On November 13^th, UIC’s sixth “Appreciation Ritual” was held in the performing arts hall, attended by more than 70 students. As a practitioner of Whole Person and liberal arts education, UIC enables students to enhance their sense of national identity, promote respect for teachers and education, and pass on traditional Chinese culture through action in a ritual atmosphere.

“Beat the drum, Invite the teachers, Gown Inspection”

The guests of honour present in this ceremony include Professor Tang Tao, President of UIC, Professor Chen Zhi, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor Wei Chuxiong, Associate Vice President, Professor Li Jianhui, Dean of Academic Affairs, Mr Chen Lixin, Executive President of Finance and Administration, Professor Zuolong Peilan, Dean of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Huang Huaxiong, Dean of the Department of Science and Technology, Professor Zhao Xiaobin, Associate Dean of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Jiang Wei, acting Dean of the Department of Culture and Creativity, Dr. Katharina Yu, Director of the International Development Office, and Prof. Guo Haipeng, Director of the Whole Person Education Office.

Guests of Honor

Before the ritual officially starts, the song “朝乐” is played by UIC’s Yayue orchestra, to bring the students into a ritual state. Following the Master of Ceremonies resonant order, “First sounding of the drum --- Second sounding of the drum --- Third sounding of the drum,” the Yayue orchestra drummers hit the drum nine times, eighteen times, and thirty-six times, respectively, starting the appreciation ritual with the solemn and serious sound of drums.

“朝乐” brings the students into the correct state of mind

After the drumming finished, the zither started playing. The teachers first entered from the east and took their seats, then the student representatives came to the stage from the west. After standing respectfully for a moment, the students have their gowns inspected by the teachers. Dressing properly is the first lesson of the ancient school opening ritual, as the ancients believed that: “First dress properly, then understand the reason”. Only with a clean appearance can you have the proper attitude and concentrate on your studying.

Offering tea three times to show respect

In ancient times, students were required to present gifts such as dried meat, celery, dried longan, lotus seed, red dates, or red beans. Today, offering tea takes the place of these six gifts. The first year students prepare tea and then pass it on to the second year students’ representatives to respectfully present, so as to demonstrate their respect for their teachers and the older generation. First the students salute, then the teachers begin drinking the tea, tasting the sweet fragrance of the tea for a long time, which represents the happiness in the midst of the hard work of learning. The students then salute again, and express their willingness to cultivate themselves, regulate their family, and govern the country, bringing peace to the world. At the end of the ritual, the students bowed, and the teachers finish their tea to show the dignity of teachers, and to begin imparting knowledge.

Students respectfully offer tea to the teachers

Students are clear-minded and teachers give their best wishes

“The way of university lies in understanding the highest virtue, is close to the people, is in aiming at absolute perfection…after cultivating oneself, regulate the family, after regulating the family, govern the country, after governing the country, bring peace to all the world.” In this segment of the ritual, the students read selections from the “Greater Learning” in unison. The orderly and loud reading echoed through the performing arts hall, expressing the determination and strength of the students’ desire to learn, to be honest and sincere, and to cultivate their moral character and regulate their families.

During the listening training, President Tang Tao said that respecting teachers and emphasizing education is an excellent tradition of China, and it's amazing to be able to hold on to such a ritual in a modern university. It is very important to enhance our students' recognition of our country and our nation. Otherwise, we may easily lose our beautiful home, ideals and future. The students of UIC are positive and have the feelings of the importance of family and country, and the sense of social responsibility. He is very proud of the school and teachers, and hopes that the teachers and students will work together to build UIC into a better and better university.

President Tang Tao expresses the importance of learning traditional Chinese culture and strengthening national identity

Following this, all of the students bowed again, and the teachers offered the students longan, celery, and onion (representing wisdom, diligence, and intelligence). When the drums being again, the teachers and students successively leave the stage, and the master of ceremonies announces the end of the ceremony.

Zhang Hanshu, a freshman studying business administration, said: “The appreciation ritual fits well with the school’s spirit of whole person education, letting us feel the atmosphere of traditional rituals. The ceremony was simple and comprehensive, creating a dignified and solemn atmosphere, and with the Yayue music’s accompaniment, makes people feel a sense of awe.”

The purpose of the Appreciation Ritual is to actions to impart traditional Chinese culture

Qin Siyao, a sophomore majoring in International Politics, was one of the representatives that offered tea to the teachers. She said: “The most impressive part of the whole ritual was the moment that we read the “Great Learning” together. I believe that we have read these articles together with our classmates before, but this time, unlike any in the past, everyone is wearing scholars’ robes, and the reading was full of feeling in front of the teachers, there’s a sense of pride.”

Zhang Liang, a sophomore in Finance and Mathematics, is a member of the Yayue orchestra. He said frankly: “It’s very rare to get such a solemn sense of ritual in the University. Yayue is a kind of traditional Chinese court music. I am very happy to learn and carry it forward in the environment of UIC whole person education.”

The teachers presented longan, celery, and onion to salute the students, which represent: wisdom, diligence, and intelligence.

Original text: Jiang Wenxin (sophomore Communication major)

Pictures: Wei Xiaojing (sophomore Journalism major)

Bai Haonan (sophomore Data Science major)

Video: Wen Minghui

Editor: Gao Xinyu

Translator: Thomas Ritthaler

(Source: Press and Public Relations Office)