On April 20, Hangzhou Normal University officially inaugurated the Li Shutong Scchool of Aesthetic Education, marking the establishment of the first full-time academy of aesthetic education in China. The event coincided with the 105th anniversary of the titling of China’s first academic journal on aesthetic education, Aesthetic Education, by Li Shutong, one of the university’s most esteemed predecessors.

Distinguished guests including Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Li Lijuan and Feng Yu, descendants of cultural pioneers Li Shutong and Feng Zikai, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. University leaders, government officials, and over 200 experts, scholars, and student representatives also witnessed this historic moment.

The School is founded on the principles of cultivating virtue through aesthetics, nurturing humanity through beauty, and inspiring innovation through culture. Upholding a “grand aesthetic education” vision — integrating scientific, humanistic, and artistic beauty — HZNU aims to advance the quality of aesthetic education in the new era.

At the event, Professor Du Wei, former president of HZNU, was appointed honorary dean of the School. The university also unveiled a comprehensive aesthetic education curriculum system, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between science and humanities to foster well-rounded talents equipped for national rejuvenation.

Prior to the inauguration, attendees visited an exhibition showcasing HZNU’s century-long tradition in aesthetic education, highlighting the contributions of figures such as Lu Xun, Li Shutong, and Feng Zikai.

Through the establishment of the Li Shutong School of Aesthetic Education, HZNU aspires to become a leading center for aesthetic research, education, and cultural innovation, contributing to the cultivation of a new generation of talents committed to the pursuit of truth, beauty, and excellence.