Confucius to teach Houstonians ancient Chinese philosophy
Sept.
26 proclaimed as "Great Confucius Sculpture Day" in Harris
County, Texas
Great
Confucius statue warmly welcomed in Houston
Dedication
ceremony held in Houston to commemorate 2,560th anniversary of
Confucius
Newsroom
On
September 26th, 2009, the dedication ceremony of Confucius Statue, a
gift from China to Houston, was held at Hermann park to mark the
erection of the Statue in the park, jointly donated by the Consulate
General of China in Houston and Houston Chinese community to
commemorate the 2560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius.
On
September 23rd, 2009, the Confucius Sculpture was installed in Hermann
park.
In
September of 2009, the organizing committee of the dedication ceremony
of the Confucius Statue received congratulations from Rick Perry, the
Governor of Texas, James A. Baker, III, the former U.S. Secretary of State, Han
Xi Kai, the President of China Confucius Foundation,
Zhou Ji, Minister of Education, People's Republic of China, Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of US Congress, John
Culberson, Member of US Congress, Pete Olson, Member of US Congress, Al Green, Member of US Congress
and Ed Emmett, County Judge of Harris County, Texas. Judge Emmett proclaims Saturday, September 26, 2009, as Great Confucius Sculpture Day in Harris County,
Texas.
On
September 2nd, at the City Council meeting, it was unanimously passed
that the City of Houston will adopt an ordinance, accepting a cast
bronze statue of Confucius into the City collection. The statue, under
the ordinance, will be placed in the International Sculpture Garden in
Hermann Park.
On
August 27th, 2009, Zhou Wenzhou, the Ambassador of the People's
Republic of China to the United States of America, wrote letter
congratulating Mayor Bill White and Houston Friends. He expressed:
"The Statue of Confucius presents us an opportunity to increase the cultural exchanges between China and the United States. I am sure that it will become a unique symbol of the friendship and mutual understanding between the people of China and the United Sates."
In
August of 2009, former US President George Bush agrees to serve as
Honorary Chair of the Dedication of Confucius Statue. He wrote
"The statue is a truly wonderful gift to the City of Houston from
the people of China, and we are grateful for this expression of
friendship." "China-US relations are vitally important, and
the more we know about the history of China, the better it is for my
country."
On July 5th, 2009, the
steering committee of "Marvelous China" performance held a press
conference.
From
May to September of 2009, the molding and foundry work of the
Confucius Bronze Statue is taking on at Deep in the Heart Art Foundry
at Bastrop, Texas.
On May
6th, 2009, Sculptor Willy Wang finished the clay model.
On April 2nd, 2009, Jun Yang, the chair of Friends of Confucius
Sculpture for Hermann Park Inc. and Sculptor Willy Wang received
interview by Maya Shay at "Vision" of ABC 13.
On March 5th, 2009, Consul General Hong Qiao wrote to Houston Mayor Bill White, “ I am writing this letter to you to let you know that in association with the local Chinese community, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston would like to donate a Statue of Great Confucius to the City of Houston . The statue is crafted by the renowned sculptor and will be seated in Herman Park on September 26th, 2009. Confucius, the world wide known Chinese educator and philosopher living over 2000 years ago, has deeply influenced numerous persons through his teachings and philosophy for thousands of years, until today. He emphasized personal and correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.” “I truly believe that the Statue of Great Confucius will serve
as a token of friendship between the Chinese and American people, and enrich cultural diversity of the City of Houston .”
On February 21st, 2009, Sculptor Willy Wang
officially started his frame work of the statue at his Southwest
Houston studio.
On February 11th, 2009, the Houston Arts Alliance Civic Art Committee
endorsed the donation of the Confucius Statue.
On February 3rd, 2009, the Hermann Park Garden Center Advisory
Board endorsed the donation of the Confucius Statue.
On October 3rd, 2008, the Consulate General of China in Houston, the
City of Houston and Friends of Confucius Sculpture for Hermann Park
Inc. jointly initiated the Great Confucius Statue project.
