Chapter 15 Cai Yuanpei: A generation of masters pioneered education

Cai Yuanpei (1868.1.11—1940.3.5), courtesy name Heqing, also courtesy name Zhimin, and childhood name Apei, was born in Shanyin County (now Shaoxing County), Shaoxing, Zhejiang.Revolutionary, educator, politician.The first head of education in the Republic of China, served as the president of Peking University from 1916 to 1927, revolutionized Peking University, and opened up the style of "academic" and "freedom"; he went to Germany and France to study and study several times, studying philosophy, literature, aesthetics, and psychology and cultural history, which laid the ideological and theoretical foundation for his dedication to reforming feudal education.He has served as the Minister of Education, the President of Peking University, the Dean of the School of Humanities, and the Dean of the Academia Sinica.He has made great contributions to the development of China's new culture and education and the establishment of China's bourgeois democratic system.

On September 1, 1916, Mr. Cai received a call from the head of education in Beijing in France, saying, "Please ask my father-in-law to be the president of Peking University, and I hope you will learn from me."He immediately left Europe on October 2 to return home. On December 26, 1916, Cai Yuanpei was officially appointed as the president of Peking University. On January 4, 1917, Cai Yuanpei officially took office at Peking University, starting the most successful higher education reform in his life.Based on his many years of experience in running education in China and the knowledge gained from two study tours in morality and law, he organically combined the two, starting from the practice of Peking University, and fundamentally implemented various reforms.Gu Jiegang recalled: "At the beginning of 1917, Mr. Cai Yuanpei came to Peking University, which gradually brought about huge and qualitative changes in Peking University", and "began to adopt the educational policy and system of universities in Western capitalist countries to replace the set of feudalism of Peking University. rotten stuff".

Before Cai Yuanpei became the president of Peking University, many of his close friends advised him not to take up this post. Peking University at that time was too decadent, and his reputation would be ruined if it was not managed well. Propaganda, old comrades like Cai Yuanpei should go to Beijing under the atmosphere of emperors and bureaucrats to preside over national education." In the end Cai Yuanpei entered Peking University. At the beginning of his tenure, Cai Yuanpei emphasized the importance of academic research in the school.In his first speech to the teachers and students of the school, Mr. Cai pointed out: "University students should take academic research as their bounden duty, and should not use universities as a ladder for promotion and fortune." , not to be an official; those who enter the business department are not to get rich. The purpose is established, and it is on the right track."He advocated the theory of saving the country through education, and called on students to study knowledge in a down-to-earth manner and not to pursue becoming an official.In the school, he vigorously supported various academic and political associations, and cultivated an atmosphere of academic research and ideological debate.In addition, effective reforms have been carried out in the school leadership system, academic system and curriculum.These have enabled Peking University to take the most solid and powerful step towards modernization.

In order to implement the policy of saving the country through education, Cai Yuanpei first "extends the accumulated knowledge and enthusiastic teachers, and teaches earnestly to arouse students' interest in studying knowledge."Since there are many stubborn conservatives in the liberal arts of the old Peking University, the rectification work starts with the liberal arts.After he was appointed as the president of Peking University, he immediately interviewed Chen Duxiu and asked him to be the dean of liberal arts.Hu Shi, Liu Bannong and Zhou Zuoren were then appointed as professors.Together with Qian Xuantong, Shen Yinmo, and Shen Jianshi who were formerly at Peking University, they devoted themselves to the innovation of liberal arts. "The literary revolution and the atmosphere of freedom of thought became popular."In addition to the above-mentioned persons, there are still professors in the liberal arts such as Tao Menghe, Gu Mengyu, Chen Daqi, Yang Yinqing, Qian Moling, and Yang Changji, who are also enthusiastic about the reform of philosophy, English, and German.Science professors are also well-educated.In terms of law, although there is no one teaching courses such as comparative law, there are already full-time professors such as Ma Yinchu and Gao Yihan.Most of them are around 30 years old.Among them, Hu Shi and Liu Bannong are only 27 years old, and the youngest is only 24 years old.

Cai Yuanpei relies on these young talents as the backbone, and relies on them to drive the whole school to work together to push the decadent "bureaucratic training institute" towards the highest academic institution of prosperity.Mr. Cai said: "I follow the general practice of universities in various countries, follow the principle of freedom of thought, and embrace all theories. No matter what kind of school, if it is reasonable and has a reason, it has not yet reached the fate of natural elimination. Let them develop freely." Under the principle of inclusiveness and inclusiveness, conservative scholars who do have real talents but have different academic views and political inclinations are still retained as professors to develop their strengths, and they are treated equally and will not be discriminated against.For example, Gu Hongming studied in Europe for many years. After the Revolution of 1911, he still wore long braids to show his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty. However, he is proficient in English, French, German and Greek, and has a deep research in English literature. He is still invited to give lectures on "English Poetry".Another example is Liu Shipei, who participated in the anti-Qing revolution, later defected to the Qing Dynasty, and worked for Yuan Shikai to proclaim himself emperor. However, Liu was very knowledgeable in Guoxue, so he was still hired to give lectures on "History of Chinese Medieval Literature".

Mr. Cai also selected and cultivated talents. Liang Shuming, 24 years old, studied philosophy by himself after graduating from middle school. Mr. Cai saw his article "Studying Yuan Causism" and thought it was a family opinion, so he hired him as a lecturer at Peking University to teach "India philosophy".Mao Zedong, who was the same age as Liang, had just graduated from Hunan No. 1 Normal School. He went to Beijing to work and study in France. in the direction of Marxism".For the original Chinese and foreign teachers with low academic level and bad teaching attitude, they will be dismissed according to the agreement.A dismissed French teacher sued the court, but his unreasonable demands were all rejected because of the contract.After the British teacher Kedley and others were dismissed, they urged the British Minister to China Zhu Erdian to come to the school in person and asked for re-employment, but he was also rejected.

Peking University was originally composed of five disciplines of liberal arts, science, law, business, and engineering, with no focus. Cai Yuanpei boldly reformed the Peking University system.According to the new regulations of the Ministry of Education regarding the special establishment of liberal arts and science in universities, and the establishment of law, medicine, agriculture, engineering, and business as independent universities, he reorganized the various subjects of Peking University, such as expanding the two majors of liberal arts and science. , engineering was merged into Beiyang University, business was merged into law, etc.

Cai Yuanpei believes that a university student is a school that includes a large ceremony and recruits many families.His "encompassing canon" means that the university is an institution that includes all kinds of knowledge. No matter what kind of school, if they try to make sense and hold on to their reasons, they will not meet the fate of natural elimination. Even if they are opposite to each other, they will be allowed to develop freely.His approach made new ideas and new culture rush into Peking University, grow stronger in the contest with the original old ideas and culture, and spread.At that time, Peking University became the stage for the activities of a group of radical bourgeois democrats and the center of the New Culture Movement. Various schools of thought coexisted, forming a situation of contention among a hundred schools of thought, unprecedented prosperity in academic thought, vernacular and classical Chinese, materialism and idealism, etc. The debate continued. In the debate between the conservatives and the reformers, Cai Yuanpei supported the reformers, showing his clear stand.

With the victory of the Russian October Revolution in November 1917, Marxism-Leninism was introduced to China, and socialism became a powerful social trend in the world at that time. Li Dazhao, who was hired as the director of Peking University Library, was the first to accept and spread Marxism in China. doctrine. In March 1920, with the support of Cai Yuanpei, Peking University established the Marx Theory Research Society, and then Marxism spread widely throughout the country.Peking University had an indelible influence on the history of the Chinese revolution. As Zhou Peiyuan, who later served as the president of Peking University, said: "These are all inseparable from Mr. Cai as the president. If Mr. Cai is not as democratic as Mr. Cai, he treats the revolutionary cause and treats Peking University would not have made such a great contribution to a principal who does his best to support New Thought.” Feng Youlan, a famous philosopher, said: “Mr. Cai is a great educator in modern China, which is recognized by people. I added the word “best” to it, because until now I haven’t seen another great educator like Mr. Cai.”

When Mr. Cai Yuanpei presided over Peking University, Hu Shi called it "the Cai Yuanpei era of Peking University".Just as Wu Yuzhang said: "Mr. Cai was appointed as the president of Peking University...to recruit progressives as professors of Peking University, such as Comrade Li Dazhao, an outstanding figure in our party, and Hu Shi, who advocated vernacular and literary revolution, etc., played a revolutionary role in the New Culture Movement A new trend of thought flourished, and academic thinking changed drastically, especially in my semi-colonial and semi-feudal country, which was affected by the October Revolution. The trend of socialism surged in the minds of ordinary people, especially young people, making China depressed and depressed. Revolutionary intellectuals with no way out got new life and new weapons, so they had the courage to break through the old shackles and create new literature and new culture, so there was the vigorous May 4th Movement against imperialism and feudalism. This is the history of China Opening a new era. Although this is the inevitable result of the era, Mr. Cai’s leadership is of course indispensable.”

Before the "May 4th" movement, although the feudal ethics had been greatly impacted, the old traditions such as "men and women are not allowed to kiss each other" and "men and women have different seats at the age of seven" are still deeply rooted.Although there are colleges and universities specially set up for women, such as Beijing Union Women's University, Nanjing Jinling Women's University, Fuzhou South China Women's University, and Beijing Women's Higher Teacher's House, etc., there is no such thing as a coeducational university and equal education. Cai Yuanpei was extremely dissatisfied with this reality. On March 15, 1919, he gave a speech on "The Relationship between Poor Houses and Poor Children's Education" at the Beijing Youth Association. He believed that: men and women socialize openly and respect for women's rights has become a world trend. "Our country can still strictly abide by the previous boundaries between men and women , Going against the big trend of the world?" During this speech, he came up with the idea of ​​coeducation in experimental universities. During Cai Yuanpei's stay at Peking University, the student movement began to sprout.Cai Yuanpei himself does not support the student movement. From the very beginning, he has a clear understanding of the negative effects of mass movements, and has a clear understanding of the damage to academic research and the independence of universities through excessive participation in political activities. Cao Jian, a Peking University student at the time, had vivid memories of Cai Yuanpei's words and deeds during the "May 4th Movement": After the students were arrested, everyone gathered in the auditorium of the Third Academy, helpless.Suddenly they heard footsteps coming from outside, and everyone looked up. It turned out to be Principal Cai Yuanpei.Some students were afraid of being reprimanded by Cai Yuanpei, others cheered, and some even burst into tears.Cai Yuanpei stepped onto the podium calmly, and said to everyone in a warm and gentle manner: "I know everything you have done today. I express my sympathy." Before he finished speaking, the audience was thunderous.Cai Yuanpei went on to say: "I am the head of the whole school, and I shall do my best to rescue the students. I will also handle the aftermath. I just hope you listen to my words." Attend class". Cai Yuanpei repeatedly emphasized to the students: "May 4th" Movement, the students awakened the people's awareness of saving the country, and their enthusiasm is commendable; however, young people should not only rely on their enthusiasm for saving the country, but should mainly rely on their knowledge and ability. "Reading should not forget to save the country, and saving the country should not forget to study." just work.In this campaign, students should not sacrifice their studies at the expense of their studies, and should develop their own spirit in the future. Cai Yuanpei believes that students should "take research as their primary responsibility." Cai Yuanpei wrote: "I have always had a prejudice against the student movement. I think that students should study for the first purpose in school and should not have any kind of political organization. Those who are over 20 years old have no need for organization. Those with special interests can join political organizations with personal qualifications, without being involved in the school. Therefore, in the summer of the seventh year of the Republic of China, students from various schools in Beijing marched in groups to petition the presidential palace for diplomatic issues. When Peking University students set off, I once To stop them, they must participate. I take the blame and resign because of this, and let it go with condolences." The "May 4th" Movement made Cai Yuanpei and Peking University students see the importance of mobilizing the masses.Therefore, after the movement, the students held civilian evening classes, Sunday lectures, and published popular publications with greater enthusiasm than before.Cai Yuanpei not only approved of this move, but also provided financial and material support from the perspective of the school. The Ministry of Education stated in an official letter to Peking University a year ago, "The national university is a social audio-visual department, and all girls must be extra cautious in how to observe, so as to avoid malpractice." Cai Yuanpei, who wanted to lift the ban on women, publicly stated that there is no need to say anything about the issue of banning women in universities.Due to the regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Education, for university students, the regulations are not limited to men and women, such as the right to vote in the election law.Moreover, in all European and American countries, men and women are accepted together, so there is no question of whether to ban women or not.That is to say, when Peking University recruits students next year, if there are female students with a suitable level, they can apply for the exam as much as possible, and if they pass the level, they can also be admitted. "China News" published this passage in the New Year's issue on New Year's Day in 1920.In fact, Cai Yuanpei has cleverly circumvented the restrictions of the Ministry of Education and made a declaration to break the ban on women. On January 18, 1920, Peking University Minmin Night School opened, recruiting a total of 350 male and female students.Cai Yuanpei attended the opening ceremony in the Law Auditorium and delivered a speech, saying that this day was "the first day that Peking University allowed civilians to enter."He said: In the past, no one was allowed to enter this place, but now everyone can enter this place.In the past, there was a sign on Peking University in the Temple of the Horse, which read "The important place of the school, free for idlers", thinking that only university students and teachers can go to the highest school in the country, and no one else can enter.This kind of thinking is especially true for people near Peking University.This card is now gone.Many auditors can pour into the classrooms of Peking University to attend lectures in a dignified manner. Peking University presents a free and open modern university scene. In February 1920, Wang Lan, a girl from Jiangsu Province, applied for admission. Because she had passed the exam period, she entered the school to audit and became the first female student of Peking University.Later, Xi Zhen and Zha Xiaoyuan attended the admission. As of March 11, there were 9 people attending the introduction in the "Girls of Our School" column of Peking University's "Journal". In the autumn of 1920, Peking University formally enrolled nine female undergraduates. The ban on women for the first time caused great anxiety among the authorities. In April 1920, the Ministry of Education sent a letter to Peking University, repeating the old tune: "National schools are the audio-visual departments of the society, and all girls must be extra cautious in how to attend." For this reason, a "warning" was put forward to Cai Yuanpei. On January 4, 1917, in Beijing in the middle of winter, heavy snow fell, and a four-wheeled carriage drove into the gate of Peking University. Cai Yuanpei, the principal, bowed.He slowly got off the carriage, took off his top hat, and bowed back to the workers.Everyone present was stunned: this is unprecedented in Peking University.Peking University is a government-run university with a strict hierarchy. The president is treated like a cabinet minister, and workers are never taken seriously.What happened to the new principal today? It was a rare phenomenon in Peking University and even in China that a person of high status like Cai Yuanpei salutes a worker with a humble status.This is not a trivial matter. Cai Yuanpei hopes that through this act, he will lead the way and revitalize this staid national university.From then on, when he entered the school every day, he would bow to the workers standing by the gate.Over time, this became his habit.His behavior is a challenge to Peking University's official spirit. He has set up a banner of how to behave with his words and deeds. Cai Yuanpei regards Peking University as his own child, Peking University is a part of his life, and Peking University is a brilliant cultural ideal of him. In February 1927, the Northern Expeditionary Army captured Zhejiang, and Cai Yuanpei and others traveled from Shanghai to Hangzhou. At this time, young people who wanted to join the army and politics all came to see Cai Yuanpei, and there was an endless stream from morning to night, and Cai Yuanpei met them one by one.If you are asked to write a letter of introduction, your request will be granted. Please sit in the living room for a while and write immediately without any excuses.He wrote letters very quickly, and he wrote a letter in two or three minutes, and all of them were written in his own hand, and he never faked it. The ghostwriting for him is only occasionally when someone invites him to dinner or give a speech. Due to time conflicts, he can't go, so he approves the word "thank you" on the post.Those who asked Cai Yuanpei to write a letter of introduction were not necessarily Peking University graduates. One night, after ten o'clock, a young artist asked to see him.The people around him told Cai Yuanpei that someone wanted to see him, and asked if someone would come back tomorrow.Cai Yuanpei said, let him come in.The man brought a few pictures of figures and flowers drawn by himself, showed him, and asked Cai Yuanpei to introduce him to work.Cai Yuanpei asked him if he could draw promotional materials, and he said yes.So Cai Yuanpei wrote for him and introduced him to Pan Yizhi, the chief political director of Bai Chongxi's former enemy commander-in-chief, requesting employment.A few days later, Cai Yuanpei also asked how the young people were doing. Cai Yuanpei wrote letters of introduction for others, not in a perfunctory way, but sincerely caring for the young people. Liu Kaiqu is a famous sculptor in my country. He used to be the vice president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the director of the National Art Museum of China.He and Cai Yuanpei are neither close nor old, and he was able to learn sculpture entirely because of Cai Yuanpei's training.It can be said that without Cai Yuanpei's help, not only would he not be able to engage in sculpture, but he might even lose his major in fine arts.He studied at the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts for ten years. After graduation, he could not find a job and had no way of making a living. With the help of his friends, he moved to Nanjing and found a job in a college. Completely lost his profession. Once in the university, he asked Cai Yuanpei for help, hoping that he could help him go to France to study sculpture.Cai Yuanpei said with a smile: "It's a good thing to think of France to learn sculpture. We haven't sent anyone in China to learn it. I remember it." Liu Kaiqu made a request to Cai Yuanpei in November 1927.At the end of this month, Lin Fengmian and others came to Nanjing from Beijing, and Cai Yuanpei set up an art education committee for them.Lin Fengmian asked Liu Kaiqu to work as a clerk in the committee.Liu Kaiqu doesn't have many things to do, and often goes out to paint.Lin Fengmian wanted to set up an art school, so he found Cai Yuanpei. Cai Yuanpei was very happy to hear that, he said: "West Lake is a beautiful place, go and see if there is any house there, and if so, do it there." The school was set up soon. The school started in April 1928, and Liu Kaiqu served as a teaching assistant.At the opening ceremony, Cai Yuanpei spoke.Liu Kaiqu found an opportunity and mentioned to him that he wanted to go to France to study sculpture. Cai Yuanpei smiled and said: "I will always remember your business, and I will let you go if you have the opportunity!" By May, Liu Kaiqu received a letter of appointment from the graduate school, and was appointed as a "author" stationed abroad. The letter of appointment also clearly stated that the monthly salary was 80 yuan.Liu Kaiqu was overjoyed.Cai Yuanpei's status is so high, but he has always cared about his own affairs, and he was able to solve it for him quickly.Liu Kaiqu was very grateful.But he immediately thought of another difficulty. It was a long way to France. As a poor student, where would he have the money to buy a boat ticket?Liu Kaiqu went to Nanjing to find Cai Yuanpei. Cai Yuanpei smiled again and said, "I've already thought about it for you. You pay half a year's salary in advance first, and then half a year's salary in advance. It's a year. I can also write you a letter." Give it to the Sino-French Friendship Association, transfer it to the French steamship company, and get a discount on the fare, isn’t that the solution?” Cai Yuanpei was very busy, but he still thought of Liu Kaiqu so thoughtfully, which moved Liu Kaiqu greatly. When he arrived in France, Cai Yuanpei sometimes wrote letters to Liu Kaiqu.Once he said in a letter: "I am no longer in the graduate school, and I have asked the graduate school to send your salary." Sometimes, if he was too busy, he asked Xu Shoushang (Mr. Cai's friend and secretary) to write to him. Cai Yuanpei is always like this, if you have any request, he will immediately satisfy you, which reflects his benevolent side of helping the poor. At that time, the tuition of Peking University was quite low, only 10 yuan per student per semester, less than one-fifth of that of private universities, and students also enjoyed subsidies. Therefore, the school’s running expenses basically depended on financial appropriation, totaling 750,000 yuan per year.At that time, the warlords were fighting and the source of finance and taxation was not guaranteed. By September 1922, the school’s running funds had been owed for five months. Cai Yuanpei, together with other university presidents, repeatedly negotiated with the government and threatened to resign. funding. At this time, in order to save money, members of the school’s council (an authority that runs side by side with the professor’s association) jointly proposed to the principal Cai Yuanpei that the school spends more than 10,000 yuan on printing handouts every year, while the expenditure on purchasing books is stretched. ; If the money spent on handouts is collected from students and the cost of handouts is saved to supplement books, it will be good for both the school and the students. Cai Yuanpei felt the same way about this. He also considered that because the school prints the handouts and distributes them to the students, the students don’t have to work hard in class, and they “make up” the handouts during the exams, which has become a major drawback.So he immediately decided: in the future, he will collect the lecture fee as a book fund; it is up to the students to decide whether to buy the lecture. This decision should be said to be very kind, but the news that "the handouts will be charged" came out, and the things that have always been enjoyed for free will now be paid for, which immediately aroused strong repercussions among the students. On the afternoon of October 17, 1922, in order to protest the fees charged for handouts, dozens of students broke into the accounting office, abusing and intimidating the staff; on the morning of October 18th, dozens of students flocked to the principal’s office, demanding that Cai Yuanpei abolish the handouts fee.Cai Yuanpei explained the fee decision in detail, and said that no fee would be charged within three days; but the students refused to give an inch, and the negotiations between the two sides became more and more deadlocked. Moreover, hundreds of students quickly gathered in the principal's outdoor corridor, shouting and booing, and the situation was chaotic. Cai Yuanpei was anxious and angry, stood up at once, rolled up his cuffs, and shouted at the students: "I will fight with you!" Then he stepped forward with veins all over his face.The students surrounding him were afraid, and retreated step by step, gradually dispersing.Cai Yuanpei was deeply annoyed and saddened by this trend. He wrote his resignation letter and left Peking University on the same day. In the article, he said: "...this student waits for threats and shouts, and the order is in turmoil. It's a pity. Abandoning handouts is a trivial matter, but the fact of breaking school discipline is great. A trickle of water will turn into a river, and the trend will cause schools all over the country to suffer from it..." After Cai Yuanpei's resignation, Jiang Menglin, Chief of General Affairs of Peking University, Shen Shiyuan, Director of General Affairs Department, Li Dazhao, Director of Library, Li Xinbai, Director of Publishing Department, and Feng Zuxun, Director of Mathematics Department respectively published notices announcing that they would "resign with President Cai and leave the school today"; The staff also issued the "Declaration on Temporary Suspension of Duty", and the "Peking University Journal" also announced on the same day that it would "stop publishing from tomorrow."Everyone went forward and retreated with President Cai: In order to keep Cai Yuanpei, Peking University held an emergency meeting of the academic affairs conference and the council, and Ma Xulun, the deputy minister of education, also persuaded Cai Yuanpei face to face.In the end, Cai Yuanpei withdrew his resignation, and the lecture fee was suspended. Cai Yuanpei received an old-fashioned literati education since he was a child.During the reign of Guangxu, he was awarded Juren first, and then Hanlin. In 1889, which was the year of Zhongjuren, he married his first wife, Wang Zhao, according to the orders of his parents and the words of a matchmaker.The wedding at that time was carried out completely in accordance with the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony.Like most people, Cai Yuanpei had never met Wang Zhao before the wedding. Wang Zhao was from Kuaiji, Zhejiang Province, and Cai Yuanpei was one year old. After marriage, their life was not like a string of drums and zithers, they respected each other like guests.Because Wang Zhaosu has a habit of cleanliness, he must keep everything clean, and people are forbidden to touch all seats, table utensils, and clothes towels.Every time before going to bed, you must ask to take off your coat first, then take off your dress, etc., and then wipe your hair with a towel, etc., and Wang Zhao is also extremely economical in spending money; but as her husband, Cai Yuanpei is bold and informal by nature, and he hates Wang Zhao very much. Therefore, the two often quarreled over trivial matters after they got married. In the first few years, Cai Yuanpei seemed to have difficulty accepting his wife, let alone loving her. The contract of marriage only obligated him to stay with his wife.In this way, seven years passed in a flash. It was not until Wang Zhao gave birth to two sons for him that they gradually found the feeling of married life. Wang Zhao is a woman in the old society. In front of Cai Yuanpei, she always respectfully calls him "Master".For this reason, Cai Yuanpei, who participated in the Hundred Days Restoration, scolded her from time to time: "Don't call me a 'master' anymore, and don't call yourself a 'slave' anymore. How awkward does that sound?" He said very meekly: "Oh, I'm so used to it, I can't change it." Around 1900, Western democratic and scientific thoughts began to infiltrate more and more ancient Chinese blood.This prompted Cai Yuanpei, who was at the forefront of culture, to reflect on marriage and family.It was also in this year that based on his own experience, he wrote the "Marriage Convention", which laid the foundation for his later feminist ideology, explaining in detail that the relationship between men and women is divided into physical, physical, and heart-to-heart, with special emphasis on heart-to-heart.The so-called heart-to-heart refers to the concentricity of husband and wife and the fusion of two emotions.Cai Yuanpei decided to readjust the relationship with his wife Wang Zhao, repair the emotional rift, and let everyone live together more harmoniously. In fact, this is also the case. Cai Yuanpei and Wang Zhao also maintained a happy marriage. Cai Yuanpei also told his friends: "The love of husband and wife is as good as the new marriage." Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. One year passed away due to illness.The couple who have just tasted the sweetness of marriage have been separated since then.Cai Yuanpei was very sad, and wrote a couplet to lament: "Liberalism is about to be heard, but it is not exempt from vulgarity. The sky is about to end, the ghost car is gradually broken, and Russia is a scorpion. It is unbearable to hate it for life." "The sky is about to end, the ghost car is gradually "Broken" means that after Mrs. Wang understood the "Convention", she began to free the bound feet and break the superstition of ghosts and gods. Unexpectedly, she passed away suddenly, which made Mr. Cai very sad. Cai Yuanpei had just turned 32 when Wang Zhao died.At this time, Cai Yuanpei was already well-known in the intellectual circles in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so after Wang Zhao passed away, there was an endless stream of people who came to say goodbye to him.Although Cai Yuanpei and Wang Zhao were not very harmonious, but the old man was gone, but the kindness of husband and wife did not dare to be forgotten.In order to prevent the matchmakers from disturbing his cleanliness, facing the endless stream of matchmakers, he rubbed thick ink, laid out plain paper, and waved a brush, wrote a strange marriage proposal, and posted it on the wall of his home. The first is that the feet are not bound (female) and have natural feet; the second is that they can read and write; the third is that a man is not allowed to marry a concubine or concubine; the fourth is that the wife can remarry when the husband dies; the fifth is that there is a disagreement , can divorce. "Tianzu, remarriage, divorce", these shocking words came from Hanlin.When the news spread, there was an uproar for a while.His deviant and confused approach is tantamount to a war against feudal customs, and all the old matchmakers shy away in fright.Cai Yuanpei's "Marriage Advertisement" is undoubtedly expressing to the society that he wants to make decisions for himself and seek a happy and free marriage. In 1901, Cai Yuanpei left Shaoxing alone to run a school in Yuhang, and was invited by friends to visit Ye Jun's mansion.With Ye Jun's matchmaking, Cai Yuanpei met Huang Zhongyu and pursued him boldly. The two of you love each other, and marriage is naturally on the agenda.The news that Cai Yuanpei was going to get married spread like wildfire, and his relatives and friends near and far were busy all of a sudden.However, Cai Yuanpei and Huang Zhongyu agreed not to be extravagant in their marriage, and they must avoid customs. On November 22, 1901, Cai Yuanpei and Huang Zhongyu held the second wedding in his life by the West Lake in Hangzhou.In this wedding, which was a combination of Chinese and Western styles, Cai Yuanpei used red banners embellished with the word "Confucius" instead of the tradition of hanging three scrolls, and swept away the cumbersome ceremonies of the past, and only held a small speech instead of a bridal chamber. Cai Yuanpei’s approach actually started from “I” and took “I” as an example to reform the social atmosphere, break through feudal customs, advocate equal rights for men and women, and break the traditional Chinese shackles on women on marriage issues.Moreover, this approach not only marks the progress of Cai Yuanpei's thought, but also reflects the rise of new ideas and trends of thought under the collision of Chinese and Western cultures at that time. In 1904, Cai Yuanpei organized the establishment of the anti-Qing revolutionary group "Guangfuhui". In 1905, he joined the "Tongmenghui" founded by Sun Yat-sen. In 1907, Cai Yuanpei, who was almost in his forties, began his four-year overseas study life.During this period, he compiled "History of Chinese Ethics", which advocated equality between men and women and freedom of marriage.Cai Yuanpei transformed from an Hanlin scholar with machismo ideas into a fighter seeking equal rights for women. His second wife, Huang Zhongyu, contributed a lot. At the end of 1920, Cai Yuanpei was sent by Peking University to study in Europe.Before he left, Huang Zhongyu was already sick, but she urged her husband to leave as scheduled.But when Cai Yuanpei arrived in Switzerland, the sad news of his wife's death came.Cai Yuanpei was distraught, and with tears in his mouth, he wrote the immortal sacrificial article "Sacrificing to His Dead Wife Huang Zhongyu": "Woohoo Zhongyu, who gave up me and died first! It has only been twenty years since you and I got married. Tiring you with your children, tiring you with family planning, tiring you with traveling at home and abroad, tiring you with poverty, tiring you with sorrow, making you good at books, paintings, and being a genius of art, you can't develop infinitely, Moreover, you have become sick from overwork, so you can't live up to your days. Woohoo, how much I owe you..." Just as Cai Yuanpei endured the grief of losing his spouse and was studying education in the European continent alone, the domestic political situation began to change. In 1921, when Cai Yuanpei returned from an inspection tour, celebrities from all walks of life came to visit him as soon as he stepped into Shanghai. However, Cai Yuanpei had no intention of getting involved in this chaotic political situation, and made plans to study abroad again and concentrate on his studies.At this time, Xu Xinliu, the general manager of Zhejiang Industrial Bank, an old friend, called to invite him to the banquet, and Cai Yuanpei happily went. Xu Xinliu hosted a banquet, but there were only the two of them.Cai Yuanpei found it very strange, thinking Mr. Xu must have something else to do.After drinking for three rounds, Xu Xinliu finally got to the point.He smiled and asked: "After Mrs. Huang passed away, William (Cai Yuanpei's daughter) will have another life, and the two sons left by Mrs. must not be taken care of. I wonder if Mr. Huang will continue to marry after a few years of silence?" Surprised, he smiled sadly and said, he is in his twilight years, so why talk about marriage!Life has long been gray and cold, and I only hope to live a life of seclusion, away from the world of mortals. Xu Xinliu waited to say more, but Cai Yuanpei hurriedly raised his hand to stop him and said that he was kind and understanding, so he didn't bother to bother.But I don't think that Xu Xinliu is also a stubborn person.One is that he respects Cai Yuanpei's character, and the other is that he sympathizes with his poor life. Furthermore, the proposal of marriage is entrusted by others, and the beauty of an adult is also a kind deed.A few days later, Xu Xinliu asked Cai Yuanpei again, and the topic was still the old one.Cai Yuanpei was also very grateful to Mr. Xu for his benevolence and righteousness, so he agreed to his request, but at the same time he put forward three conditions: "First, I must have considerable cultural accomplishment; second, I must be a little older; third, I must be proficient in English. and become research assistants.” Cai Yuanpei thought that this could scare him back.Unexpectedly, Xu Xinliu agreed with a bright face: "No problem, no problem, and I can add a few conditions to you: the fourth is virtuous and caring; the fifth is good-looking, kind, diligent ; Sixth..." Before Xu Xinliu finished these conditions, Cai Yuanpei suddenly thought of his female student Zhou Jun who had been serving by his side recently. At this time, his thoughts seemed to return to the endless past. among.Although Zhou Jun is his student, she is also a woman. She is in her thirties and has been staying in her boudoir. I don't know what she is thinking?Looking at the shape of her eyes, she was quite intentional for me, but she never expressed it in her words, or she might be ashamed to say it; if her children can be taken care of by Zhou Jun, it is also a blessing; Miss Zhou is not only smart He is virtuous, and even more talented and beautiful, let's talk about it later... Thinking of this, Cai Yuanpei smiled and said: "Let's forget it, I am 54 years old, I can't drag others down, but I Cai I still thank you for your kindness! Thank you for your love!" Cai Yuanpei's mood was very complicated, but he still accepted it happily. Since Xu Xinliu became a matchmaker, Zhou Jun no longer approached Cai Yuanpei.The wedding day was approaching day by day. On July 10, 1923, Cai Yuanpei and Zhou Jun finally walked into a simple and modern wedding. This was also Cai Yuanpei's third wedding. This wedding is completely modern and civilized.At that time, Cai Yuanpei went to the hotel where Zhou Jun was staying to meet Zhou Jun, and then the two went to Suzhou Lingering Garden to take wedding photos together.At that time, Cai Yuanpei was wearing a suit and leather shoes, and Zhou Jun was wearing a white wedding dress.At the wedding banquet, Cai Yuanpei also told everyone about his love affair with Zhou Jun. Forget the new year and make a new boudoir contract, and persuade students to travel overseas. Flounders and flounders often fly together, and each has its own merits. Cai Yuanpei used such words to record his third wedding. Ten days after their marriage, Cai Yuanpei, Zhou Jun and their children left Shanghai for Brussels, the capital of Belgium. His wife and daughter both entered the National Academy of Fine Arts, while he devoted himself to compiling the Outline of Philosophy.Every evening, on the forest trails in Brussels, you can always see a couple of old couples and young wives swimming together, reciting poems and admiring the moon.Cai Yuanpei, who is famous all over the world and all-powerful, finally leads a quiet and peaceful family life. On March 5, 1940, two days before Zhou Jun's 50th birthday, Cai Yuanpei died of illness in Hong Kong.A generation of masters just quietly breathed in Hong Kong.Zhou Jun poured his lifelong love for Cai Yuanpei into a work—a bust of Cai Yuanpei, on which a poem written by Cai Yuanpei was engraved: Only you know me first, Leave a mark on your heart that will never wear out.