The Confucian Academy is a
non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
(NGO) founded in 1930 by Dr.
Chen Huanzhang (
陳煥章) to promote
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
. It follows
Confucius
Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
's teachings to provide students with the relevant knowledge. His teachings are based on a moral code for
human relations, which emphasizes the importance of
tradition
A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common e ...
and
rites.
Background Information
Objectives
*Promotes Confucian as the nation's major religion in order to enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation
*Convinces the Hong Kong government to list the Confucius's birthday as a public holiday in Hong Kong
*Establishes the Confucian church in various cities and towns around the world
*Includes the ideas of Confucian in primary, secondary and university teaching areas
*Constructs the Confucius Memorial Hall in Hong Kong and make it as the world's center of the Confucianism
Educational mission
The academy upholds the Confucian teaching "Left No Child Behind" (有教無類), trying to cultivate all the talents of children.
They teach according to the different potential of the children (因才施教) so as to help them to grow to contribute to the society. They are committed to cooperate with the parents and the community to build a good learning and educational environment for the kids.
Succeeding the deanship in 1992, Dr Tang continued to contribute to the education scholarship and even set up the 'Confucian Academy Dr Tang Enjia reward scheme'(孔教學院湯恩佳院長經訓科獎勵計畫). It aims to fund students from the academy and other tertiary students to engage in Confucianism academic research, and also to enhance the communication between the academy and the local major religious groups. The academy is dedicated to hold more joint talks and various social activities with other religious parties.
Founder
Dr. Chen Huanzhang (陳煥章)(1881–1933) founded the Hong Kong Confucian Academy in 1930. He was born in Gaoyao, Guangdong. He went to United States in 1905 to continues his studies, and received Ph.D. in philosophy with his publication "The Economic Principles of Confucius". In 1912, he founded the Confucian Society (孔教會) with his teacher
Kang Youwei (
康有為) in
Shanghai
Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
. He then came to Hong Kong in 1930 and established the Confucian Academy.
History
*1930 Chen Huanzhang
陳煥章, student of
Kang Youwei (康有為), founded the Confucian Academy.
*1930 The Confucian Secondary School (孔教中學) was established.
*1931 Confucian Tai Shing Primary school (孔教小學) was established.
*1933 Chen Huanzhang died, Zhu Yuzhen
朱汝珍 took over. The academy was registered as a limited company
*1942 Zhu Yuzhen left Hong Kong, Lu Xiangfu (盧湘父) took over.
*1970 Lu Xiangfu died at the age of 102, Huang Yuntian (黃允畋) took over.
*1978 Dean Huang Yuntian (黃允畋) held the "Hong Kong Six Religious Leaders Forum" with other five religious groups including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Catholicism and Taoism.
*1980 Dean Huang Yuntian (黃允畋) set up the preaching committee and started holding monthly talks and seminars.
*1992 Huang Yuntian (黃允畋) resigned and recommended Dr. Tang Enjia (湯恩佳) to take over.
Development of the academy
The development of the Confucian Academy can be divided into three phases. The first is the founding period (1930–1942). Chen Huanzhang (陳煥章), founded the Confucian Academy which focuses on preaching and sharing of the Confucian teachings. Followed by a period of consolidation (1942–1992), when Lu Xiangfu (盧湘父) and Huang Yuntian (黃允畋) have significant achievements in the educational aspects.
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
was also included as one of the Hong Kong's six major religions during that time. Then it is the expansion period (1992 - today). The academy put effort in building
Confucius
Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
statues and temples around the world, sponsoring and encouraging Confucius studies and organizing major seminars.
When the Confucian Academy was first established, funding was extremely difficult. They rented a site for operation. The site at the same time was used to offer free night-schooling for the poor and underprivileged children.
In 1931, the directors of the academy decided to raise funds to purchase the academy site No. 131
Caine Road, with around HKD$50000. A Confucian school was also set up in the premises which was attached to the academy.
In July 1933, the academy officially registered as a limited company, a board of 15 directors was formed to handle its administrative affairs of the academy.
Recent Activities
Campaign to make Confucius' birthday as a public holiday in Hong Kong
In 2010, Confucian Academy recommended the
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
government to list the
birthday of Confucius (27 August of the
Chinese Calendar
The traditional Chinese calendar, dating back to the Han dynasty, is a lunisolar calendar that blends solar, lunar, and other cycles for social and agricultural purposes. While modern China primarily uses the Gregorian calendar for officia ...
)(農曆八月二十七日) as a public holiday in order to commemorate the
Confucius
Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
, carry forward the Confucian culture, educate the next generation and enhance the status of
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
in Hong Kong.
With the support from the
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (
民建聯) and six religious groups in Hong Kong, the motion of "Encouraging the government to promote Confucianism and list the Confucius’ Birthday as a public holiday" was nevertheless rejected in the
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, colloquially known as LegCo, is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Hong Kong. It sits under People's Republic of China, China's "one country, two systems" c ...
of Hong Kong on 8 January 2010. Most of the councilors worried that the cancellation of the last day of Easter Holiday for the Confucius’ Birthday would create controversy in the society.
Donations to the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd)
In 2009, the Confucian Academy donated HK$1 million to the Centre for Religious and Spirituality Education of the
Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd).
It aims to promote confucianism to teachers and students and develop their concern for China and global vision.
Foreign Visits to promote Confucianism
In early April 2008, Dr. Tang Enjia was invited to
George Mason University
George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...
in
Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia and the county seat of Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 24,146.
Fairfax is pa ...
to attend the unveiling of a bronze statue of
Confucius
Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
and to give a speech to the students.
And in mid April, he represented the academy to the
United Nations Headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations (UN) is on of grounds in the Turtle Bay, Manhattan, Turtle Bay neighborhood of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It borders First Avenue (Manhattan), First Avenue to the west, 42nd Street (Manhattan), 42nd ...
in New York to attend a conference with other religious organizations and the
(UNESCO)
On behalf of the academy, the dean Dr. Tang Enjia and Dr. Hui Chiming, chairman of the academy were invited to a nine-day visit to
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
in late June 2008. They met with the Prime Minister of Japan
Yasuo Fukuda, who expressed support for the promotion of the Confucius birthday in Asia. They gave lectures in the J.F.Oberlin Universit
櫻美林大學 and visited the SBI Holdings Co. Ltd.(
SBI Group). They met with the corporation's president Yoshitaka Kitao
北尾吉孝 and had discussions about
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
.
Affiliated Schools
Secondary schools
* Confucian Ho Kwok Pui Chun College
孔教學院何郭佩珍中學 www.chkpcc.edu.hk
* Confucian Tai Shing School (孔教學院大成中學)
Primary schools
* Confucian Sam Lok Chow Mud Wai School (孔教學院三樂周產桅學校)(Closed down)
* Confucian Tai Shing Primary School (孔教學院大成小學)
Publications
Photo gallery
Image:Confucian Academy office.jpg, President's Office (院長辦公室)
Image:Confucian Academy office 1.jpg, President's Office 1(院長辦公室)
Image:Confucian Academy office 3.jpg, President's Office 3(院長辦公室)
Image:Confucian Academy secondary school.jpg, Confucian Tai Shing School (孔教學院大成中學)
Image:Confucian Academy secondary school 1.jpg, Confucian Tai Shing School 1(孔教學院大成中學)
Image:Confucian Academy secondary school 2.jpg, Confucian Tai Shing School 2(孔教學院大成中學)
Image:Confucian Academy secondary school 3.jpg, Confucian Tai Shing School 3(孔教學院大成中學)
References
External links
Official website of The Confucian Academy
Official Website of The Confucian Ho Kwok Pui Chun College
A Blog about the foundation ceremony of the Confucian Academy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Confucian Academy
Confucian education
Religious organizations established in 1930
Educational institutions established in 1930
1930 establishments in Hong Kong
Religious Confucianism
Confucian religious education