There are many celebrities in Southwest Associated University: Mei Yiqi, Jiang Menglin, Zhang Boling, Wen Yiduo, Shen Congwen, Liu Wendian, Qian Zhongshu, Yang Zhenning...
University is about wisdom and talent. concentration place.
If a university does not have a group of teachers and students with rich personalities, no matter how abundant its funds, how beautiful the scenery, and how rigorous its academic style, its charm will be diminished.
Southwest Associated University fully interpreted the charm of the university back then, which is still memorable today.
("Many Things in the Republic of China" written by Xie Yiqun? Published by Jiuzhou Publishing House)
Mei Yiqi, Captain of the Southwest Associated University
Mei Yiqi (1889-1962), served as the president of Tsinghua University in 1931
"The so-called university does not mean a building, but a master." A word from Mei Yiqi, member of the Standing Committee of Southwest Associated University and president of Tsinghua University.
Speaking of Southwest Associated University, people cannot forget Mei Yiqi.
"A Gentleman of Silent Words" Mei Yiqi
Mei Yiqi was a man of few words and many actions. Not only did people call him a "gentleman of few words", but his students also praised him for his Taciturn, he wrote a limerick: "Probably or maybe it is, but we dare not say, but the school always thinks that it may not be possible."
Chen Yinke once said: "If a *** law can be He who speaks so cautiously and rarely with Mr. Mei is the ideal person."
But it was such a taciturn person who took on important responsibilities during those special years of the Southwest Associated University. .
When Tsinghua, Peking University, and Nankai were ordered to move to Kunming, Mei Yiqi once made a "high-profile" speech: "In this stormy autumn, Tsinghua is like a boat, drifting on the stormy waves.
This person must not retreat or shrink, but must have the courage to move forward
Although it is necessary to do so at this time. It feels like a long night, but we believe that it will be clear soon.
At that time, we can sail this boat back to Tsinghua University, and then he can tell his fellow Tsinghua alumni. Dare to say, 'I'm glad I'm not guilty.'" In the early days of the founding of the school, the three leaders were in charge of school affairs together, but Jiang Menglin and Zhang Boling mostly attended important affairs in Chongqing and had other official duties, so they lived in a corner of the Southwest Associated University. Many things fell on Mei Yiqi.
In the early days of the Southwest Associated University, Zhang Boling said to Mei Yiqi, who was his student: "You are wearing my watch." Although Jiang Menglin's social prestige and political status at that time were both higher than Mei Yiqi, but he maintained a detached attitude of "doing nothing about the affairs of the UN General Assembly".
"In terms of equipment, funding, and the number of teachers and students, Tsinghua University has the largest number. From a secular point of view, Tsinghua University is not worth it. The opposite can also be said. , Tsinghua has an overwhelming advantage in the General Assembly,” someone said. No matter what others say, Mei Yiqi still talks less and does more.
He continued the style he formed at Tsinghua University during his time at Southwest Associated University.
Mei Yiqi became the president of Tsinghua University in 1931. Before that, it was common for Tsinghua teachers and students to compete with the president and professors. No president could stay at Tsinghua for a long time. , and a few years later, Mei Yiqi is still firmly in the position of principal. When asked what his secret is, Mei Yiqi said: "Everyone will do this or that, and no one will be willing to misfortune Mei!" His ability No one wanted to overthrow him. After Mei Yiqi became the president, he pursued the principle of "professors running the school", emphasizing both democracy and strict laws. Tsinghua University affairs have always been in order.
In less than ten years, Tsinghua’s appearance has completely changed and its reputation has skyrocketed.
When he was at Southwest Associated University, Mei Yiqi continued this trend, which made every leader of the functional department in charge of Southwest Associated University's school affairs a convincing and well-educated scholar.
Shen Panwen, a former Southwest Associated University student and professor of chemistry at Nankai University, said, "There are absolutely no non-teachers in the school leadership team who are just trying to fill the role, so there is no problem of laymen leading experts."
There is only Southwest Associated University in my heart, not Tsinghua
In eight years, Southwest Associated University has been able to "make difference without harming the same, and do not harm the same with difference; the five colors complement each other; the eight-note ensemble finally harmonizes" "Quiet", Mei Yiqi has merit. Mr. Fu Rengan said that Mei Yiqi "only has the United Nations General Assembly in his heart, and no Tsinghua University."
Indeed, Mei Yiqi, who has a good democratic style, often says "I follow the crowd" and there are few conflicts that cannot be resolved.
When dealing with specific issues, Mei Yiqi also pays great attention to the relationship between the three schools.
For example, in order to solve the living difficulties of teachers, Tsinghua teachers from the School of Engineering organized the "Tsinghua Service Club" to carry out survey, design, production and other businesses. In addition to Tsinghua teachers, the proceeds also went to Peking University and Nankai University. Colleague subsidies.
Many teachers from Southwest Associated University praised the spirit of cooperation among the three schools when recalling those years.
Mr. Zheng Tianting said: “In the eight years of Southwest Associated University, the most valuable thing is friendship and unity.
This is true among teachers, between teachers and students, and among the three schools. "
Mei Yiqi did not betray everyone's trust. When Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University were merged into one school in Changsha, which was called a "temporary university", the principals of the three schools were not unified in place. Southwest Ye Gongchao, director of the Department of Foreign Languages ??and Literature at the United Nations General Assembly, recalled the situation at that time and said: After arriving in Changsha, he learned that Jiang Menglin was still in Hangzhou. Ye Gongchao asked him when the two principals from Nankai University and Tsinghua University would come, and Jiang Menglin expressed that he was not optimistic.
At this time, some people said that if Zhang Boling and Mei Yiqi didn't come, they would break up the flames! Mei Yiqi, who later came to the Southwest Associated University, lived up to everyone's trust.
He manages the Southwest Associated University in an orderly manner and is worthy of being the "captain" of the Southwest Associated University.
(Article source: Singtao Global Network)
Jiang Menglin, "inaction" at Southwest Associated University and withdrawal from Peking University
Jiang Menglin (1886-1964), From 1919 to 1945, he worked at Peking University for more than 20 years
In 1938, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University moved to Kunming and were officially renamed Southwest Associated University. Jiang Menglin served as a member of the Standing Committee of Southwest Associated University as the president of Peking University.
Wen Liming, a researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the grandson of Wen Yiduo, said that at the beginning of the merger of the three universities, there were frictions in staffing and departmental settings. It was not until 1941 that they became better integrated.
He Bingdi recalled in "Sixty Years of Reading History and Reading the World", "The friction between Peking University and Tsinghua University was more serious at first, mainly because Peking University had the oldest qualifications and was outmatched in the United Nations General Assembly. Tsinghua University".
However, whenever he competes with Tsinghua University for interests, Jiang Menglin always chooses to give in.
Qian Mu narrated a story in "Memories of Southwest Associated University Mengzi Branch": One day, Jiang Menglin went to Mengzi from Kunming, and the teachers and students of Peking University welcomed him.
Many professors complained at the gathering about the unfairness of the General Assembly. For example, the dean of the School of Liberal Arts was often re-elected by Feng Youlan of Tsinghua University instead of Peking University.
Qian Mu said in his speech that after a successful recovery in the future, each school will still be independent and should not compete in today's critical period.
After hearing this, Jiang Menglin immediately said, "What Mr. Qian said today has become a conclusion. We can't argue about this issue. Let's discuss other matters." All the professors were speechless.
"Jiang Menglin's non-competition when he was at the Southwest Associated University made the Southwest Associated University a success.
If he had fought, it would have become the Northwest Associated University." Ma Yong commented on Chiang's "inaction" ".
The Northwest Associated University was established in Xi'an in September 1937 and consisted of Peking University, Peking Normal University, Beiyang Institute of Technology and Peking Research Institute. It fell apart within a year.
In Ma Yong's view, Jiang Menglin's indisputability was more due to the intellectuals' consideration of the overall situation rather than his personality.
"Jiang Menglin is a very stubborn person and will never follow others' opinions."
Jiang Menglin's inaction at the General Assembly eventually aroused the dissatisfaction of many professors at Peking University, and to some extent also led to As a result, he was eventually kicked out of Peking University.
In 1944, Peking University, which was about to be demobilized in Peiping, started a trend of "overthrowing Chiang and replacing Hu". Chiang's old friends Fu Sinian and Zhou Binglin were also part of the "overthrowing Chiang". They hoped to invite Shang Shang to Hu Shi from the United States came back to be the principal.
The most ready-made reason is that Jiang Menglin became the Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan when Song Ziwen became the Executive Dean of the Kuomintang. In 1929, the then Minister of Education Jiang Menglin personally formulated the University Organization Law. ” stipulates that university presidents may not concurrently serve as government officials.
In August 1945, Jiang Menglin officially resigned as president of Peking University and withdrew from Southwest Associated University at the same time.
Hu Shi succeeded as the president of Peking University, and Fu Sinian acted as his deputy before he returned to China.
(Source of this article: China News Weekly? Author: Yan Yong)
Zhang Boling, "Providing a suitable academic environment for talented people"
Zhang Boling ( 1876-1951), famous Chinese educator and Chinese Olympic pioneer
Zhang Boling once said that the first thing for university presidents is to find money, and the second thing is to find people.
When looking for money, he found the art; when using people, he also found the most suitable people and placed them in the most suitable positions.
"The most important thing in a university is good teachers." Although Nankai is small, it has gathered a group of great professors, including Yang Shixian, the dean of the Chemistry Department of Southwest Associated University, Chen Xujing, the dean of the School of Law and Business, and the Normal University Huang Yusheng, dean of the college, Ding Ji, dean of the Department of Business, Chen Kezhong, dean of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Jiang Lifu, the founder of modern Chinese mathematics, and so on.
He Lian, PhD from Yale University and professor at Nankai Business School, has been offered high-paying offers from other universities and research institutions many times, and he has more freedom in work and responsibilities.
He wrote in "Memoirs of He Lian": "Principal Zhang stood up and said with great enthusiasm and sincerity that I should stay in Nankai because Nankai needs me more than the Chinese Culture and Education Foundation.
He promised to explain my situation to Professor Tao and proposed to allocate a portion of the university budget for my research in the next academic year.
He also suggested reducing my teaching hours. .
I was deeply moved and immediately decided to stay in Nankai.
I suggested to him to establish a research institution in Nankai, and he agreed. "This is what later became the founding of modern China. Nankai Institute of Economics, the pioneer of higher education.
Wu Dayou is a world-renowned physicist. He graduated from Nankai University and taught there.
His words may best explain the reason why teachers choose Nankai: "I think that one of the necessary conditions for a good university is naturally good scholars and teachers, but a higher level The ideal of the upper class is to provide talented people with a suitable academic environment to develop their talents."
Nankai is often in a state of deficit, but Zhang Boling has this belief: the educational institution's accounts. It should be a deficit.
Any school authority who has a balance in his bank account at the end of the year proves that he is a miser and does not make full use of the money for good deeds.
Zhang Boling always tries his best to spend every penny on students and teaching.
What the teachers are even more satisfied with is Nankai’s streamlined organization and high efficiency.
Liu Wuji, the former dean of the English Department of Nankai University, wrote in his memory article: "This talented leader leads by example and guides people to serve the ideal of "public power" just like him. …”
It should be pointed out that teachers and administrators in Nankai often hold cross-term positions.
Secretary-General Huang Yusheng has a master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Chicago, the registration director and his wife are chemistry teachers loved by students, Hua Wuqing is an expert in construction, and Yu Chuanjian has a master's degree in education from Columbia University. Bachelor of Science.
?(Source: Tianjin Daily - Tianjin Daily)
Wen Yiduo: Students are allowed to smoke in class
Wen Yiduo is the Southwest Associated University in the war one of the professors.
Zhu Ziqing said in "Preface to the Complete Works of Wen Yiduo": "He is a fighter.
But he is also a poet and scholar... He has always been a poet, and in Even as a poet and scholar, he was always a fighter." During his time at the Southwest Associated University, he vividly interpreted the three roles of poet, scholar and fighter.
Wen Yiduo (1899-1946) was a representative poet, essayist and scholar of the Crescent School, and a great patriot
His classes were very popular and students were allowed to smoke in class
When Wen Yiduo was at Southwest Associated University, he taught three courses: Chu Ci, Tang Poetry, and Ancient Mythology.
The ancient mythology is illustrated with rich illustrations and texts, and the rather boring subject is also explained in an engaging way, which is very popular.
Therefore, not only students from the School of Liberal Arts came to listen to the lecture, but also students from the School of Science and the School of Engineering.
The School of Engineering of Southwest Associated University is on Tuodong Road, and the School of Liberal Arts is on Daximen. To attend a class, you have to walk through the entire city of Kunming.
Wang Zengqi wrote in the book "Human Grass": "Wen Yiduo is a good actor.
Fuxi and Nuwa were originally a very boring subject, but after hearing Mr. Wen's lecture It makes people feel a kind of beauty, the beauty of thought, the beauty of logic, the beauty of talent.
It is worth traveling across the city to attend such a class. ”
In the Chu Ci class. Although there were not many people inside, the atmosphere was very lively.
In Wen Yiduo’s class, students are allowed to smoke.
"Mr. Wen lit his pipe, and those of us who could smoke also lit our cigarettes."
Wen Yiduo likes to use bald pens when writing, so he collects all the scrap pens used by others.
Wang Zengqi said, "There is no other person in the world who can speak about Tang poetry like Mr. Wen." Later, his student Zheng Linchuan recorded Wen Yiduo's wonderful understanding of Tang poetry one by one and compiled it into a book "Wen Yiduo on Tang Poetry" was published.
Wen Yiduo’s speech
When Southwest Associated University was in Yunnan, the School of Liberal Arts held classes at the former site of the Bible College on the mountainside of Hengshan Mountain in Nanyue. The dormitory was very tight. Wen Yiduo, Qian Mu, Wu Mi, Shen Youding has four people living in the same room. No matter how difficult the conditions are, he can still devote himself to academic research meticulously and study hard to prepare lessons.
Qian Mu recalled in "Eighty Reminiscences of Parents·Miscellaneous Memories of Teachers and Friends": "There was a long table in the room, and at night, a self-igniting lamp was placed in front of the seat.
At that time, I read the Book of Songs and Songs of Chu diligently, and when I encountered new insights, I divided them into chapters.
One person sat silently under the lamp and wrote them.
When he was an adult, Mr. Wen often stayed in the library to concentrate on his studies. He stayed in the library all day long, and the professor loved to talk about his studies.
For example, Mr. Zhu Ziqing’s studio is called “Xianyu Game Studio”, Mr. Wei Jiangong’s study is called “Xuewubushi”, and a professor jokingly gave Mr. Wen the name of the owner of the studio: “Why don’t you name the owner of the building? people".
It is said that Mr. Wen never goes downstairs.
It is precisely because of his seriousness and rigorous academic attitude that under extremely difficult conditions, Wen Yiduo completed the academic monograph "Chu Ci Supplement" in 1944, which was praised by the academic community after its publication. It is recognized as a masterpiece in literature research, and its spirit is truly admirable.
The ladies even made cakes together and took them to stores for consignment, including the wife of Tsinghua President Mei Yiqi.
In those years when prices were soaring, famous professors had to sell clothes, calligraphy, books, and seal printing to make ends meet.
Wen Yiduo's rule of seal was mainly during the period of the Southwest Associated University, and he was very famous.
(Source of article: Internet)
Shen Congwen: A professor who did not graduate from elementary school
In November 1938, Southwest Associated University made a shocking statement. Decision: hire 36-year-old writer Shen Congwen as professor.
The faculty of Southwest Associated University were concentrated among the academic elites from across the country at that time. There were countless teachers who studied in prestigious European and American universities and returned with doctorate and master's degrees.
Most of those who do not have high-level degrees are those who have graduated from top domestic universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, and have made outstanding achievements in academia.
As for Shen Congwen, in terms of academic qualifications, he did not graduate from elementary school; in terms of academic research achievements, he is a writer, not a scholar, and does not have any academic works.
Shen Congwen
Shen Congwen, who had no outstanding achievements in academia, came to the United Nations University as a professor. This eclectic approach aroused resistance and even anger among some professors, and the most intense attitude was The most famous scholar today is Liu Wendian, who is known as the "Master of Chinese Studies".
Liu Wendian studied traditional culture intensively, especially "Zhuangzi". He said that since ancient times, only two and a half people understand Zhuangzi. One is Zhuangzi himself, the other he did not say, and the other half is him Liu Da professor.
Liu Wendian looked down upon new literature.
In his eyes, modern vernacular literature is shallow and rough, so what is the research value? And this Shen Congwen did not even study vernacular literature, he was just a writer of novels.
Being the same professor as Shen Congwen, whom he looked down upon, he was very aggrieved and felt that his worth had been lowered.
When air raid sirens sounded frequently in Kunming, Liu Wendian and his students escorted the university scholar Chen Yinke out of the classroom. When he saw Shen Congwen also running out in a hurry, he cursed in public: "I was killed by the bomb. People are teaching Zhuangzi to students, why are you Shen Congwen running away?" Shen Congwen, who has always called himself a "countryman", has a sensitive soul. Faced with the repeated brutal injuries from his senior Liu Wendian, he said nothing and only taught his writing class seriously, but His Hunan dialect often confused students, but he still cultivated the famous novelist Wang Zengqi, who was consistent with his style and was later called "the last Beijing-style writer".
The biggest legend and biggest regret about Shen Congwen in the literary circle today is that in 1988, the Royal Swedish Academy of Literature decided that the Nobel Prize for Literature that year would be awarded to the Chinese writer Shen Congwen.
But in May of this year, Shen Congwen passed away at the age of 86, and the Nobel Prize for Literature is only awarded to living writers.
Shen Congwen (1902-1988)? A famous modern writer, researcher of historical relics, and representative figure of Beijing School novels
"If Shen Congwen was still alive at that time, he would definitely get the disease if he survived until October. Award.
Shen Congwen's death is the most regrettable thing for me," Ma Yueran, a member of the Nobel Prize for Literature and an academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Literature, said sadly in Beijing in 2005.
This year's Nobel Prize winner in literature was replaced by Egypt's Mahfouz Shen Congwen.
The Lianda University administration was eclectic, withstood the pressure, and insisted on giving Shen Congwen the professorship, allowing an outstanding litterateur to gain his due status at a young age, which is admirable.
Liu Wendian: Arrogant and uninhibited, causing trouble
The unruly Liu Wendian also caused trouble in the United Nations General Assembly: in 1943, Wen Yiduo, acting director of the Chinese Department of the General Assembly, refused to grant him professor appointment letter and dismissed him.
The main cause of the incident was that Liu Wendian left school without authorization and stayed in Mohei in Pu'er County, southern Yunnan, for half a year.
He came to Mohei because he was addicted to opium, and Mohei produced good opium. At the invitation of the local school and the squire, he verbally greeted Jiang Menglin, a member of the Standing Committee of the United Nations General Assembly and a few other people. I left the Lianda University courses for half a year.
Liu Wendian usually smoked opium and lectured in class. The school also arranged for a handyman to carry a teapot and add water to him at any time.
This kind of behavior has already caused a lot of discussion among teachers and students. This time, he missed school for half a year because of opium, and the impact was even worse.
Liu Wendian (1889~1958) was born in Hefei, Anhui.
His ancestral home is Huaining County.
He has successively served as professor at Peking University, president of Anhui University, and director of the Chinese Department of Tsinghua University.
He went to Kunming in 1938 and taught successively at Southwest Associated University and Yunnan University.
Wen Yiduo, who was the acting director of the Chinese Department at the time, firmly advocated no longer hiring him. The famous linguist Wang Li interceded for him, saying that the old man moved south with the school from Peking and was still patriotic.
Wen Yiduo said angrily: "Does it mean that if you are not a traitor, you can leave your post without permission and be irresponsible for teaching?"
How could Liu Wendian, who was not even looked down upon by Chiang Kai-shek, be willing to do so? After swallowing this breath, he rushed to Sijiaying in the northern suburbs to find Wen Yiduo to reason with him as soon as he returned to Kunming. The two were impulsive and quarreled fiercely. Zhu Ziqing, who was present, tried his best to persuade him.
Because Wen Yiduo refused to give in, and Liu Wendian often openly mocked his colleagues for their poor knowledge, which offended many people, the public opinion situation was very unfavorable to him.
Finally, Liu Wendian reluctantly went to Yunnan University, which was also run by the famous mathematician and educator Xiong Qinglai in Kunming, and served as a professor in the Chinese Department of Yunnan University until his death in 1958.
In that era, professors could move freely. As long as you were truly talented, you would be hired by your own institution, without any constraints such as establishment, files, or organizational relationships.
This is also a condition for intellectuals to express their individuality.
Qian Zhongshu: "The Dragon of Humanity" among the younger generation
Liu Wendian is a senior professor, and among the rising stars, there is also a madman who also left Southwest United in unhappiness. big.
He is Qian Zhongshu, known today as "Cultural Kunlun".
Qian Zhongshu was only 28 years old when he was appointed associate professor of the Department of Foreign Languages ??and Literature at Southwest Associated University, but he was already well-known in the academic world.
His teacher Wu Mi said that among the older generation of scholars, the strongest one is Chen Yinke, and among the younger generation, the "dragon of people" is Qian Zhongshu.
Qian Zhongshu often wears a light brown suit or navy blue dress when giving lectures, with a chic demeanor.
He only lectures in English, not Chinese, and never asks questions, making students fascinated and relaxed.
Qian Zhongshu (1910-1998)? A famous modern writer and literary researcher
But in the summer of 1939, Qian Zhongshu left the General Assembly and became a professor of Lantian National Normal University. College professor.
The reason for his departure is generally believed by academic circles to be that he was arrogant, spoke arrogantly, often hurt others, and his interpersonal relationships deteriorated.
For example, he once criticized the Department of Foreign Languages ??and Literatures of the United Nations General Assembly: "The Department of Foreign Languages ??and Literatures of Southwest Associated University is not good at all. Ye Gongchao is too lazy, Wu Mi is too stupid, and Chen Futian is too vulgar." Among these three people, Chen Futian was He was the head of the department. Ye Gongchao later served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kuomintang, and Wu Mi was his mentor, both of whom were famous intellectuals.
This harsh comment was widely circulated, but in the 1990s, Qian Zhongshu’s wife Yang Jiang wrote an article to refute the rumors, claiming that there was no such thing.
Another reason is that the United Nations General Assembly originally planned to hire him as a professor, but in the end only hired an associate professor. Qian Zhongshu was unhappy and did not want to stay for a long time; in addition, his father Qian Jibo was at the Lantian National Normal University in Hunan at that time. He teaches in a college and hopes that his son will take care of him.
Chen Ning Yang: There are many "crazy students" among the students at the Union University
Physicist Yang Chen Ning? One of the Chinese Nobel Prize winners
Intellectuals have a strong self-awareness. Therefore, it is easy for scholars to look down upon each other.
Feng Youlan, dean of literature at the United Nations General Assembly, who is known by Westerners as "China's only true philosopher in the first half of the 20th century", also criticized people in class.
The target of his "attack" was Hu Shi, saying: "Hu Shi was finished in 1927. There will be nothing more in the future, and it will not have much effect."
Hu Shi was originally He was appointed as the dean of literature at Southwest Associated University, but he was immediately appointed as China's ambassador to the United States, so he did not leave any footprints at Southwest Associated University.
The disputes between these masters may be an annoyance to the people involved, but they have been passed down to this day and have become interesting stories that can be talked about.
There are also many "craziers" among the students in the United Federation of Students. For example, Yang Zhenning, a senior figure who is no longer arrogant and courteous to others today, was not an ordinary madman at that time.
There are two talented students in the Department of Physics of Southwest Associated University: Yang Zhenning and Huang Kun. They often talk loudly in teahouses.
At that time, a classmate heard that Huang Kun asked: "Einstein recently published another article, have you read it?" Yang Zhenning said he had, and Huang Kun asked how. Yang Zhenning waved his hand and said disdainfully: "There is no originality (innovation), it's just an old fool." ("Many Things in the Republic of China" written by Xie Yiqun? Published by Jiuzhou Publishing House)