On March 14, the Symposium Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Kuang Yaming's Birth and the Authors' Forum of the Collection of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers, hosted by Nanjing University, was held in Beijing. Hong Dayong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Xiong Sihao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education; Xu Ying, Member of the Standing Committee and Director General of the Publicity Department of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee; Tan Tieniu, Chair of the NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and Tan Zhemin, President of NJU and Academician of the CAS; Zhang Xi, President of Jilin University and Academician of the CAS attended the symposium. Kuang Rongrong, a representative of Kuang Yaming's family, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting was presided by Tan Zhemin.
Hong Yinxing, Former Party Secretary and University Distinguished Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences of NJU; Wang Jiafei, Deputy Director of the Theoretical Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Wang Richun, Director General of the Department of Social Sciences, Ministry of Education; Yang Fan, Party Secretary of the National Museum of China; Liao Xiangzhong, Party Secretary of the Comminication University of China; Zhao Jinsong, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee; Jiang Yong, Director General of the Education Department of Jiangsu; and representatives from Nanjing University and other partner universities, including experts, scholars, alumni and members of the media, gathered together to pay heartfelt tribute to Mr Kuang Yaming—a Marxist theorist, educator and social activist—in recognition of his outstanding achievements, his dedication to education, his scholarly spirit and his exemplary character. They came together to pool their wisdom and talents in order to carry forward the intellectual legacy and keep the torch burning in the new era, thereby writing a new chapter in this endeavour.
On behalf of the university, Tan Tieniu extended a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to the leaders and distinguished guests in attendance. He remarked that former Party Secretary and President Kuang Yaming was a steadfast revolutionary, a far-sighted educator and a dedicated scholar; his integrity and educational ethos have long been ingrained in NJU's DNA. As a university with over 120-year history in which General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee have placed great hopes, NU will continue to uphold, promote and put into practice the political integrity of our Kuang Yaming and his pioneering spirit of daring to be the first and boldly blazing new trails, his people-centred and open-minded philosophy of education, and his commitment to preserving our academic heritage and promoting our culture. NJU will strive to take the lead and press forward with determination on the journey towards building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics.
The documentary "The Bearing of a Scholar as Lofy as the Mountains, as Enduring as the Rivers", screened at the event, offered a heartfelt tribute to the legendary life of Mr. Kuang, whose moral integrity and professional achievements stand as an enduring example. Special attention was given to the Collection of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers, a major scholarly project organized by Kuang Yaming, which has made important contributions to promoting Chinese cultural heritage and the development of Chinese philosophy and social sciences. They also exchanged views on carrying forward China's intellectual and cultural traditions in the new era, pooling wisdom and strength to continue this legacy and open a new chapter. During the event, the launch ceremony for the compilation of the Collected Works of Kuang Yaming was held. The collection will systematically compile Kuang Yaming's major writings and academic achievements.
NJU also presented the Collection of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers to the National Museum of China, further promoting the preservation and dissemination of research on Chinese intellectual traditions.
Nanjing University and the Communication University of China jointly launched the short-video series Starlight of a Long River: Stories of Chinese Thinkers. Integrating AIGC technology with narrative storytelling and dramatized presentation, the series introduces the intellectual ideas and spirit of Chinese thinkers throughout history. Since its release, the videos have received more than one million views.
Tan Zhemin chaired the first session of the event.
Chen Yunsong, Vice Chair of the NJU CPC Council, announced the global outreach initiative for the Collection of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers. Through multilingual publications, short videos, and digital communication, the program aims to bring research on Chinese thinkers to the global academic community and younger audiences worldwide.
Chen Yunsong chaired the second session of the event.
In the second session of the symposium, scholars delivered keynote speeches and held discussions on the academic value of the Collection of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers and its significance for contemporary studies of Chinese thought. Participants noted that the series offers a comprehensive exploration of Chinese intellectual traditions and represents a lasting scholarly legacy that will continue to inspire future research and contribute to the development of human civilization.
