by Xinhua writer Chen Ruwei
HOUSTON, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Some 2,500 years after his time, Confucius has come to the southern U.S. metropolis of Houston to spread his wisdom of life to the local residents.
Major Bill White and 14 Council members of Houston on Wednesday unanimously adopted 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, located in one of the most picturesque areas of downtown Houston.
It is presented as a gift by the local Chinese community and the Chinese consulate-general in Houston on the occasion of the 2,560th nativity anniversary of Confucius, the most famous and prominent ancient Chinese educator, thinker and philosopher, as well as the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations.
A dedication ceremony of the Confucius statue will be held on Sept. 26, jointly sponsored by Friends of Confucius Sculpture for Hermann Park -- a non-profit local Chinese NGO, the Chinese consulate and the city of Houston.
"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," former U.S. president George Bush told the Houstonians in a written statement.
He also agreed to serve as the honorary chairman of the dedication ceremony of the Confucius statue. "China-U.S. relations are vitally important, and the more we know about the history of China, the better it is for my country," he said.
Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical and quasi-religious thought that has tremendous influence on the culture and history of China and other East Asian countries.
On the foundation of the life-size statue, three teachings of Confucius will be carved both in Chinese and English, advocating good education as an essential prerequisite for a harmonious relationship within society, families and individuals.
Since Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity, the Houstonians and visitors from other parts of the county to the park will have a chance to read Confucius teachings for an ideal society of peace, prosperity, orderliness and mutual love, said Charles Forster, chairman of Asia Society, Texas Center.
On Aug. 14, an article published by the Christian Science Monitor said that the "middle way" advocated by Confucius could lead the United States and China to a balanced relationship and realistic expectations from the rest of the world.
"The guiding principle of this middle way is to always solve problems in a peaceful, mutually respectful, and pragmatic manner," the article said, pointing to the fact that mutual interests are bonding both countries and the world.
The International Sculpture Garden was established in 1979 in Herman Park under an ordinance adopted by the City Council. Since then it has accepted 18 busts and life-size statues representing other heroes of independence and democracy, including the Great Liberator of South America -- Simon Bolivar, and Dr. Mahatma Gandhi of India.
"Given the importance of education today within so many communities, it is significant that an educator was selected rather than a historic governmental official," Forster, also co-chairman of Friends of Confucius Sculpture for Hermann Park, explained to the Council members before their voting.
"Confucius was perhaps the most important scholar and teacher in Asian culture," he pointed out, adding that the profound, long-lasting and largely positive Confucian legacy is still highly valued in modern societies of East Asian countries.
The Great Confucius Statue is the work of renowned sculptor Willy Wang, an immigrant from China whose works include the sculpture of George R. Brown in Discovery Green, Bill Hobby in the State Capitol, Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Georgetown University and Jesus -- the Great Physician in Methodist Hospital, Houston.
Wang is also an American Emmy Awards recipient, a member of the American National Sculpture Society and the Chinese Artists Society. He has been working on the statue over a year and doing a remarkable interpretation of the historic figure of Confucius ¨C a seven feet bronze sculpture.
Sources in Herman Park told Xinhua that they warmly welcome the dedication of the Great Confucius Statue by Chinese people, because Confucius could extend another 2,000 years to the cultural history of the city of Houston.
