Ma Kechang, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, pioneer and founder of criminal law in China, renowned jurist, outstanding educator and social activist, passed away on 22 June 2011 at the age of 85. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ma Kechang 's death, and we are holding an event to commemorate him and encourage those who come after him.
To commemorate Mr. Ma Kechang, and to promote and pass on the spirit of Mr. Ma Kechang's dedication to academics, education, a memorial ceremony was held in front of the bronze statue of Ma Kechang on the 10th anniversary of his death at 8:00 a.m. on 20 June 2021. The event was hosted by Professor Feng Guo, Dean of Wuhan University Law School, with speeches by Zhao Xuemei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Wuhan University, Jia Yu, Secretary of the Party Group and Procurator General of Zhejiang Provincial People's Procuratorate, and Xie Wang Yuan, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of Renmin University of China Law School.
Prof. Shan Min, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Theory of the Supreme People's Procuratorate; Xian Tieke, Member of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China; Shi Weizhong, Director of the Third Procuratorial Office of the Supreme People's Procuratorate; Prof. Li Hong, Professor of the Law School of Tsinghua University; Prof. Wang Xiumei, Professor of College for Criminal Law Science of BNU; Prof. Li Bangyou, Professor of the Law School of Central University of Finance and Economics; Prof. Yao Li, Vice President of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law; Prof. Xia Yong, Wang Anyi, Tong Dehua, Guo Zeqiang, all from the School of Criminal Justice; Prof. Zhang Shaoqian, from the Law School of Shanghai Jiao tong University; Prof. Yu Gaizhi, from East China University of Political Science and Law; Prof. Cheng Pu, from the Law School of Shanghai University; Prof. Chen Xiaoming and Li Lanying, from the Law School of Xiamen University; Prof. Liu Defa, from the Law School of Zhengzhou University; Prof. Fu Yuming, from the Criminal Law School of Northwest University of Political Science and Law; Prof. Meng Qinguo, Qin Qianhong, Chen Xiaofeng, Lin Lihong, Mo Hongxian, Ning Lizhi, Lin Yagang, Liu Shaoxiong, Chen Jialin, He Rongkong, all from the Law School of Wuhan University; Du Jianwei, Former Deputy Dean of Wuhan University Law School; President Du Ping of U-Shine Fund, Chairman Yu Lei of Tianfeng Securities, Vice President Zhang Ge of New Oriental Education and Technology Group; Ma Xiaohan, Cao Lin, Ma Kechang's descendants; and Ye Man, who had taken good care of Ma Kechang in the ward, attended the ceremony.
At the beginning of the memorial ceremony, Professor Feng Guo introduced the guests and led the audience to recollect Ma Kechang's extraordinary life history, praised his outstanding contribution to legal education and research in China, inherit and carry forward his academic spirit of "truth-seeking and pragmatism", and make greater contributions to legal research, legal practice and legal education. Ma Xiaohan, Cao Lin, Jia Yu, Professor Xie Wangyuan and Nurse Ye Man, on behalf of their families, disciples and colleagues from all walks of life, laid flowers to Ma Kechang and all staff bowed three times to the bronze statue of Mr. Ma.
Zhao Xuemei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Wuhan University, delivered a speech. On behalf of Wuhan University and its Party Committee, Ms Zhao Xuemei fully acknowledged Ma Kechang's outstanding contribution to the construction of the rule of law in China, the establishment of the criminal law discipline and the development of the law discipline at Wuhan University. Ma Kechang taught for 61 years and had trained a large number of senior legal professionals for China. He was the longest-serving Dean of the Faculty of Law for 12 years, and played a seminal role in making Wuhan University an important base for legal education and research in China. He attached great importance to the development of the discipline in line with international standards. Many of his suggestions on the construction and development of the school were adopted and implemented, producing good results and making outstanding contributions to the school's work. Deputy Secretary Zhao said, "On a spiritual level, Professor Ma Kechang has not left us, just like the bronze statue of Professor Mark Chang that I saw, where he sits and inspires us with his wise and loving eyes. Professor Ma Kechang sublime personality unites a spiritual greatness that is strong enough to pass through time, which is a valuable spiritual asset of Wuhan University."
As a distinguished disciple of Ma Kechang, Jia Yu fondly recalled the moments when he was around his teacher. Jia Yu spoke about three things he learned from Ma Kechang. One is Ma Kechang's belief in the rule of law and his love for his country. Although Mr. Ma's experience was difficult and tortuous, his sentiments remained unchanged and he always had his country at heart. The second is Ma Kechang's truth-seeking and pragmatic style. He always taught his students to start from the simplest and smallest things. The third is Ma Kechang's career ambition and educational commitment. Jia Yu exclaimed: " Ma Kechang treated all of his students equally, and did not say that he favoured anyone who was a big official or who earned more money, he only wanted his students to make achievements even in ordinary positions. I hope we should all work together in our respective positions, for the sake of our beloved gentleman, benefactor and father, Professor Ma Kechang!"
Professor Xie Wangyuan, delivered a speech on behalf of the School of Law of Renmin University of China. On behalf of all colleagues at Renmin University Law School, Professor Xie firstly expressed his deepest remembrance of Professor Ma Kechang. As a distinguished alumnus of Renmin University of China Law School, a renowned criminal law scholar and one of the pioneers and founders of new Chinese criminal law, Ma Kechang has devoted himself to criminal law theory and criminal law education for nearly 60 years, and together with Professor Gao Mingxuan of Renmin University of China Law School, he is known as "North Gao and South Ma", and has made indelible contributions to the development of criminal law in China. Professor Xie recalled: " Ma Kechang entered the first graduate class of the Law School of Renmin University of China in 1950, and maintained a six-decade academic friendship with Professors Gao Mingxuan and Wang Zuofu. Many of Mr. Ma's disciples have gone on to teach and research in criminal law. The colleagues of the School of Law of Renmin University of China will always remember the noble character and immortal deeds of Mr. Ma Kechang."
After the ceremony, the guests and disciples stopped longingly in front of the bronze statue of Ma Kechang. Although it has been ten years since Ma Kechang left us, it was as if Mr. Ma was sitting there, inspiring generations of people with his wisdom and loving eyes. The momentary ceremony may be over, but the spirit of Professor Ma Kechang will always live on.
The memorial ceremony was followed by the board meeting of Ma Kechang Legal Foundation of Wuhan University and a symposium on "Criminal Law Theory and Criminal Justice in an Information Risk Society" to commemorate Ma Kechang and to pass on and promote his academic character and ideas.
Edited by Wang Yuting & Wu Liuqing
