Question Box: Why is there a Confucius statue on campus?

Earlier this year C2M recieved inquiries into the Confucius status near the Center for the Arts buiding. (Shannon Dodson) 

UPDATED: Nov. 18 at 3:15 p.m.

The statue of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), a famous Chinese philosopher and thinker, has stood on Mason’s lawn since April 2008. Donated by the Confucian Academy of China, it stands as a symbol of “friendship and shared values,” according to the plaque on the statue.

The statue is approximately 11 feet tall and weighs two tons and “demonstrates a foundation upon which our university will build international educational and cultural enrichment. It also serves as a visible symbol of our broad cultural awareness and support within the student, staff, and faculty body,” said the School of Public Policy’s managing director, Keith Segerson.

In 2009 the Confucius Institute (CI) at Mason opened. CI, a partnership between Confucius Institute Headquarters and Beijing Language and Culture University (BCLU), offers non-credit educational programs about Chinese language and culture, some of which are free.

Professor of Public and International Affairs John N. Paden said that the CI "added on to the general university priority of raising awareness of Chinese culture and language." Paden added that it was advantageous for Mason to be provided with teaching supplies and teachers from BCLU.

Confucius was a Chinese sage famous for his philosophical teachings in East Asia that dealt with ethics, which has come to be labeled as Confucianism. It is sometimes affiliated with religion.

One famous quote that Confucius is known for is "choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

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