In Fuzi Temple, Nanjing, there is a Confucius School lying among the classic buildings inside the temple. The founder of the school is a British man, Sir Burry Jewett (sound translation).

On June 16, his story was disclosed by CCTV at an evening held to celebrate the birthday of Nanjing city. More and more Chinese people soon got to know about this British man and his stories, the Nanjing Daily reported.

Sir Burry Jewett came to China 13 years ago. When he first arrived in Beijing, he couldn't adapt to the new life and always missed his home country. One day, he happened to pick up a book to read and the book changed his life. The book, Kongfuzi's Life, tells the life of the great ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius and his great thoughts. By reading the book, Burry Jewett began to learn some of the famous ideas contained in Confucianism, ideas such as "do not do to others what you would not have them do to you." He admired the peaceful life pursued by Confucianism and the harmonious relations among different people in a traditional Chinese family, as advocated by Confucianism. Later, Burry Jewett married a Chinese woman.

As years went by, he realized that the longer he studied traditional Chinese culture, the more he liked it.

"Chinese people's filial piety for the old, the sincerity they show in dealing with people around them, their kindness and bravery, all embody the essence of traditional Chinese culture," Burry Jewett said.

He wanted more foreigners to know about Chinese culture and he also hoped that Chinese people could have a better understanding of their own culture. Why not establish a Confucius School then, he thought.

Three years ago, Burry Jewett visited the Fuzi Temple in Nanjing. Inside the temple, he saw a scholar study room that could hold more than 40,000 people to study together. In history, Nanjing had been the capital city of six Chinese dynasties. Now, it is also the capital city of Jiangsu.

"Thinking of this, I decided to set up my Confucius School here," Burry Jewett said.

With the help of his friends, the Confucius School opened earlier this year. The school aims at disseminating traditional Chinese culture. Apart from teaching foreigners to speak and write Chinese, the school has also prepared some books which will tell the kids some rudimentary ideas contained in the book, The Analects of Confucius.

In this school, foreigners can learn paper-cutting, making Chinese lanterns and Chinese knots, do wooden carving and cruising along the scenic Qinhuai River at night. From time to time, Sinologists are invited to come to the school to offer lectures about traditional Chinese music or the study on Chan Buddhism. Although the school has only opened a short period of time ago, it has become a very popular school among foreigners. Many people come to the school regularly to learn something about China. Some Chinese kids also come here to study English.

Burry Jewett spent a lot of money in order to set up his Confucius School. However, he never thought that he would earn the money back. To Burry, he has working hard to promote the Confucian culture only because he loves it.
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(Chinanews.cn July 11, 2007)
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