Peking University, Nov. 27, 2011: The launching ceremony of the centennial of Peking University (PKU) Department of Philosophy was held on the afternoon of November 25, in Shaoyuan guest house. Leng Rong, dean of CCCPC Party Literature Research Office; Zhou Qifeng, PKU President and other senior professors, scholars and alumni from PKU attended this ceremony.
PKU Predisent Zhou Qifeng spoke at the ceremony
Professor Wang Bo, dean of PKU Department of Philosophy, introduced related background of the centennial. He indicated that the Department of Philosophy, founded in 1912, would have its 100th birthday in 2012. During November, 2011 to October, 2012, the department would hold a series of activities based on the theme “Philosophy and Contemporary China”, which would summarize the process of Chinese philosophy development and lead the department the way to the world.
Professor Zhou Qifeng pointed out in his speech that philosophy had become one of the most influential subjects at PKU after 100 years' development. He expressed his hope that the department could reconstruct itself carefully, combine theoretical researches and practical problems together to enrich the theory of philosophy. Then he went on to emphasize that the university would always make every effort to support the development of the department.
Senior professor Huang Nansen
Huang Nansen, senior PKU professor, expressed that one hundred years ago, philosophy was established as a subject, since then it was becoming increasingly significant. What the Department of Philosophy needed to do was to learn from past and make more progress. Professor Tang Yijie moved on to point out that attentions should be paid to the communications between philosophy and other subjects. He thought that it was necessary to cultivate comprehensive talents who had the knowledge of many kinds of subjects. Yu Dunkang, a well-known scholar of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, summarized his own experience in philosophy and showed his anticipation of the future of philosophy. Du Weiming, dean of PKU Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies, thought that Chinese philosophy, which was a sort of microcosm of Chinese modernization, was closely associated with the fate of Chinese nation.
Professor Du Weiming
Wang Yusuo, as the entrepreneur representative, announced his decision to set up the “Philosophy and Modern China” academic fund to support the research work of PKU philosophy.
The grand launching ceremony
At the ceremony, the first report meeting of lecture series “Philosophy and Modern China” was also held. Professor Leng Rong delivered a speech on this topic. He unscrambled and explained the social background, spiritual essence and significance of enhancing the cultural construction by connecting with domestic and abroad situation.
About the Department of Philosophy:
Established in 1912, the Philosophy Department of Peking University was the earliest Philosophy Department among China's universities. The initial name of the department was “the Division of Philosophy”, in 1919 it was renamed as “the Department of Philosophy”.
In its history, many famous and notable scholars used to teach in the Philosophy Department of Peking University, including Cai Yuanpei, Hu Shi, Jiang Menglin, Xiong Shili, Tang Yue, Deng Yizhe, Tang Yongtong, Liang Shuming, Jin Yuelin, Feng Youlan (Yu-lan Fung), Zong Baihua, Zhu Guangqian, Feng Ding, Chen Kang, He Lin, Shen Youding, Hong Qian (Tscha Hung), Zhang Dainian, Hu Shihua, etc. They trained generations of best Chinese philosophers and made the department the birth place of Modern Chinese Philosophy.
PKU Department of Philosophy always plays a pioneering and leading role in the establishment and development of Chinese philosophy. It is the cradle of modern Chinese philosophy.
Written by: Xu Yang
Edited by: Qian Xin
