The young Gu Jingzhou was sent to the best school in Shushan at the time, the County Sixth Higher Primary School[1], where he studied diligently the Four Books and Five Classics while also learning various Western subjects. His father, Gu Bingrong, believed in the traditional maxim that "all pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior," considering that education and knowledge were the best means to distinguish oneself and bring honor to one's ancestors. However, due to the family's declining fortunes and inability to continue supporting his education, Gu Bingrong made the decision to have his son drop out after primary school graduation. This seemingly heartless but unavoidable decision meant that the world perhaps lost one more intellectual steeped in the classics, but it preserved for the art of Zisha pottery an unparalleled genius of extraordinary talent. Although Gu Jingzhou only had a primary school education, during those brief years he studied traditional Chinese classics as well as English, Japanese, mathematics, Chinese and world history and geography, which allowed him to master a broad foundation of knowledge. At the same time, throughout his life Gu Jingzhou maintained excellent study habits and proper research methods, ensuring that his cultural foundation remained... --- [1] Also known as "Shushan Academy." Originally established during the Song Dynasty, it was renamed during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era as "Yixing County Sixth Higher Primary School," "Shushan Town Central National Primary School," and "Yixing County Shushan Primary School." After Liberation, it was renamed "Yixing County Shushan Town Central Primary School." During the Cultural Revolution it was called "Yixing County Hongyang Primary School." After the Cultural Revolution, it was renamed "Yixing County Shushan Primary School," and in 1981 restored to the name "Yixing County Dongpo Primary School." In 1989, Dongpo Primary School relocated entirely.