Teachers' Day is one of the few industry-specific holidays in China, including Nurses' Day and Journalists' Day. Since 1931, there have been four different dates and natures of Teachers' Days in various historical periods in China.
The earliest Teachers' Day in Chinese history was in 1931. At that time, educators such as Tai Shuangqiu and Cheng Qibao gathered at the Central University in Nanjing to issue a declaration calling for "improving teachers' treatment, safeguarding their work, and enhancing their professional development," and decided that June 6th would be Teachers' Day, also known as the Double Sixth Day. Soon after, the Nationalist government first agreed to June 6th as Teachers' Day, but later changed it to August 27th (Confucius's birthday). After the founding of the People's Republic, the Central People's Government once again restored June 6th as Teachers' Day, and the Ministry of Education notified educational workers across the country to organize celebrations according to their actual conditions. In April 1951, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions was established, and educators were confirmed as part of the working class. On April 19, 1951, the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the All-China Federation of Education Workers made a written statement announcing that May 1st International Labor Day would also be Teachers' Day. However, due to the lack of characteristics specific to teachers, the implementation did not go well. Especially after 1957, under the influence of "leftist" ideology, teachers were not valued, and Teachers' Day had actually disappeared.
Because the "June 6th" Teachers' Day was initiated by teachers themselves and was not recognized by the Nationalist government, in 1939, it was decided to establish Confucius's birthday on August 27th as Teachers' Day and issued the "Interim Measures for the Commemoration of Teachers' Day." However, it could not be implemented nationwide at that time.
In 1951, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions jointly decided to make May 1st International Labor Day also a Teachers' Day. Due to various reasons, Teachers' Day gradually faded from sight.
On December 9, 1984, Professor Wang told this idea to the Beijing Evening News. The next day, the Beijing Evening News published an article titled "Professor Wang Zikun Suggests Establishing a Respect for Teachers Month Activity," which caused a strong reaction among readers. On December 15, Zhong Jingwen, Qi Gong, Wang Zikun, Tao Dayong, Zhu Zhixian, Huang Ji, Zhao Qinghuan from Beijing Normal University jointly proposed the establishment of Teachers' Day. On January 21, 1985, the ninth session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress passed a resolution to set September 10th each year as Teachers' Day.
To promote the traditional virtue of respecting teachers and valuing education, and to improve the social status of teachers, on January 21, 1985, the ninth session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress decided that September 10th would be the Teachers' Day in China. On the first Teachers' Day, the then President Li Xian'nian sent a letter of慰问 to all teachers, and a celebration meeting with thousands of people was held in the capital. During the Teachers' Day period, 20 provinces and cities honored 11,871 provincial outstanding teacher groups and individuals.
