It has been a long-standing tradition to value education and respect teachers in China. From ancient times, education has been paid much attention to by Chinese. About 2,600 years ago, Guan Zhong, the wise said, "When scheduling for a year , we should think about crops. While making up a ten year plan, we should take care of tree. however, when it is extended to hundred years, human of talent is everything." In China, the first monograph about education Record of Learning has brought up the idea of "education is the top priority". Back in Zhou Dynasty, 3,000 years ago, government set up schools of different scopes and levels on the basis of various administrative divisions. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius even ran private schools in his hometown with a slogan that everyone no matter rich or poor, had the right to receive education.

Since education is so highly respected in China, people of knowledge would have a higher social status and be esteemed by other. There is an old saying that to be a scholar is to be the top of sociaty, which shows the important position of education in the human mind.

Respect for education has determined the status of teacher. There are a lot of saying that show respect towards teachers, for example, "A teaching for a day, would be a father for lifetime". For a long time, the position of teacher was honored by both the masses and emperors. In the temple of Confucius in Beijing, many emperors in Qing Dynasty had written inscription to show their appreciation to master Confucius.

In China, the honor shown to teachers is displayed in every aspect of social life. The teacher is always called sir or mentor. Nowaday, Tenth September is designated to be the "Teacher's Day".