The University of Hong Kong — Motto, Shield, Coat of Arms, Colours and Anthem

Module: 00 Overview · Sub-file: symbols This article sets out HKU's motto, shield, full coat of arms, colours and anthem. Institutionally, the core symbols were conferred in two steps: the shield and motto were granted by the College of Arms in 1913^※; the full achievement (crest, supporters, etc.) followed in 1984^※, in a year linked to the University's anniversary. This article follows the official record and prioritises verifiable fact over anecdote.

# 一、校训：明德格物

# The Chinese and Western pairings

According to HKU's official gloss:

• 明德 (mingde): to manifest virtue^※;
• 格物 (gewu): to investigate things^※;
• together they embody the ideals of the Arts and of the Sciences^※, respectively.
• On the Latin side: Sapientia answers to 格物, and Virtus to 明德^※.

# 二、盾徽与完整纹章

# 盾面 (The shield)

According to HKU's official visual-identity materials, the shield combines elements of European and Chinese tradition^※:

• the upper third shows a gold lion on a red field, echoing the English royal arms (three gold lions on red)^※;
• below, an open book rests on a field divided blue and green, symbolising learning and the geography of Hong Kong Island^※;
• the book's pages bear the words 明德 and 格物^※.

# The two-stage grant

# 扶持兽 (Supporters)

• The two supporters of the full achievement are a Chinese dragon and an English lion, each wearing a Chinese jade collar^※; they symbolise the union of Eastern and Western culture^※.
• The steep mounts in the arms refer to the terrain of Hong Kong Island^※.

# 三、校色：深绿

• HKU's colour is dark green^※.
• The green also echoes the background of the book on the shield and accords with the University's visual-identity system (per HKU's official visual-identity notes).

# 四、校歌 (University Anthem)

HKU has a Latin anthem with a rather circuitous history:

# 五、百周年纪念歌《明德格物》(2011)

Beyond the Latin University Anthem of 1912, HKU commissioned a separate song for the 2011 centenary: the Centenary Song 《明德格物》 (English title, taken from the motto: "Virtue and Knowledge"). The two should not be confused:

Compiled from public reports: 《明德格物》 takes the motto as its title, with successive cohorts of HKU alumni contributing composition, lyrics, arrangement and vocals — a hallmark of the centenary's "Heritage" theme, offered to the University by its own alumni. The three centenary themes and related events are covered in history-2.md; as the creators are public figures and the work is a positive commemorative piece, this overview does not name them individually — see the official centenary pages for details.

# 六、互见

• For the motto's origins and the Confucian background of 明德格物, in relation to the University's founding history, see history.md.
• Loke Yew Hall (the former Great Hall) — the venue of the anthem's premiere and of countless ceremonies — and its donor legacy are covered in history.md.
• The individual insignia and songs of faculties and halls (such as the Law Faculty's Law Anthem) belong to their own modules; see ../01-academics/ and ../10-colleges/.