The Yuelu Academy in Changsha, Hunan Province

A tablet inscribed with the maxim Seek Truth from Facts at the Yuelu Academy in Changsha, Hunan Province. During his youth, Mao Zedong was influenced by the Xiang (Hunan) School of thought, which emphasized the practical application of knowledge. This tablet at the Yuelu Academy left a deep impression on him. Later, based on explorations of the contemporary value of China’s traditional culture, Mao Zedong provided a new interpretation of the maxim: “Facts” are all the things that exist objectively, “truth” means their internal relations, that is, the laws governing them, and “seek” means to study. VISUAL CHINA / PHOTO BY HONG TAO