Shishi High School


Shishi High School is a state secondary school in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. It stands on the site of the first Chinese public school, built in 143–141 BC by the Han dynasty governor Wén Wēng. It was originally constructed in stone, hence the name Shishi, or stone chamber. The school is also known as Wenweng Shishi, the "Stone Chamber of Wen Weng".

History

Between the years 143 and 141 BC, Wén Wēng, the Western Han dynasty governor of Shu Commandery, established the first Chinese public school, Shujun Junxue. 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, Chengdu Fuxue and other names. Shu Shi Jing was completed in Chengdu Fuxue in Northern Song after more than 230 years 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 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 under the new educational system introduced in 1902 and then became Chengdu Middle School in 1904. It was renamed again to Chengdu Shishi Middle School 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. 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.

Notable alumni