Chapter 153 eclectic

Cai Yuanpei's inclusiveness is the most important ideological resource of Peking University. He said: "The university is so big, because it is all-encompassing, all kinds of speech and thought are free, but there is no need to criticize each other. If you have opinions, you can Each advocates the merits of his own opinion, and there is no need to attack or reject other ideas." Due to the emphasis on recruiting and selecting talents with real talents in all aspects and accommodating various academic and ideological schools, great changes have taken place in the teaching staff of Peking University.At that time, Peking University was full of talents, and the school had a new look.According to the statistics at the beginning of 1918, there were 90 professors in the whole school. Judging from the age of 76 of them, 43 were under 35 years old, accounting for 57%, and only 6 were over 50 years old, accounting for 8%.The youngest professor of liberal arts, Xu Baohuang, is only 25 years old, and others such as Hu Shi and Liu Bannong are also 27 or 28 years old.Cai Yuanpei was only 50 years old when he became the principal, and the average age of professors was only in their 30s.At this time, the average age of undergraduate students at Peking University was 24 years old.

In 1917, Cai Yuanpei adopted the school-running policy of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness", implemented the system of "professors governing the school", advocated academic democracy, and supported the New Culture Movement.When Cai Yuanpei was the president of Peking University, there were only a subset of classics and history in the Chinese liberal arts at Peking University, only English was the foreign language, and there were only a few old teachers.Cai Yuanpei added operas and novels to the old subjects. Huang Jigang, a disciple of Zhang Taiyan, Liu Shenshu of Hong Xian, and Gu Hongming of Zunwang, added Chen Duxiu, Hu Shizhi, and Liu Bannong. French, German and Russian.As a result, Peking University had leaders such as Hu Shi, Chen Duxiu, and Lu Xun who advocated the New Culture Movement; there were restorationists who advocated the restoration of the monarchy, and pioneers such as Gu Hongming and Liu Shipei who supported Yuan Shikai as emperor...; some were the first to introduce communism to China. Li Dazhao, who was the first to introduce anarchism, Li Zengshi, who was the first to introduce anarchism, and Xia Yuanzhen, who was the first to introduce Einstein's theory of relativity... In addition, he also used Qian Xuantong, Yu Tongkui, Shen Yinmo and other old people from Peking University. Liang Shuming, who was only twenty-three or four years old, and a group of young people... also invited a female professor, Mr. Chen Hengzhe, who had just returned from Europe, and hired Feng Zuxun, an old professor from the Department of Mathematics, and Grip, a foreign professor from the Department of Geology, etc. There is also the painter Xu Beihong.

When Cai Yuanpei first arrived at Peking University to carry out reforms, the old scholars in the school were extremely dissatisfied.When Peking University first taught Yuanqu, some people spread rumors that operas were sung in the classroom, and because of the promotion of vernacular, some people said that they were used as textbooks.Some conservative scholars even scolded directly in class.Zhou Zuoren once wrote about the situation at that time: "Others still hide a little bit, but Huang Jigang is the most daring, and he often speaks out. He scolded all the new teachers for agreeing with Cai Zimin, saying that they 'learned music from the world', so later the funny people named Cai Zimin. A nickname is 'Shi'. For example, when you go to the principal's office, you claim to go to 'A Shi'. People who know this name and often use it include Ma Youyu, Qian Xuantong, and Liu Bannong. Lu Xun is also one of them. He often sees this name. Among the bamboo slips, (Note: After the May 4th Movement, Cai Yuanpei resigned, and soon returned to the main school in Beijing. Lu Xun was very concerned about this, and wrote in a letter to his friends: "I heard that 'Shi' has news to come, really. ?”) becomes an allusion.

The newspapers at that time also had a great response. The "Current Affairs News" of the Shanghai Research Department began to attack, and the "Gong Yan Bao" of the Anfu Department of Beijing was even more aggressive. Lin Qinnan wrote an open letter to Cai Yuanpei, saying that the school advocated unfilial piety and demanded reprimand. Chen Hu and others.Cai replied that "New Youth" is not filial, even if it has such a claim, it is a private opinion, as long as it does not come to promote it in the university, it cannot interfere.Lin's old shame turned into anger, and he was likely to use the power of the time to send Xu Shuzheng's influence to increase oppression. During this period, the May 4th Movement was in full swing, and the government was busy dealing with major issues. The school's old and new conflicts were finally avoided. "

Lin Shu and others publicly criticized Cai Yuanpei's reforms.Because Chen Duxiu's words were the most violent, and he was attacked the most brutally.The conservatives couldn't defeat Chen Duxiu in terms of ideology, so they made a big fuss about Chen's sex with prostitutes and "fighting the field" (that is, disputes with others over a prostitute).Zhou Zuoren once said in "Reminiscences of Zhitang" that at that time, "Beijing's imperial newspapers often attacked Zhongfu. He wanted to arouse public opinion by scratching the lower part of a certain prostitute, because at that time Peking University had a prohibition on not prostitution, gambling or concubines.” Cai Yuanpei tried his best to defend against such attacks directed at Chen Duxiu. of.In reply to Lin Shu's open letter, Cai Yuanpei said: "As for the teachers, they should focus on their academic attainments, and should not deviate from the first idea (referring to academic freedom and inclusiveness) as the limit. Freedom, our school never asks about it, nor can it be responsible for it. For example, restorationism was rejected by the Republic of China. Among the teachers of this school, there are some restorationists with long pigtails. They regard what they teach as English literature and have nothing to do with politics, so they listen to it. The initiator of the Preparing for Security Association, who clearly discusses the accused criminals, among the teachers of this school, there is such a person, who regards what he teaches as ancient literature and has nothing to do with politics, so he listens to it. Things like whoring, gambling, marrying concubines, etc., this school promotes morality The club is also abstaining. Among the teachers, there are poems and poems that are fond of making sideshows. Those who take concubines and prostitutes as an affair, and those who take gambling as a pastime. It is extremely rare, and if all blame is sought, the school will hardly be established. And there is a natural boundary between public and private.” Here, “those who drag their pigtails and advocate restoration” refer to Gu Hongming, and the “initiator of the Preparatory Security Association” refers to Liu Shipei. Both of them were representative figures of the old school on the campus of Peking University. It is very ingenious for Cai Yuanpei to cite these two people to resist Lin Shu and others' attacks on Chen Duxiu's personal morality.

In 1917, Gu Hongming actively participated in the "restoration of Zhang Xun" and was named "Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". After 12 days, the restoration failed, and Gu Hongming had to return to Peking University to teach him English. Give him a "restorationist" hat.In order to avoid political attack, the principal Cai Yuanpei had to publicly defend him: "Among the faculty members in this school, there are restorationists with long braids, and what they teach is English literature, which has nothing to do with politics, so let them be listened to. "

Before 1911, Liu Shipei took refuge in Duan Fang, betrayed the revolution, willingly acted as a spy and betrayed his comrades.Cai Yuanpei cherished his talent and tried his best to defend him: "Uncle Liu Shen, my brother has been in touch with me for a long time. He is really honest and a bookworm!" Taught at Peking University. Cai Yuanpei saw "New Youth" and liked it very much, so he went to visit Chen Duxiu early the next morning.Chen was sleepy, and Cai Yuanpei waited for him to wake up at the door, and immediately hired him as the head of the liberal arts department.Huang Kan and Ma Yuzao were very unhappy, and complained: "Chen Duxiu can only write some notes, how can he be a master of literature." Cai Yuanpei said: "Zhongfu is proficient in exegesis and phonology, how can he not be a senior?"

Mr. Zhuang Sen from Shanghai published an article titled "Cai Yuanpei Fabricated False Resume for Chen Duxiu".The content said that in order to get the then Ministry of Education to approve Chen Duxiu as the dean of liberal arts at Peking University, President Cai Yuanpei (歓民) made a false statement that Chen Duxiu had graduated from a Japanese university and had served as the principal of a college in Anhui.In fact, although Chen Duxiu has been to Japan many times, he never went to university, nor did he ever become the principal of Anhui colleges and universities. Cai Yuanpei read Liang Shuming's article and decided to hire him as the lecturer of Indian philosophy at Peking University. Liang Shuming resigned because he knew nothing about Indian philosophy.Cai said: "You said you can't teach Indian philosophy, so do you know anyone who can teach Indian philosophy?" He also said, "We haven't found anyone who can really teach Indian philosophy. They are similar anyway, so you should do it." Don’t you like philosophy? When I come to Peking University this time, I will definitely gather many friends who love philosophy to study together and learn from each other. Why don’t you come? You don’t want to be a teacher to teach people, you should come Collaborative research, let’s learn.”

Cai Yuanpei once used the view that "all things grow together without harming each other, and Tao runs without conflict" to explain his idea of ​​"freedom of thought and inclusiveness". "I have always believed that academic schools are relative, not absolute; therefore, even if the teachers of each discipline have different opinions, if they are all 'reasonable and have a reason', let them coexist. So that students have the freedom to choose.” So at Peking University at that time, people often saw Qian Xuantong preaching that “people who pass 40 should be shot”, while Huang Kan yelled at him next door for the fallacy of “to abolish Chinese characters” , and Qian Xuantong didn't care, it was true.

As soon as Mr. Cai Yuanpei arrived at Peking University, he asked Chen Duxiu, who was advocating the New Culture Movement with national attention, to be the dean of the department of literature.This arrangement shocked the academic and educational circles at that time, and was cheered and supported by the students.Li Dazhao, Li Siguang, and Hu Shi were all invited by Mr. Cai.Zhang Shizhao created the scientific name of logic, and Peking University asked him to use "Logic" to hold a class; Hu Shi and Liang Shuming had different views on Confucius, so Mr. Cai asked them to give a class at the same time, singing the same opera. In the years after 1917, there were quite a lot of young professors in Peking University who were around 30 years old, many of whom were not acquainted with Mr. Cai, but were hired from scientific papers.

In 1919, Peking University decided to abolish the deans of liberal arts and sciences, and set up a provost to take charge of the three subjects of liberal arts, science, and law.At that time, Peking University had strong professors in arts and sciences, and both sides were determined to win this position. Hu Shi, who was in the arts, even recommended himself, but was strongly opposed by the sciences.In the end, after discussion, it was decided that each department would put forward one candidate first, and then choose one of the three candidates.Yu Tongkui was selected for science, Chen Daqi was selected for liberal arts, and Ma Yinchu was selected for law.As a result, Cai Yuanpei voted for Ma Yinchu in order to avoid disputes over literature and science, and Ma Yinchu was elected. Mr. Cai invited Tianxia Junyan to give lectures at Peking University. From May 1919, philosopher Dewey gave lectures here for two years.After that, Russell, Ban Lewei, Du Lishu, Tagore and others came to the school one after another.The former Soviet blind poet Ailuo Xianke was deported by the Japanese government and came to Beijing in the spring of 1922.Mr. Cai invited him to teach Esperanto at Peking University with a monthly salary of 200 yuan. On March 16, 1921, Mr. Cai invited Einstein to visit China in person in Germany, and Einstein said that he would make serious arrangements.In June of the following year, Einstein went to Japan to give lectures and decided to go to China, but a formal invitation letter from China was still needed.But after waiting for five weeks in Japan, there was no reply from China, so I thought that Peking University did not want to honor the agreement.In fact, Mr. Cai was seeking opinions on a joint invitation letter from various groups, but it took too much time to go back and forth. By the time Einstein received the letter, it was December 22 at the end of the year. He had changed his itinerary and could not visit China. .For the missed trip to Beijing, Einstein lamented that he could not be himself for a long time.At the end of his life, the old man still said affectionately: "The 20th century is the century of China, because the world must start with a new understanding of China, and a new understanding of China must first start with a new understanding of Chinese philosophy." Cai Yuanpei withstood the huge pressure brought by the old forces' attacks on the so-called "overlapping Confucius and Mencius" and "removing ethics", and bravely protected Chen Duxiu and other new factions.Liang Shuming said: "Mr. Cai may not be able to do all the work of Chen, Hu, and any of you. However, if they did not have Mr. Cai, they would not be able to gather at Peking University, let alone have the opportunity to relax. Gather together and let them get their own rewards." Fashu, after all, this is the unique greatness of Mr. Cai."