the donation ceremony of Lei Feng   

an undated file photo of Lei Feng.

  Mr. Tian Kai, the deputy director of Henan Museum receives the donation.  

This undated file photo shows Lei Feng posing for a photo with members of the Young Pioneers of China.

Henan Museum held a bust donation ceremony of Lei Feng on March 6,2012. Mr. Tian Kai, the deputy director of Henan Museum attended the ceremony and received the donation in the name of Henan Museum.

The bust of Leifeng comes from Fushun Lei Fen Memorial Hall. It is 60 centimetres height, 35 centimetres width. The bust is in a solemn atmosphere and in high and vigorous spirits. The spirit of Leifeng will carry on from generation to generation and life and growth in nature.

"Learn from Lei Feng Spirit" is a behavior of virtue, which should never be abandoned, no matter how fickle the community is or how prevailing the utilitarianism will be in society. The 75-year junkman Liu Yuzhen, who has picked up rubbish at Tiananmen Square for 10 years, and the 12-year girl Xia Juan, who knocked to open the doors of her neighbors to save them from a fire, may shed light on the "Lei Feng Spirit" in the 21st century.

Leifeng's lifetime

Lei Feng was a soldier of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and is now a household name and cultural icon in China symbolizing selflessness, modesty, and dedication.

Originally called Lei Zhengxing, the former PLA soldier was born on December 18, 1940, to a farming family in Wangcheng, Central China's Hunan province.

Lei was orphaned at 7 and grew up with the help of neighbours. He joined the PLA and the Communist Party of China in 1957.

Lei died in August 1962 at the age of 22, when a telephone pole, struck by an army truck, hit him while he was directing the truck in backing up. Lei had a habit of keeping a diary to detail his deeds and experiences, which was published after his death and disclosed what a good Samaritan he was.

On March 5, 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong initiated the "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng" campaign and encouraged the youth in China to follow his example. March 5 has since become the official "Learn from Lei Feng Day". This day involves various community and school events where people go to clean up parks, schools, and other community locations.

Other Chinese leaders have also praised Lei Feng as the personification of altruism. Leaders who have written about Lei Feng include Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai, and Jiang Zemin.

Lei's name has crept into people's hearts, daily conversation, music, even movies in China; his imagery can be found on cups, T-shirts, bags and memorabilia. There's the Lei Feng Model Bus, Lei Feng Model Student, Lei Feng Class, Lei Feng Nursery, Lei Feng Village, just to name a few.

The term "living Lei Feng" has become a noun (or adjective) for anyone who is seen as selfless, or anyone who goes out of their way to help others.

Lei Feng's story continues to be referenced in popular culture. A popular song by Jilin singer Xue Cun is called "All Northeasterners are Living Lei Fengs". Originally notable only for its use of Northeastern Mandarin, it shot to nationwide fame when it was combined with kitsch animations on the Internet in 2001.