice President and Professor Zhou Desheng jointly unveiled the Confucius bronze statue. All leaders, teachers, and student representatives bowed to the Confucius bronze statue to show respect.
