The University's motto, Humanity, Righteousness, Propriety, and Wisdom
reflects the basic spirit of Confucianism. These four cardinal virtues
express humankind's four inherent elements of spirit, action, conscience,
and intellect. Humanity abides in the heart that loves; righteousness
abides in the heart that knows right from wrong; propriety abides
in the heart that knows forbearance; and wisdom abides in the heart
that perceives. Confucian philosophy attests to man's innate goodness,
and at the same time recognizes that this quality must nevertheless
be awakened and nurtured. These four principles, which comprise the
University's philosophy of instruction, are the basis for higher education's
goals of the search for truth and the establishment of social justice,
which are, in turn, based on humanity.
