 Ⅰ. Founding Origins and Educational Mission A.Founding Origins "Standing on the ground of the elementary and secondary schools, you can see the majestic central mountain ranges on your left, the recently restructured Tzu Chi College of Technology on your right, the Tzu Chi University on your front right, and the vast, boundless Pacific Ocean right in front. Between these beautiful mountains and ocean lie green Tzu Chi campuses," stated the previous president of Tzu Chi University, Ming-liang Li, in describing Tzu Chi's educational vision. Dharma Master Cheng Yen says, "Education is the work of purifying human minds and hearts. If carried out well, education is a source of hope, as well as a stabilizing strength in society." Carrying out Tzu Chi's Four Missions - Internationalized Charity Work; Universalized Medical Care; Comprehensive Education; Deeply Rooted Culture-is the same wish of all global Tzu Chi volunteers. In order for Tzu Chi's educational mission as well as humanities education to firmly take root and exuberantly flourish, the elementary and secondary schools were founded after the nursing college and medical school, once again with the spirit of "Great Love and Gratitude". On July 11, 1999, Tzu Chi elementary and secondary schools together held its groundbreaking ceremony. Despite the great trials from the Taiwan Quake on September 21, 1999, the Tzu Chi Elementary and Senior High School still strived to open doors in September of 2000, thus completing Tzu Chi's Comprehensive Education System. B.Educational Mission With the spirit of kindness, compassion, joy, and generosity, we are committed to cultivating the bodies and minds of young people, nurturing healthy citizens, and realizing excellence in daily living education, character and ethics education, and humanities education. In order to prepare students for future research abilities or specialized fields, equally develop the ethical, intellectual, physical, social, and artistic potential of every healthy citizen. |
Ⅱ. Founding Origins and Educational Mission Located in the western outskirts of Hualien City within Tzu Chi's education zone, it faces the Huatung valleys and leans against the central mountain ranges, erectly banking the Meilun Mountains and streams. With an area of ten hectares (24.7 acres), the campus neighbors the Tzu Chi College of Technology, Tzu Chi Elementary, and Piyunchuang Community. The school also frequently cooperates with the nearby Tzu Chi University and Still Thoughts Hall (conference hall). The beautiful campus with lushly decorated flowers and greenery provides a very positive, humanistic atmosphere. Responsible for the school campus design was the famous American SOM architecture firm. Internationally renowned Mr. Paul Friedberg planned landscape design, considering the needs of the surrounding environment and local community. Through "Green Architecture" and principles that respect and protect the planet, the end result is a model education campus, united with the community, environment, and ecology. In addition, considering the variations in nature and geography, the design of campus dorms is classic, elegant, and colorfully simple. Though each campus building has two or three stories, they all use SRC (or steel reinforced concrete structure), the strongest modern earthquake-resistant construction method. The school's green campus effectively uses natural light, air circulation, temperature, humidity, and natural resources. The humanized design of greenery both protects the environment and is recycle friendly, thus decreasing the planet's burden. For example, rainwater is also centrally collected and reused. |