Confucius to teach Houstonians ancient Chinese philosophy

US: 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 US president George Bush told the Houstonians in a written statement.

Houston, Thursday, Xinhua