On the afternoon of November 23, the Qiuzhen College of Tsinghua University held a coming-of-age ceremony for 18-year-old students at the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum. Chen Zhijie, Associate Dean of Qiuzhen College, served as the officiant of adulthood. Academic Deans Wang Xiaohua and Yitwah Cheung,, assistant professor of Qiu Chengtong Mathematical Science Center, Tsinghua University, Gao Honghao, director of Qiuzhen College Class 33, and assistant professor of Qiu Chengtong Mathematical Science Center, and Huang Yi, director of Qiuzhen College Class 12. The ceremony was presided over by Yu Xiaopeng, a scholar of Confucian rites and music culture and an expert at the Beijing Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum.
The adult ceremony of the College mainly consists of two ceremonies. One is the Confucius ceremony to express the respect and commemoration of the teachers and students of the college to Confucius; the other is the ceremony to celebrate the intention of 18-year-old students entering adulthood and abandoning their children’s custom to start learning.
The scene of the coming-of-age ceremony
With the simple rites and music, the young students of Qiuzhen College, dressed in Hanfu, walked through the worship door in order and came in front of the Confucius statue in the Confucius Temple. Under the guidance of Yu Xiaopeng, they saluted the statue of Confucius, to express their respect for the supreme sage. Then the Confucius sacrifice ceremony was held in Dacheng Hall. At the beginning of the ceremony, the students lined up in the great hall platform, following the ancient ceremony, the toilet, reading the patent, first drink, drink, three drink, and other ceremonies. In the Book of Rites, it is said: " At the beginning of the university, Ben makes dishes and respects them."At the end of the ceremony, the students presented the dishes to the first teacher and explained the dishes, reflecting the learning heart of the adult students.
Through the Door of Keeping Respect
A salute to Confucius
Release dishes rite
After the release dishes rite, all the participants through the thirteen classics tablet corridor, and into the gate. Thirteen classics monument, also known as "Qianlong Stone Classics", in the period of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The contents are ancient Chinese classics, namely, Zhouyi, The Book of History, The Book of Songs, The Rites of Zhou, Rites, Book of Rites, Zuo Zhuan, Ram, Biography of Ram, Biography of Gu Liang, The Analects of Confucius, Erya, The Classic of Filial Piety, and Mencius. The shape of the inscription is roughly the same size, the number is huge, and the rehearsal is quite spectacular. Walking through it seems to be through the long river of history, and hope the students have profound meaning.
Listen to the introduction of the thirteen tablet corridors
The Royal College(Guo-zi-jian), also known as Taishi, is the highest institution of learning in ancient China. The students who entered the Imperial College are called Taishi, the "students of the Son of Heaven" and the outstanding talents trained by the state. In the ceremony, the students were arranged to go through the door of Taishi to understand the history of Taishi, which means that the students of Qiuzhen College have achieved success in the future and serve the motherland. After the gate, the students came to the "Circular Bridge Jiaoze" archway and in front of the "Piyong" hall. By introducing the history and implications of the two places, they teach students to be grateful to their parents identify with family responsibilities; give back to society, and take on social values.
Walk through the school gate
Take a group photo in front of the Yi Lun Hall
Subsequently, all the participants went into the Yi Lun Hall, where they did the Guan(adding hats for boys) rite, and Ji(adding hairpins for girls) rite, and thus issued adult certificates.
The site of Guan and Ji rite
Mr.Yau was very concerned about the growth of the students. He congratulated the students on their adulthood and specially entrusted Mr.Gao Honghao to convey his message to the students. Mr.Yau mentioned in his message that the College has now entered its third year. Under the leadership of the teachers, the students of the college work together and study hard. In the domestic and foreign competitions, they are worth celebrating. Mr.Yau also stressed that the third year of the "3 + 2 + 3" system of the leading class of the College can be regarded as an important year for the college. This is the beginning of the growth of a scholar, and also the beginning of the college into the world of mathematical science family. Yau said "The goal of Qiuzhen College is to complete the most cutting-edge innovation in mathematical science, to establish the world, to find the truth and law of the mystery of nature. We are convinced that the rules we have found will soon bring about comprehensive changes to human society, industry, and business, and help them understand the methods and significance of their survival.”Finally, Mr.Yau put forward his expectations to the students, hoping that the students would bear in mind the motto of Tsinghua University, and make a great wish to win glory for themselves, for the motherland, and create history for mankind.
Gao Honghao delivered a speech on behalf of Dean Yau
He Siyuan, the representative of adult students and a leading student of Program 2021, delivered a speech. He said that adulthood is an important node in life, and we should shoulder missions, shoulder responsibilities while creating infinite possibilities. Siyuan explained his understanding of learning as an adult from three perspectives. First, he should constantly pursue the ideal, set up the goal, and move forward; second, in the process of studying learning, he should have the spirit of perseverance, and third, with great ambition and heart."As Qiuzhen students, we are not only pursuing the truth and beauty of mathematics, but also the pursuit of serving the country with science and technology and the ambition to lead the world with true knowledge.”
He Siyuan spoke
The officiant Chen Zhijie made a concluding speech on the activity. On behalf of the College, Chen Zhijie first sent his best wishes to the students who attended the adult ceremony, paid his respects to all the teachers who worked hard to teach the students and expressed his gratitude to the parents who cared for the growth of the students. He said that the Academy chose to hold the coming-of-age ceremony for students at the highest university in ancient China, not only to hope that students could experience and feel the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation but also to wish that students could achieve a higher level of learning and moral improvement when they are adults. He hoped that the students could cultivate high-quality talents with both integrity and ability, assume more responsibilities to the family and society, aim high, and strive to make first-class knowledge. When encountering difficulties and challenges, they could maintain courage and determination, maintain an optimistic attitude, face up to difficulties, and realize their pursuit and ideals.
Chen Zhijie was concluding the speeches
The Chorus song the College song
College students who served as concierge
The group photo
Qiuzhen College innovates the talent selection and training mode and selects talents from grade three to grade three. It is precisely because of the large age span of material selection that a large number of underage students enter the College to study every year, and holding the adult ceremony has become one of the characteristic cultures of the Academy. This adult ceremony is the second adult ceremony held by Qiuzhen College. Since its establishment more than two years ago, Qiuzhen College has rapidly developed into a big family with nearly 400 people. To enhance cohesion, the College has been striving to create its own characteristic culture and care for the growth of every student. The design through the ancient way of holding adult ceremony, not only lets the young students understand the responsibility and significance of adulthood but also lets them experience the Chinese traditional culture, build cultural confidence, encourage the students in China to make first-class academic achievements in the earth, contributing to Chinese basic science lead the global power.
Author | Zhou Zhi, Xie Lufang
Typography | Cui Jingning
Proofread | Guo Youran
Review | Wang Xiaofang
Translation | Gao Xudong
