Tchang Pi-Kai
College Motto: Cheng Ming (Sincerity and Intelligence)
新亞書院創立於1949年,為錢穆先生及一群來自內地之學者,在極艱難窮困的環境中所創辦,其目的在上溯宋明書院講學精神,旁採西歐大學導師制度,以人文主義之教育宗旨,溝通東西文化,為人類和平、社會幸福謀前途。
因此,新亞書院重視舉辦學術文化活動,包括六大講座:錢賓四先生學術文化講座、余英時先生歷史講座、任國榮先生生命科學講座、新亞儒學講座、新亞當代中國講座及新亞文化講座,另外亦有為期一年,以培養參與同學對中國文化興趣的「新亞青年學人計劃」。
至於學生課外活動則由學生會及其屬會自由組織,由新亞書院津貼經費如新亞國樂會(1963年成立)、新亞國術會(1979年成立)等。經過多年發展,新亞書院學生人數不斷增加,1949年的42人,至目前逾3,000人,此可反映新亞書院發展的一斑。
校訓誠明二字見於《中庸》:「誠者,天之道也。誠之者,人之道也。」「自誠明,謂之性。自明誠,謂之教。誠則明矣,明則誠矣。」誠是德性行為方面的,明是知識暸解方面的。誠是一項實事,一項真理;明是一番知識,一番暸解。
New Asia College was founded in 1949 at a time of extreme adversity by Mr. Ch’ien Mu and other scholars from mainland China. Their objective was to establish an educational institution which combines the essence of the scholarship of the Song and Ming academies and the tutorial system of Western universities. With humanism as its basis, the College also aimed to facilitate cultural exchanges between East and West and to promote peace and well-being of the human race. New Asia College has been carrying on its tradition of organizing academic and cultural activities to promote cultural development, including a series of six lectures: Ch’ien Mu Lecture in History and Culture, Yu Ying-Shih Lecture in History, Yen Kwo Yung Lecture in Life Sciences, New Asia Lectures on Confucianism, New Asia Lectures on Contemporary China and New Asia College Cultural Talks. "New Asia Young Scholars Scheme" is a yearly programme which aims to foster participants' interest in Chinese culture. Extracurricular activities are organized by the Student Union and other student societies. The College subsidizes the activities and the student societies run them, they include the New Asia College Chinese Music Society (founded in 1963) and the New Asia College Martial Arts Society (founded in 1979). The number of students has increased from 42 in 1949 to the present over 3,000, which is a good indication of the development of New Asia College over the past decades. The College Motto, two Chinese characters Cheng (Sincerity 誠) and Ming (Intelligence 明) come from Zhongyong (The Doctrine of the Mean 《中庸》), which says, "Sincerity is the way of Heaven; behaving with sincerity is the way of men", "Intelligence derived from sincerity is nature. Sincerity derived from intelligence is instruction. Given sincerity, there shall be intelligence; given intelligence, there shall be sincerity." "Sincerity" is concerned with ethics and behavior, and "Intelligence" is in the realm of knowledge and awareness. "Sincerity" is tantamount to reality and truth, and "Intelligence", learning and understanding.