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Tang Dynasty bronze mirror reveals Confucius’ spirit of lifelong learning
Updated: Sep 10, 2026
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Today marks Teachers' Day in China. Meet Confucius in a mirror, still asking questions.
This Tang Dynasty (618-907) bronze mirror from the Shanxi Museum collection depicts Confucius with his left hand raised, humbly seeking wisdom from the hermit Rong Qiqi, who holds a guqin zither, calm and content. Known as the Sanle Jing (Three Joys Mirror), it was named after the three reasons for happiness Rong Qiqi shared with Confucius, bringing to life Confucius' spirit of humility and lifelong learning.
