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The Confucian Academy is a
non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
(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. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
. It follows
Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...
's teachings to provide students with the relevant knowledge. His teachings are based on a moral code for
human relations The concept of interpersonal relationship involves social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. Interpersonal relationships vary in their degree of intimacy or self-disclosure, but also in their duration, in t ...
, which emphasizes the importance of
tradition A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
and
rites Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited, abbreviated as RITES Ltd, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India. It is an engineering consultancy corporation, specializing in the field ...
.


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 Kang Youwei (; Cantonese: ''Hōng Yáuh-wàih''; 19March 185831March 1927) was a prominent political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty. His increasing closeness to and influence over the young Guangxu Emperor spar ...
( 康有為) in
Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
. He then came to Hong Kong in 1930 and established the Confucian Academy.


History

*1930 Chen Huanzhang
陳煥章
, student of
Kang Youwei Kang Youwei (; Cantonese: ''Hōng Yáuh-wàih''; 19March 185831March 1927) was a prominent political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty. His increasing closeness to and influence over the young Guangxu Emperor spar ...
(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. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
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 ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...
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 Caine Road is a road running through Mid-Levels, Hong Kong. It connects Bonham Road to the west (at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road), and Arbuthnot Road, Glenealy, Hong Kong, Glenealy and Upper Albert Road to the east. The 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 ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
government to list the
birthday of Confucius Confucius’ Birthday (, Mandarin ), falls on the 25th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is officially celebrated on Taiwan as "Teachers' Day" on September 28, and in Hong Kong on the third Sunday of September as "Confucius ...
(27 August of the
Chinese Calendar The traditional Chinese calendar (also known as the Agricultural Calendar 曆; 农历; ''Nónglì''; 'farming calendar' Former Calendar 曆; 旧历; ''Jiùlì'' Traditional Calendar 曆; 老历; ''Lǎolì'', is a lunisolar calendar ...
)(農曆八月二十七日) as a public holiday in order to commemorate the
Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...
, 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. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
in Hong Kong. With the support from the
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) is a pro-Beijing conservative political party in Hong Kong. Chaired by Starry Lee and holding 13 Legislative Council seats, it is currently the largest party in the l ...
( 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 (LegCo) is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong. It sits under China's " one country, two systems" constitutional arrangement, and is the power centre of Hong Kong ...
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 The Education University of Hong KongUniversity title ...
(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 (George Mason, Mason, or GMU) is a public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia with an independent City of Fairfax, Virginia postal address in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The university was origin ...
, Washington to attend the unveiling of a bronze statue of
Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...
and to give a speech to the students. And in mid April, he represented the academy to the
United Nations Headquarters The United Nations is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States, and the complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1951. It is in the Turtle Bay, Manhattan, Turtle Bay neig ...
in New York to attend a conference with other religious organizations and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
(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 ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
in late June 2008. They met with the Prime Minister of Japan
Yasuo Fukuda is a former Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008. He was previously the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history, serving in that role from 2000 to 2004 under Prime Ministers Yoshirō M ...
, 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 SBI Holdings, sometimes referred to as Strategic Business Innovator Group, () is a financial services company group based in Tokyo, Japan. The group's businesses and companies are held primarily at SBI Holdings. The company provides financial ser ...
). 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. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
.


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