Chengdu Shishi High School (simplified Chinese: æÂÂé½ç³室ä¸Âå¦; traditional Chinese: æÂÂé½ç³室ä¸Âå¸; pinyin: Chéngdà « ShÃÂshì Zhà Ângxué), also known as Wenweng Shishi (æÂÂç¿Âç³室), is a prestigious public secondary school in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Tracing its origins back to the "Shijun Junxue" (School of Shu Commandery) founded by Governor Wen Weng during the Han dynasty (c. 141 BC), it is widely recognized as the first local government-run school in China and the world. It is also one of the few schools globally to have remained on the same site for over 2,160 years.
The school currently operates under a "one school, multiple campuses" model:
The historic headquarters located on Wenmiao Front Street in the Qingyang District, situated on the original Han dynasty site.
A modern residential campus located in the Chenghua District, established to expand the school's high-quality educational resources.
The school's emblem consists of a double-circle frame enclosing a central bell-shaped logo formed by the Seal script (ç¯Â书) characters for "Shishi" (ç³室). This design carries a triple significance:
The bell, an ancient Chinese vessel for timekeeping and music, symbolizes the school's "uninterrupted music and song" (弦æÂÂä¸Âè¾Â) for over two millennia and the preservation of Wen WengâÂÂs educational spirit.
The bell serves as a reminder for students to "cherish time" and pursue an upright, noble character with a strong sense of social responsibility.
The combination of ancient Seal script with modern geometric circles reflects the school's deep cultural roots and the innovative, excellence-seeking spirit of the contemporary Shishi community.
The school celebrates its anniversary on November 11 each year.
93 Wenmiao Front St, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610093
30ð 39â² 13.27â³ N, 104ð 03â² 21.61â³ E
Between the years 143 and 141 BC, Wén WÃÂng (æÂÂç¿Â), the Western Han dynasty governor of Shu Commandery (modern Sichuan), established the first Chinese public school, Shujun Junxue (Shu Commandery Academy, èÂÂé¡é¡å¦). The great Han dynasty scholar Sima Xiangru studied at the school.
During the Eastern Han dynasty, the school was devastated by fire. It was rebuilt in 199 AD, and continued through China's imperial dynasties as Yizhou Zhouxue (çÂÂå·Âå·Âå¦, Yizhou Prefecture School), Chengdu Fuxue (Chengdu Prefecture Academy, æÂÂé½åºÂå¦), and other names. Shu Shi Jing (a form of Thirteen Classics, literally Shu Carved Stone of Classics, èÂÂç³ç»Â) was completed in Chengdu Fuxue in Northern Song, after more than 230 years of intermittent carving. In the 17th century, as the Ming dynasty collapsed, Zhang Xianzhong's rebel force devastated Sichuan and the school was destroyed.
In 1661, early in the Qing dynasty, the Chengdu Fuxue (prefecture school of Chengdu) was reestablished on the site, and became a leading school in Sichuan. Jinjiang Academy, which later became Sichuan University, was established at the school in 1740. Chengdu Fuxue became Chengdu Normal School (æÂÂé½å¸ÂèÂÂå¦å Â) under the new educational system introduced in 1902. It then became Chengdu Middle School (æÂÂé½åºÂä¸Âå¦å Â) in 1904. It was renamed again to Chengdu Shishi Middle School (æÂÂé½ç³室ä¸Âå¦) in February 1940, and in mid-1948 was identified as a model for secondary schools nationwide.
In September 1952, after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the school changed its name to Chengdu No. 4 Middle School (æÂÂé½第åÂÂä¸Âå¦). During the Cultural Revolution, the school was devastated for the third time; none of the Qing dynasty buildings still exist. It returned to its former name in April 1983.
Shishi ranks among the top 100 high schools in China. Its admission is highly selective, and attracts applications each year from both local and neighboring middle schools. Most Shishi students scored among the top 10% of their peers on the junior middle school exit exam.