School Culture Released

To better promote the School's culture, showcase its spirit, and consolidate the internal drive and consensus for sustained development, a dedicated task force was established in July this year to initiate the collection and formulation of the School Culture. The task force was led by Wang Hongying, Party Secretary of the School, and Geng Jiyong, Dean of the School, with Zhao Wenyu, a 2022 MTI student, and Chen Yu, Full-Time Organizational Staff Member of the School, serving as deputy leaders. All Party branch secretaries of the School served as members. The task force solicited input extensively from faculty, students, staff, alumni at home and abroad, retired predecessors, experts in University and School history, and members of the public, organizing multiple rounds of seminars and discussions of varying scales. After stages of collection, seminars, and expert consultation, and upon deliberation and approval by the School Party Committee, the School Culture of the School of Languages and Communication Studies is now officially released as follows:

Jing Yu Chuan Xi, Wen Dao Qiu Zhen

（Cultivating Excellence, Seeking Truth）

Explanation

The School Culture consists of two parts:

The first half, "Jing Yu Chuan Xi (Cultivating Excellence) ", visually reflects the School's abbreviation, its talent cultivation philosophy, and its positive core spirit.

The second half, "Wen Dao Qiu Zhen (Seeking Truth)", signifies the attitude and goal governing both conduct and scholarship for all teachers and students of the School.

Jing Yu Chuan Xi (Cultivating Excellence)

Jing (菁, Jīng)

"Jing" generally refers to blooming flowers, extended to mean the finest part of something.

The Book of Songs·Xiaoya states "Jing Jing Zhe E (Luxuriant are the E Hao)", a poem praising the nurturing of talents, later used metaphorically to mean delighting in cultivating outstanding talents.

The character " Jing (菁, Jīng)" is a homophone for "Jing (精, Jīng)", implying the meaning of "striving for perfection".

The character "Jing (菁, Jīng)" is rich in connotation and positive in meaning. "Jing Yu (菁语, Jīng Yǔ)" describes beautiful language. The two disciplines of the School, Languages and Communication Studies, both serve as bridges of communication and represent beautiful languages in the world. The character "Jing(菁, Jīng)" signifies the School's characteristic cultural leadership and its talent cultivation philosophy of valuing and nurturing talents, also showcasing the fine spirit of its members in striving for perfection.

Yu Chuan (语传, Yǔ Chuán)

The abbreviation of the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University, is "Yu Chuan (语传, Yǔ Chuán) ". Using the School's abbreviation in its Culture directly and clearly reflects the School's disciplinary characteristics.

Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)

"Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)" is taken from the name of the predecessor of the University, the "Railway Management Institute(铁路管理传习所)". This intends to echo the original mission at the University's founding and, reflecting on the early practice of offering English, French, and German classes, to appreciate the pivotal role foreign languages played at the origin of China's earliest Management and Telecommunications disciplines, thereby reinforcing the patriotic sentiment and global perspective of the language disciplines.

"Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)" also resonates with the University motto "Zhi Xing (知行, Zhī Xíng)". The philosophical work Chuanxi Lu (Instructions for Practice) by Wang Yangming emphasizes the concept of the unity of knowledge and action. Therefore, "Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)" and "Zhi Xing (知行, Zhī Xíng)" are interconnected.

The Analects of Confucius·Xue Er says: "I examine myself three times a day: Have I been faithful in working for others? Have I been trustworthy in intercourse with friends? Have I practiced what has been passed on to me?" Therefore, " Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)" carries the meaning of "teaching" and "learning".

The term " Chuan Xi (传习, Chuán Xí)" not only demonstrates the long history of the University, but also skillfully connects the University and the School's predecessor with the Motto. It further signifies the positive learning atmosphere within the School where teachers and students, teachers and teachers, and students and students learn from each other and progress together.

"Jing Yu Chuan Xi (Cultivating Excellence)" can be understood as: The fine and perfection-striving, talent-cultivating School always unifies knowledge and action.

Wen Dao Qiu Zhen (Seeking Truth)

Wen Dao (问道, Wèn Dào)

Zhuangzi once used a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and Guangchengzi to describe how the Yellow Emperor sought the Dao with an open and earnest mind, paying respects and inquiring humbly: "The Yellow Emperor, having been established as the Son of Heaven for nineteen years, whose orders were effective all over the state, heard that Guangchengzi was living on the Mountain Kongtong, went to see him, and said, 'I have heard that you are well acquainted with the Dao. I venture to ask about the essence of the Dao.... ' After staying for three months... he bowed twice with his head to the ground, and asked again, saying: ..." (from Zhuangzi·Zai You). Later generations thus used "Wen Dao (问道, Wèn Dào)" as a metaphor for pursuing excellent thought and doctrine.

The Yanzi Chunqiu·Wen Shang Eleven states: "Those who seek the Dao are more righteous; those who understand the Dao are more tolerant". This means those who actively seek the Dao and pursue truth must become more upright and honest, and those fortunate enough to understand Dao certainly become more magnanimous and broad-minded. Thus, "Wen Dao (问道, Wèn Dào)" is an important path to enhancing personal morality, conduct, and self-cultivation.

The Baopuzi·Chong Jiao mentions: "I have heard that the crown prince of the emperor must enter the Grand Academy, receive instruction from teachers and seek the Dao... only then can he become a ruler". Therefore, " Wen Dao (问道, Wèn Dào)" is key to independent exploration and progressive learning.

The term "Wen Dao (问道, Wèn Dào) " not only interprets the cultivated demeanor of the School's teachers and students—humble in conduct and diligent in practice—but also highlights their belief in upholding truth and continuously exploring, as well as their pursuit of inquiry, reflection, and scientific rigor.

Qiu Zhen (求真, Qiú Zhēn)

The renowned educator Tao Xingzhi once said: "Tens of thousands of teachings is to teach people to seek truth; Tens of thousands of learnings is to learn to be genuine people".

"Journalism has two great values: the left side transmits truth, the right side records history". The discipline of Journalism and Communication must seek truth, arrive at truth, communicate truth, and defend truth.

Language is a bridge for our communication with the world, and the principles of translation—Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance—all emphasize truthfulness. "Qiu Zhen (求真, Qiú Zhēn)" is also fundamental to the discipline of Foreign Languages and Literature.

Promoting the spirit of seeking truth is the goal pursued by the two main disciplines of the School and the foundation for their enduring existence. "Qiu Zhen (求真, Qiú Zhēn)" also signifies the goal and pursuit of the School's members: seeking genuine knowledge without following false paths, valuing solid learning without craving vanity.

"Wen Dao Qiu Zhen (Seeking Truth)" aims to guide all teachers and students of the School to pursue noble scholarly character, seek genuine knowledge, comprehend true principles, and be authentic individuals.

Looking Back: The Development Process of the School Culture

Extensive and Targeted Solicitation

A total of 87 submissions for the School Culture were collected:

1.Via questionnaire, targeting current teachers and students, alumni at home and abroad, retired predecessors, and friends from all sectors of society concerned with the School's development, 64 submissions were collected.

2.Through School Party Committee members and Party branches, targeting various departments, classes, and retired predecessors, 23 submissions were collected.

Ranking Solicitation

School Party Committee members and Party branches led the organization of discussions within departments and classes to rank and recommend 5-10 proposed School Culture phrases, resulting in a compilation of 49 recommended outcomes.

Seminars

Regarding the initially collected 87 submissions and the 49 ranked recommendations, the School Culture Task Force invited representatives from the School Party Committee, Party branches, departments, classes, and retired predecessors for offline discussions. They modified and combined selected works from the submissions.

Seeking Expert Opinions

The School Culture Task Force solicited expert opinions on the discussion results and refined the recommended outcome.

Soliciting Feedback on Shortlisted Proposals

The School Culture Task Force solicited feedback on the shortlisted proposals from all faculty, students, alumni, and retired predecessors.

Decision

Approved through deliberation by the School Party Committee.

The School Culture solicitation initiative has been successfully concluded.

The list of shortlisted winners is hereby announced as follows:

The finalization of the School Culture is both a summary of the School's past dedication to practice and delight in cultivating talents, and an expectation for its future pursuit of excellence and truth. May we join hands and work together to build the School into a home that we all cherish and fondly remember. Here, we express our sincere gratitude to all teachers, students, alumni at home and abroad, retired predecessors, and friends from society who have cared for and supported the School's development!