Chapter 32 pass away

December 4, 1990 was Feng Youlan's 95th birthday.The Philosophy Department of Peking University has made all the preparations for the celebration of this birthday.The meeting is scheduled to open on December 4.Many famous historians of philosophy and cultural history experts at home and abroad are scheduled to attend this conference. In March 1990, Feng Youlan pre-planned the 95-year-old birthday couplet for herself: "The two histories explain the present and the past, and the six books record the Zhenyuan." The so-called "six books" refer to Feng Youlan's six representative works from the early research on the history of philosophy to the creation of philosophy "New Confucianism", "New Matters", "Xin Shi Xun", "Xin Yuan Ren", "Xin Yuan Dao", "Xin Zhi Yan".These six books were written during the 10 years of Feng Youlan's homeless life during the Anti-Japanese War.These six books built his own philosophical system.The so-called "two histories" refer to the two-volume "History of Chinese Philosophy" published by Feng Youlan before liberation and the seven-volume "New Edition of the History of Chinese Philosophy" published after liberation.

Some people were worried about Feng Youlan's health, fearing that he would not be able to support and participate in the opening ceremony.Because of those few years, Feng Youlan became a frequent visitor to the hospital.After all, people in their 90s are often hospitalized, which is not surprising to everyone.To everyone's surprise, Mr. Feng Youlan was able to leave the hospital safely every time, and returned to his home in Yannan Garden of Peking University. With the help of his assistants, he continued his writing of "A New History of Chinese Philosophy". In the early 1980s, Feng Youlan was already 85 years old when she decided to start writing "A New History of Chinese Philosophy", and there were as many as seven volumes in the planned book.Well-meaning people were afraid that he would not be able to complete it in his lifetime, and suggested that he start directly from the third volume, because in the 1960s, he had already published two volumes of "New Series".But Feng Youlan insisted on starting over. In the past 10 years, although Feng Youlan was hospitalized many times, he continued to write. Later, he lost his eyes and ears, and with the help of his assistant, he dictated and continued to write firmly.This has become the fulcrum of Feng Youlan's life in his later years.Finally, on June 15, 1990, Feng Youlan finished writing the seventh volume. On July 16, he handed over the final manuscript to People's Publishing House.

After Feng Youlan finished the book, Zong Pu expressed joy on the one hand and worries on the other.Relatives and friends reminded Feng Youlan that you still have a planned book "Notes for the rest of your life" that you haven't written yet!However, the old man's body could no longer support it. On September 2, Feng Youlan sent a telegram of condolence to Taipei, mourning the death of Qian Mu.At the end of the month, Feng Youlan was admitted to Friendship Hospital due to a respiratory infection.Throughout October, Feng Youlan spent in the hospital.By November 1, there was no heating in the ward (Beijing officially started heating on November 15), so Feng Youlan couldn't resist the cold and suffered from pneumonia.By the 18th, Feng Youlan could no longer open her mouth to eat. On the 24th, the situation seemed to have improved and I was able to eat.Three days later, his condition worsened and he was started on oxygen. On November 26, he was critically ill.At around 8:00 p.m., relevant officials from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and Peking University came to visit.At 8:45 in the evening, Feng Youlan's heart stopped beating, and a generation of philosophers returned to Daoshan.

This day is only 7 days away from Feng Youlan's 95th birthday.A birthday banquet was prepared, and this turned into a funeral.