1. Meaning: What is a university? It is not that a tall building is called a university, but that a master can be called a university. Emphasize the importance of a good teacher.

2. Origin: Inaugural Address by President Ren Qinghua of Mei Yiqi in 1931.

3. Background:

In p>1931, under the situation that the headmaster of Tsinghua changed hands continuously and the situation was unstable, Mei Yiqi was transferred back to China to be the headmaster, which stabilized the situation of the school and started the golden age of Tsinghua University. This sentence was said in the inaugural speech.

When Mr. Mei returned to China as the principal, it was the time when the US dollar appreciated and the school funds were more than enough. To this end, in addition to buying a large number of books and instruments, there is also a wind of building on campus. Therefore, he said this sentence at the inauguration ceremony to emphasize that the quality of a university depends on the number of masters, not how tall the building is.

For Tsinghua University at that time, there were special circumstances. The campus in Tsinghua was planned when it was built. Because boxer indemnity had sufficient financial resources and the mobility of talents at that time was good, it was able to introduce famous scholars at that time. Therefore, for universities, masters are the most important, but buildings can't be without them. If they don't, it will be difficult to attract masters.

Extended information:

Enlightenment of Mei Yiqi's speech on modern school running:

Now, the understanding of "building" should refer to modern teaching and research facilities, not material conditions, but hardware. Mei Yiqi also said that "if we want to do advanced research, we must have two necessary conditions, one is equipment, and the other is professor".

Perhaps an accurate understanding of President Mei Yiqi's sentence should be: Masters are very important, but modern universities can't do without buildings, and the two cannot be opposed. There are only two purposes for running a university, one is to study academics, and the other is to cultivate talents. Academic attainments cannot be counted by quantity.

Look at the so-called masters now, learning is becoming more and more lively, masters are becoming more and more gorgeous, and titles are becoming more and more lengthy. From an honest and dutiful intellectual to a social expert, he wandered in various groups, tried his best to write academic papers, tried his best to evaluate professional titles and engage in titles, and really became a classic. Few articles were circulated for generations. It has long been a far cry from the quiet, peaceful and unfocused academic concept of the masters of the Republic of China.

This passage reminds teachers to pay attention to their own academic accomplishment and teach and educate people with peace of mind.