On the eve of the moon turning to its fullness on Aug. 15th of the Chinese calendar, over 150 students, faculty, and New York City community members gathered in Grace Dodge Hall 179. The Center on Chinese Education (CoCE) at Teachers College (TC), with the support of Teachers College China Society (TCCS) and Columbia Chinese Orchestra, hosted a lively community event to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (a traditional Chinese festival for family reunions) and commemorate the long-lasting TC-China relationship.
Over 150 students gathered at GD179 to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, (a traditional Chinese festival for family reunions)
The event, themed “Celebration, TC-China Legacy, Music, and Community,” kicked off with opening remarks by Dr. Henan Cheng, deputy director of the Center on Chinese Education, and Amine Mechaal, director of Global Engagement at TC. As an advocate for advancing cultural exchange and international collaboration, Mr. Mechaal expressed his delight at the event’s success and positive impact on bridging Chinese and American cultures.
Mr. Amine Mechaal delivered an opening remark
One of the highlights of the event was Dr. Henan Cheng’s presentation: ”Cross Fertilization” of Culture and Education for the Common Good: TC’s Lasting Legacy in China, which underscored the TC-China legacy and deep historical ties. Dr. Cheng noted that in the 1910s, famous educators at Columbia University, including John Dewey, Paul Monroe, and William Kilpatrick helped support notable Chinese students in becoming educational pioneers for modern Chinese education. These included Tao Xing-zhi, the educator of the people, Hu Shih and Jiang Meng-lin, presidents of Peking University, Kuo Ping-Wen, the president of Southeast University, and Chang Po-ling, founder of Nankai University. Their collective endeavor made a significant impact on the development of modern Chinese education.
Dr. Henan Cheng presented ”Cross Fertilization” of Culture and Education for the Common Good: TC’s Lasting Legacy in China
The inheritance of this precious legacy was displayed through the sharing of personal stories by three TC and Columbia’s Chinese international students who have special ties with Teachers College: Ying Yang, a Southeast University alumna; Lexuan Li, a Nankai University alumna; and Yutao Mao, a Chongqing Yucai Middle School alumnus. Their stories showed that TC legacy and spirit has been passed on to new generations, continuing to shed light on education in all areas.
Three TC and Columbia students shared their stories about TC-China Legacy
Another highlight of the event was Chinese modern and traditional music performances. Contemporary Chinese music played by the professional pianists and current Teachers College’s Master’s students Chen Wang and Sam Lin showcased an intersection between modern China and the Western world. Folk music played by the Columbia Chinese Orchestra and Joanna Yang immersed the audience in the beauty of Chinese traditional culture. Supplementing the music, the Chinese Calligraphy Club at Columbia University engaged the audience in Chinese calligraphy writing.
Chen Wang, a renowned pianist and a Master’s student in Music Education at TC, performed Ode to the Yellow River and Lonely Warrior
The Columbia Chinese Orchestra played Clouds Chasing the Moon and Jasmine Flowers
Sam Lin sang Ten Years and Satisfied while playing the piano
Joanna Yang Played May We All Be Blessed
Experiencing Traditional Chinese Calligraphy
After a lunch break of authentic Chinese food and mooncakes, the event ended with a community-building activity facilitated by the hosts Dr. Ruohao Chen and Jingya Zhu. This allowed the event participants to strengthen and expand their social networks around TC.
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The event hosts Jingya Zhu and Ruohao Chen
Traditional Chinese Mooncake
This Mid-Autumn Festival, we gathered to celebrate TC's legacy through stories, art, and good-will. We anticipate future collaboration in drawing inspiration from our predecessors, exchanging Eastern and Western perspectives, and contributing uniquely to the future of Chinese as well as American education. CoCE will continue to sustain connections between China and TC and improve mutual understanding between Chinese and American people, bridging two cultures in an interconnected world.
(Contributor: Yuqi Zheng; Photographer: Yang Chen)