On September 9th, an inaugural ceremony for the general education course "Introduction to Yangming's Heart-Mind Philosophy" was conducted on the southern campus. In attendance were Professor Zhang Xuexi from Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and the Institute for Traditional Chinese Studies of Peking University, GZU President Song Bao'an, the instructional team responsible for this course, the group responsible for compiling thetextbook related to the course, faculty from Yangming College, as well as more than 800 student representatives from other colleges. The event was presided over by Chen Yanbo, Dean of Yangming College.
In his address, Academician Song Bao'an underscored the crucial role of general education in fostering talent within higher education institutions. He affirmed that general education is a deliberate choice for advancing holistic human development, a pivotal approach for cultivating students' innovative capacities, and an obligatory course for nurturing high-caliber individuals. Song delineated three prerequisites for this course:
Integration of Yangming culture education with the preservation of exemplary traditional Chinese culture;
Fusion of Yangming culture education with the fundamental mission of nurturing ethics and character in students;
Alignment of Yangming culture education with the evolution of teaching and learning paradigms.
Song envisioned all those present as the new generation shouldering the profound responsibility of national rejuvenation, thus serving as the vanguards of the Chinese nation.
Students from Yangming College recited "Tenets to the Students of Longchang," an article on students’ code of conducts by Wang Yangming.
Additionally, Professor Zhang Xuexi delivered an enlightening lecture entitled "The Practical Wisdom of Wang Yangming." He expounded upon the magnanimity of Wang's life, his heroic persona, and the central tenet of "Realizing Good Knowledge" propounded by Wang. This lecture served as an eloquent and illuminating introduction to the course.
Chen Yanbo, the chair of the ceremony, asserted, "President Xi Jinping has identified Yangming's Heart-Mind Philosophy as the quintessence of traditional Chinese culture. Wang Yangming pursued his studies and enlightenment in Guizhou. Consequently, Guizhou must embark on an earnest quest to foster and explore its cultural heritage. By offering the course, Guizhou University aims to ignite contemporary college students' comprehension, affinity, and admiration for exceptional traditional Chinese culture and provide them with more profound cultural nourishment for their healthy growth.
Editor： Pang Aizhong
Chief Editor: Li Xufeng
Senior Editor: Yan Nan
Translator: Xiao Qi
