Peking University, Sept. 13, 2010: On Sept. 11, the inauguration ceremony of the Leo KoGuan Building of Peking University Law School was held in the Lecture Hall of the building.
Sponsored by Dr. Leo KoGuan, Chairman of the Leo KoGuan Foundation and Honorary Trustee of PKU, the new building of the Law School serves for its teaching and administration.
Prof. Luo Haocai, Vice Chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and professor of the Law School, joined the grand ceremony.
The Inauguration Ceremony of the Leo KoGuan Building, PKU Law School
Former Vice Chairman of CPPCC and Law School Professor Luo Haocai Receiving Dr. Leo KoGuan
Prof. Wang Jiancheng, Vice Dean of Law School, Presiding over the Event
Guests and Representatives of Teachers & Students
Prof. Min Weifang, Chairman of Peking University Council, delivered a welcoming speech in which he expressed sincere gratitude to Dr. Leo and other people who support the development of PKU. “The participation in promoting the development of higher education by non-governmental sectors symbolizes the progress of society and civilization,” said he. The Chairman then urged the school to take the opportunity to proceed with its open policies and exchanges and cooperation with various social sectors, and to make new contributions to the training of China's law elites, and to the progress of rule of law.
PKU Council Chairman Prof. Min Weifang's Speech
On behalf of alumni, Mr. Li Hongji, copartner of Beijing Commerce & Finance Law Offices, recalled the period he was studying at then Department of Law, shared his feelings on its development, and wished the school and the university well in his speech. The newly-inaugurated Dean of Law School, Prof. Zhang Shouwen, paid tribute to Dr. Leo as well as the alumni and people from all walks of life who have contributed to the development of the school and the university. “To live up to your expectations, what we will undertake is our management and operation of this new building, and what we will continue to harvest is our talents for service through bildung, repaying the kindness from Dr. Leo, honorable guests, and our alumni,” Prof. Zhang pledged.
Mr. Li Hongji's Speech on Behalf of Alumni
Prof. Zhang Shouwen, Dean of Law School, at His Speech
The unveiling ceremony was held after the speeches, where Prof. Luo, Dr. Leo, Prof. Min, and Prof. Wu, invited by Prof. Wang Jiancheng, lighted the crystal lamp together at the rostrum to mark the inauguration of the Leo KoGuan Building.
Prof. Luo Haocai, Dr. Leo KoGuan, Prof. Min Weifang, and Prof. Wu Zhipan at the Unveiling Ceremony
Dr. Leo followed his lecture “In Search of Chinese Rule of Law and Virtue” with his childhood impressions on Lord Shang Yang (390-338 BCE), an important Chinese statesman of Qin in the Warring States Period of ancient China. With the support of Duke Xiaogong of Qin, Yang enacted numerous reforms (in accordance with his legalist philosophy recorded in The Book of Lord Shang) in the state of Qin that helped to change Qin from a peripheral state into a militarily powerful and strongly centralized kingdom, changing the administration by emphasizing meritocracy and devolving power from the nobility. However, Confucian scholars were highly opposed to Shang Yang's legalist approach.
Dr. Leo argued that both the thinking of the Confucian School and the Legalist School should be taken account of because of their significance, especially for guiding the development of today in terms of rule of law, reciprocity, and harmony. Further, the Daoist thinking and Yang Zhu’s “for-self” ideology should also be valued as a teaching of "individual spiritualism," thus balancing out the collective idea of Confucianism and Legalism and insuring people free from absolute authorities. He read that he hoped the Law School carry on research about the relation between the legalist tradition over thousands of years and and the contemporary society of China, in order for the advancement of China's legal research and the development of the nation and the world. He also interacted with student representatives after the lecture.
Dr. Leo KoGuan's Keynote Lecture
Prof. Zhang Shouwen Presenting a Souvenir
The Q&A session was followed by a present-giving ceremony, in which Prof. Zhang Shouwen offered Dr. Leo a souvenir with a print of the Leo KoGuan Building and calligraphy written by Law School students. The calligraphy read, “Gentlemen's Virtue, with Righteousness and Benevolence, is like Triumphant Winds and Timely Rains, the Grace of which will Reach Down to All the Nation,” as a testimony of history showing gratitude and respect for the donor.
Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Yuan Shuhong, Vice Director of the Legislative Affairs Office of China's State Council, Mr. Du Chun, Vice Director of the Department of the Guidance of Lawyers and Public Notaries of China's Ministry of Justice, Mr. Filippo Gabbiani, Designer of the building, Mr. Shi Weixue, Chairman of Beijing Zhonglianya Real & Estate Development Co., Ltd., Prof. Wu Zhipan, Executive Vice President of PKU, Ms. Deng Ya, Assistant President of PKU and Secretary General of PKU Education Foundation, Prof. Zhang Shouwen, Dean and Party Secretary of Law School, Prof. Chen Shiyi, Dean of PKU College of Engineering, Prof. Fu Jun, Executive Vice Dean of PKU School of Government, Prof. Wang Zhenmin, Dean of Law School of Tsinghua University, alumni of PKU Law School, and representatives of teachers and students. The ceremony was moderated by Prof. Wang Jiancheng, Vice Dean of Law School.
The visit to the building took place after the ceremony. Located at the east side of the Weiming Lake, the Leo KoGuan Building of PKU Law School is of five stories and one underground parking. The outdoor design applies the dry-hang stone, making its color and style in harmony with the whole Chengfu Garden. The indoor design is also a mixture of Chinese and Western architectural styles, revealing the pursuit of concord, symmetry, and magnificent low-profile. The built-up area of the A-B twin building is approximately 20 000 m2. Building A serves for library, teaching, and administration, while Building B for academic research. The Lecture Hall, Model Court Room, Library, and area for student activities could each contain 500 people.
Dr. Leo KoGuan is the Chairman of the Leo KoGuan Foundation and the Founder and Chairman of Software House International, a global procurement outsourcing company and leading business to business solution provider. In 2006, Software House International was ranked by Forbes as the 167th largest private company in the United States with annual revenue of over USD 2 billion. Dr. Leo is devoted to philanthropy as sponsor of various events and institutions such as the World Economic Forum, the US Asia Society, and the 2005 Hainan Conference of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia. In December 2006, the Leo KoGuan Foundation donated RMB 61 million for the development of PKU Law School, in which 31 million for the teaching and administration building, now the Leo KoGuan Building.
Edited by: Su Juan
Translated by: Jacques
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
