On the135th anniversary of Chu Kochen ’s birth, let us look back on the life of our esteemed President: from founding the first national meteorological station to leading Zhejiang University through four relocations, Chu Kochen remained true to his belief in “learning for practical use, integrating knowledge with action.”
Over the years, Chu Kochen Honors College has inherited the spirit of “seeking truth and be creative”, embodying Chu Kochen’s academic principle of “not following blindly, not agreeing with the majority, and questioning only right from wrong” in its teaching. Every year on his birthday, students of CKC pay tribute by placing flowers at his statue. In 2021, the college launched the “Read Together the Diaries of Chu Kochen” event. In 2024, the college’s history museum was completed, and a bronze statue of Chu Kochen was placed inside.
Guided by Mentors, Shaping Minds and Souls
President Chu Kochen once said, “Professors are the soul of a university.” CKC offers honors courses to undergraduates to strengthen their academic foundation and broaden their perspectives. The college supports guided learning and promotes collaboration between science and education. Through initiatives like the “mentor system”, “professor academic groups”, and “integration of undergraduate and doctoral education”, CKC has created a strong base for developing top-tier innovative talent.
Spreading Stories Through Sports and Culture, Cultivating Outstanding Individuals
In 1937, President Chu Kochen led the faculty and students of Zhejiang University on the “Long March of Culture,” continuing physical education during wartime. CKC carries on this tradition by including physical fitness tests in the “Chu Exams” and offering specialized courses such as dragon and lion dancing, as well as quality development.
In the arts, CKC’s Lingyun Chorus celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China with a performance, and the Lingyun Musical Theatre Club created an original musical to tell the stories of CKC students.
Embracing Youth, Heading Towards the Future
Under the leadership of the college’s Party Committee, students of CKC have stepped into society, contributing their efforts: traveling to the “Two Bombs and One Satellite” base for study, going to the western plateau for teaching assistance, and contributing to national strategies such as “Healthy China” and “Rural Revitalization” with their youthful vigor.
Under the college’s unique talent cultivation model, many outstanding alumni have emerged: Song Zhengyu, a 1988 mixed-class alumnus, served as the chief designer of the Long March 8 carrier rocket and received the National Science and Technology Progress Award; Huang He, a 1993 alumnus, was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2023; Huang Xiaohuang and Chen Hang, alumni of the 2003 class, co-founded Manycore Tech Inc, constructing the world's largest AI dataset for indoor environments.
Opening the Diaries of Chu Kochen, nine million words record the warmth of the country and the call of the times. Today, in the college history museum, on the stage of dramatic performances, and in the hearts of students, Chu Kochen’s teachings continue to be passed down. We are still searching for the answer to the question “What do we come to Zhejiang University to do? What kind of person do we want to be after graduation?” and practicing the college motto of “Having lofty aspirations and pursuing excellence.”
On the anniversary of his birth, the wind sweeps across Jiangnan, and the clouds of Beiji Pavilion still roll. Let us look at the flourishing peach and plum trees, all smiling brightly.
