Co-organised by the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) and the Macao Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Relics, the exhibition “Treasure of Ancient Books – Exhibition of Chen Zibao and Macau Civilian Education” was officially opened on 21 October 2023, at the Kent Wong Exhibition Gallery of USJ’s Ilha Verde Campus.

The opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was officiated by Rector of USJ, Rev. Prof. Stephen Morgan, Director of the Maritime Museum, Mr Sit Ka Sin, Assistant Librarian of the University of Macau, Mr Leung Tak Hoi, Prof. Chan Chi Long, Ms Sam Hoi Ieong of the Macao Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Relic, and the Head of Library at USJ, Ms Emily Chan.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of Chan Tze Por, a pioneer of education in Macao, this exhibition showcases his contribution to modern education and his ideas of establishing schools in Macao, emphasising on monastic education and advocating women’s studies. The exhibition features some 30 Mongolian textbooks from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, as well as textbooks on religion and history from the last century. These textbooks for women and children were collected and collated by Ms Sam and her family in Macao and Guangzhou over the past decades.

After the opening of the exhibition, there were two lectures: “Chen Zi Biao and Commoner Education in the Context of the Era” by Shen Ocean and “Chen Zi Biao’s Methods and Practices of Teaching Characters and Words” by Ho Kwong Lei, both of which introduced the background of Chen Zi Biao’s era, how he inspired and implemented commoner education, and how Chen Zi Biao’s teaching methods and practices were used in his life. The two speakers introduced the background of Chen Zigao’s time, how he inspired and implemented education for the common people, and the new ways of teaching vocabulary created by Chen Zigao.

The exhibition will be on display at the Kent Wong Exhibition Gallery at USJ Ilha Verde Campus, from October 24 to November 18, 2023. Admission is free and the exhibition will be open from 9am to 10pm, and closed on public holidays. For details, please visit https://library.usj.edu.mo/exhibition-of-treasures-of-ancient-books-chen-zibao-and-macau-civilian-education/