Award “Free Thought, Independent Spirit”

Award“Free Thought, Independent Spirit”

1.  Congratulation

I warmly congratulate Professor Li Buyun’s eightieth birthday and the kick off of the LiBuyun Law Prize. The prize is worthy of congratulations for three important reasons.First, the prize is a civilian honor, the leader of the project is my country’s famous jurist and pioneer of appealing to the rule of law and human rights, Li Buyun. Second, those who participate in the review of the prize are famous jurists in the law circle. Third, candidates of the prize include not only Chinese scholars but also foreign jurists—this is a step with vision and foresight.

More significantly, I think the Li Buyun Law Prize is not only an award for academic achievements, but it also encourages and advocates an academic attitude that is “free thought, independent spirit.” This dictum of great thinker and professor Chen Yinque, as well as Liang Qichao’s dictum “self-discipline, social commitment,” made up Old Tsinghua University’s old school motto; it is a pity that this spirit of independence and freedom is forgotten today, even taboo. Now this spirit is lacking in the academic circle, including the law community. But Professor Li himself embodies the spirit he advocates, daring to speak the truth with the courage to pioneer, working for truth rather than for power, ina diligent effort to advocate the rule of law and human rights in China—these are the characteristics that are worthy of being carried forward and further developed by the Law Prize.  

2. Support

I sincerely support this prize and accept the award for me with alacrity. As an awardee，I am five years senior to my presenter—does it put a cart before the horse？Withou the sitation, Professor Li consulted my opinion in advance，Iagreed and felt deeply honored. This is based decades of our friendship—perhapsit is a militant friendship—but in the development of jurisprudence and the rule of law in our country, we always support each other. People jokingly callus two “iron brothers.” I remember that 10 years ago I gave him a long poem, in which I made a precise definition of “iron brothers”: “iron” means sticking to truth, upright and outspoken, upholding justice; “brother” is the kind where like attracts like, like-minded, and moral.

Now Buyun is eighty years old, and I am also eighty-five. We are greatly beholden to our peers for their kindness. I want to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks to Li Buyun and other friends present here today and thank youfor your support for me.

3.   Wish

First I sincerely wish that the Li Buyun Law Prize would prosper and thrive forever, with talented people coming forth in multitudes, becoming a prestigious award in China and even the international law circle, in order to promote the development of legislation in China and the world. Second， sincerely wish that in the future, more outstanding young jurists will win the Li Buyun Law Prize. As we all know,Professor Li cares greatly for the well-being of our youth (just a few daysago, Ma Jie of the Academy of Social Sciences—Ma actually talked specifically about this characteristic of Professor Li), I wish the youth in the law circle will end up making as good or better decisions than us. Let us grow from ignorance and naïvetéto maturity and brilliance, offering our own contributions, to promote ourcountry’s jurisprudence and rule of law. Thank you!

2013-8-23