School Motto Stone

The school motto epitomizes the very essence of a university. In the best position of Peiyangyuan Campus of Tianjin University stands the school motto stone weighing 260 tons. The pattern on the facade of the stone looks like a majestic tree and the four characters 实事求是 in Chinese meaning “Seeking truth from facts”, are engraved on the shaded side, facing the 1895 Administration Building. New TJUers, standing before this giant stone, can understand the spiritual core of “Seeking truth from facts, and Promoting education to strengthen the nation” carried forward by Tianjin University for more than a century.

The school motto stone is 18 meters long, 1 meter wide and 3.5 meters high. It stands on the open lawn in the South Square of the Administration Building, donated and designed by all alumni of the 82nd Mechanism Class, Casting Class, Welding Class, Forging Class, Metallurgical Class, and the General Design Institute of Tianjin University. The school motto stone facing the north side is engraved with the motto “Seeking truth from facts” inscribed by Zhao Tianlin, the former president of TJU. The pattern on the stone facing the south side resembles a big tree with deep roots and lush foliage. It means that after many vicissitudes, TJU, as a centuries-old institution, has accumulated over time and secured remarkable achievements. If you take a closer look, you will be pleased to find that in front of the stone lies a square platform, the center of which is carved with a circular dragon pattern. Actually, this is a sealing platform of TJU.

On the opening ceremony of Peiyangyuan Campus in 2015, the most solemn moment came when four students who graduated at different times handed over the soil collected from all campuses in the history of TJU to the then President Li Jiajun. And then it was sealed into the copper platform and buried in front of the school motto stone. Tianjin University, founded in 1895, is the oldest institution of higher education in the history of modern higher education in China. Since its founding, it has moved its location and changed its name several times, but the spirit of Tianjin University has been passed down for generations. In 1990 when the eight-power allied forces invaded China, Peiyang University (predecessor of Tianjin University) was occupied by German forces. It was rebuilt along the North Canal in Xigu. In 1937, the Japanese Army invaded China, and in 1938, it moved west to Shaanxi Province to establish the National Northwest Union University, expanding the reach of Chinese education. In 1946, it reopened in Tianjin, carrying on the tradition of Peiyang University. In 1951, it was formally named Tianjin University, and in the following year, the campus moved to Qilitai. Despite the vicissitudes of TJU in the past century and the relocation of the campus, Tianjin University has always closely combined its fate with that of the nation. After a long period of accumulation, it has fostered the soul of promoting education to strengthen the nation and patriotic dedication. Rooted in more than a hundred years of history and committed to the spirit, TJU continues to progress.

In 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War broke out. The rumbling sound of artillery in the Yellow Sea and the humiliation of defeat jolted the sleeping giant, China. To save the country, the Qing Emperor Guangxu issued Decree to Strengthen the Country. In respond, then Customs Intendant, Sheng Xuanhuai, drafted a memorial for the establishment of a new type of university. He believed that if a country wants to become self-reliant, it must first cultivate talents, which calls for the promotion of education. He also thought that the way of self-improvement is based on cultivating talents; the best way to seek talents is to set up a school. On October 2, 1895, the 24-year-old emperor Guangxu signed for approval on the memorial with a red - ink brush. The history of Chinese education ushered in a new chapter, and the first modern university run by Chinese people began to be built. That is the precursor of TJU-Peiyang University.

TJU was born to save the country and built for a stronger country. Since its founding, it has kept the country in mind.

"Seeking truth from facts" is the value pursuit that TJU has been committed to throughout its centuries - long development journey, and it is the shared value orientation and code of conduct shared by TJUers. In 1928, it established "China's First Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory", taking the lead in the practice of higher engineering education; In 1934, it successfully created China's first aircraft engine, laying the foundation for China's aviation industry. The first color film, the first TV relaying vehicle, the first cyclotron, the first cross sea bridge, the first offshore oil platform... Teachers and students from TJU seek truth from facts, contribute to Chinese development, make hard efforts for the development of China's machinery, petroleum, water conservancy, aviation and other disciplines, making significant contributions to the establishment of a modern industrial system in China. The university, which has pioneered numerous firsts in China regards building a strong country through education as its mission and integrates seeking truth from facts into its idea and practices.

There are many memorable stories about this school motto stone. In order to choose a school motto stone, the alumni of TJU climbed Mount Tai several times. After seeing many stones, a huge stone caught their eyes. The texture of this stone is like a big tree with deep roots and flourishing leaves. It is the very indication of the fact that after many vicissitudes, TJU, as a centuries-old institution, has accumulated gradually and secured remarkable achievements. This stone is naturally heavy, majestic and rustic. Instantly, they associated it with “Seeking truth from facts” and were deeply shocked by it. They realized that this stone is the perfect carrier to embody the spirit of the school motto, “Seeking truth from facts”, which they have all been searching for. The members of the stone selection team unanimously agreed that the “school motto stone” had been found.

It's not easy to choose a stone, nor is it easy to transport it. On September 5, 2015, Wang Zheng and Lin Bin (present professors at the School of Mechanical Engineering at TJU) rushed to Mount Tai to coordinate the efforts of the lift and transportation of the school motto stone. In the quarry, an 800-ton crane was employed to lift the school motto stone onto a seven-axle, 22-meter-long modified heavy truck with eight cranes accompanying it. Then, the stone embarked on a migratory journey from Mount Tai to the new campus of TJU. Due to heavy loads, the truck can only travel during daylight hours and rest at night. The truck arrived at the junction of Hebei Province and Tianjin in the early morning of September 8. It took 5 hours for the truck to finish the last 50 kilometers of the journey. As it approached the new campus, it proceeded with extreme caution on the final few hundred meters of road and bridge. With repeated confirmation, reassurance and on-site escort by the construction experts from TJU, the school motto stone was finally safely unloaded on Peiyangyuan Campus and landed firmly on the well-made foundation.

As the words on the giant stone show, no matter the changes of the seasons, the great spirit of seeking truth from facts will be carried forward forever. What is in front of it is the 1895 Administration Building, echoing the pragmatic and reliable working style of TJU. Behind the stone is a straight road, connecting Xuanhuai Square and Shutian Square along the left and right, which seems to serve as an indicator to guide the students.

Promote education to strengthen the nation with patriotic dedication. Each student walking along Mingde Road can find the school motto stone standing on the square, reminding of the mission and glory as a TJUer.

By Li Ping'an

Editor: Sun Xiaofang