Chapter 9 Part 1: Cambridge New and Old Cambridge: New and Old

Go to the college to attend the Formal Hall at night, as usual, you are required to wear a large black robe.I ate half of it, but felt that the restaurant was really hot, and while everyone was eating happily, I secretly took off my robe and hung it on the back of the chair.But after a while, a waitress in a snow-white apron came to me. Her polite but serious attitude reminded me that this robe must never be taken off, otherwise I would have to put down the knife and fork and open the way.I had no choice but to put on a black robe and look at a room full of dark people, it was boring. This is the Cambridge rule, you have to dress like this if you want to eat a formal college dinner, and no one is allowed in without a gown.In the United Kingdom, Oxford and Cambridge are the masters of the university gown system. Now the gowns of all universities in the UK are based on the styles of these two schools, with some colors and lace added.This system originated in the Middle Ages. At that time, there was a struggle between the so-called "gown" (gown) and the "town" (town).There always seems to be a certain distance between universities and society.Universities should maintain a precarious and independent attitude, and scholars should also use academic gowns to mark their identities and academic status.As far as today’s British universities are concerned, Cambridge and Oxford may be the most original medieval universities. They have maintained their classical character through countless changes in the past seven or eight hundred years. The gown system is a typical example.The whole school gown system is extremely complicated, generally speaking, the longer the gown, the more prestigious it is, and the longer the sleeves, the higher the status.Students who come to Cambridge for a short-term exchange, the school will wear a gown out of courtesy, but the length is only above the waist; the gowns of undergraduates are usually navy blue and not longer than knees; but the gowns of graduate students, doctoral students, and teachers The robes must be below the knees, and each one is longer than the other, usually black.The same is true for the sleeves. The sleeves of undergraduate gowns are large cuffs, generally not exceeding the elbow joint.The gowns for master students and above are all sleeves, the length is below the knee, the bottom is sewn, and there is a slit at the elbow to let the arm stick out.There is also a crescent-shaped hook at the bottom seam. When the students walk up, the tip of the hook dangles against the gown body, which has a dynamic feeling of "fluttering belts".In addition to the length and sleeves, details such as ribbons, hoods, buttons, and braids of academic gowns will vary depending on the discipline, grade, and degree of the wearer. The tedious rules contained in it are really dizzying.On the day of the graduation ceremony, the students have to put on academic gowns and white rabbit fur hoods. Under the guidance of their tutors, they walk into the Senate House (Senate Council Building), and then each group of five people stand on one knee Kneeling in front of the principal, he listened to lectures in Latin that he could not understand, while receiving the graduation certificate with the college's seal.One day, I met a group of students participating in the graduation ceremony in front of the Senate House. They were all wearing black robes and square hats, in twos and threes, and they were rushing to the historical collection hand in hand. A gust of wind blew and their belts fluttered. This scene can't help but make people feel a little in awe.

When I got to Cambridge, I found that the word "form" has a very important meaning here.Even if you have a formal meal in the restaurant, you have to pay attention to the formality, and you don’t need to wear a robe. Whenever the Dons (teachers) of the college take their seats, there will be a "bang" gong, and the students must stand up to greet them. You can sit down and eat after the prayer (to the effect of "thank God for letting us eat"); when the teacher leaves, the gong will be played again, and the students will have to get up again to see them off.In the article "Trinity in Cambridge" by Mr. Jin Yaoji of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, there is a quotation that can quite reflect the "formalism" of Cambridge: "On the day in 1918, when the Nobel Prize winner Sir Thomson took office as the dean of Trinity, the Trinity The "Great Gate" of One is shut tightly. Thomson in his school gown solemnly knocks on the gate with an iron ring. The crisp sound can be heard all over Trinity Street, and the porter responds, ah Then he opened the door, politely but seriously asked the visitor's name, why? Thomson explained the purpose of his visit, and handed him the letter of appointment from the King of England. The concierge asked him to wait a moment, and then slammed the door Close it, and walk quickly through the "Great Square Court", to the dean's lounge to hand over the certificate to the senior academician. After the academician verified that the certificate is correct, he then filed out according to the level of seniority, and lined up to the gate to welcome the new dean. "This complicated and solemn ceremony is so serious that it almost catches up with the enthronement ceremony of ancient Chinese emperors. It is not only the form, but also the solemn meaning brought by this form that makes people in Cambridge admire it, so it can continue to this day.

As the times are advancing and the wave of modernization is sweeping the world, Cambridge people still guard their historical traditions with indomitable spirit.Cambridge people believe in their own unique philosophy: we don't care what the world is going on now; we just care what we like to do, we don't care what the world is going on now; we don't care what the world is going on now; we don't care what the world is going on.When they heard that there were convenient and brisk pedal boats on the river in Oxford, people in Cambridge curled their lips in disdain: punting is an ancient tradition, and pedal boats are just tacky gadgets to cater to modern people.This is the temper of a typical Cambridge person: would rather go to the trouble, those old traditions and elegant demeanor must be maintained.This also somewhat reflects the national character of the entire British Empire.Some people say that the British are conservative, and typical British people are not easy to be moved by trends. They are never willing to throw away historical things (from the noble queen to the ancient college system, from century-old shops to the "fish and chips" in the country) article”), but are constantly being patched and extended.

Cherishing tradition is an important part of Cambridge education. In 1852, Oxford scholar John H. Cardinal Newman proposed in his "The Idea of ​​a University" that a university is a place that provides liberal education and cultivates gentlemen.In his ideal university, the gentlemen that should be cultivated refer to intellectuals who are well-versed, cultivated and knowledgeable, and well versed in traditional ways. This educational ideal has undoubtedly had a great impact on the educational direction of Oxford and Cambridge.It is true that the significance of abiding by tradition is not reflected on the surface, nor can it produce direct benefits, but its value lies in the fact that it can breed a powerful spirit. In the words of Abraham Flexler, the founder of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University It means "the usefulness of knowledge is not used".The world's first-class universities, especially those with a long history, are all cultivating a cultural tradition consciously or unconsciously.Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, including Peking University and Tsinghua University in China, all have rich cultural life besides intellectual life.And such cultural traditions determine the style of the university and affect the temperament and character of students.Cambridge’s historical traditions provide students with a “hidden-curriculum”. Imagine if a student of a Christian college would be indifferent to the mulberry tree planted by Milton?How can a student of Trinity College live in Newton's room without a trace of excitement to emulate others?And how can a student of St. John's hear Wordsworth's description of the "one male, one female" bells of his college chapel without feeling a little poetic?In Cambridge, whether I was going to the classroom, the library or back to the college, I walked on the ancient streets every day, shuttling between buildings that have been around for hundreds of years, and I inevitably had to push open a few thick and carved oak doors. At that time, what surged in my heart was a different kind of emotion, which was a kind of inner solemnity and tranquility.

The religious tradition of Cambridge University has a long history.St Mary's Church of Cambridge University stands impressively at the core of the center of Cambridge, and buildings taller than it are not allowed to be built around it.It is said that when the Municipal Council planned to build the railway station nearby, it was strongly opposed by the people of Cambridge. As a result, the railway station was coaxed to a corner in the southern suburbs of the city.In the whole of southern England, only Cambridge's railway station is far away from the city center.Every college in Cambridge, big or small, rich or poor, has its own chapel. Among them, the 600-year-old King’s College chapel is the most famous. In order to maintain the daily expenses of this church, Cambridge University spends every year £360,000.I originally thought that after seeing the Notre Dame Cathedral in France and the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy, there would be no church that would deeply shock my heart.But when I saw the church of King's College for the first time, I couldn't move for a long time, and what I felt in my heart was an indescribable emotion.This is a magnificent Gothic building: the volleying flying wall, the straight piers erected upwards, and matched with the minaret, the strict and neat geometric structure collectively tells the story with its straight upward momentum and the feeling of reaching the sky. Abandoning the religious sentiment of longing for the kingdom of heaven, expressing shocking power with an order of incomparable wisdom.Like most of my classmates, I have also participated in several church evangelistic activities on weekends, not because I believe in religion, but just to feel the solemn religious atmosphere and experience inner peace.Sitting on the cold and hard high-back carved oak armchair, looking up at the sun through the colorful stained glass window, forming a blurred and fantastic light and shadow; several thin candles flickering in the glass cover; the singing of the choir is ethereal, slow, clear and soft , the sound rose along the vertical columns and echoed between the high domes; when the thick copper door closed behind us, it seemed to shut out the world of mortals.Once, my girlfriend Xiaoyao and I wore black robes and went to the college to attend vespers. This Taiwanese girl is studying for a master’s degree in linguistics here and can speak English, German, and Japanese.I saw her pious face and asked: What religion do you believe in?She answered me without thinking: "Sleep."

Cambridge people abide by their own traditions and live happily in the charm of traditions, but not all traditions are pleasant.For example, many people complain about the High table (high table) system.All college dining halls in Cambridge have so-called "high tables" - academicians, tutors and other senior teaching or management staff of the college sit.The high table is set on the altar, which is a bit higher than the table where the students sit.The academicians at the table looked down on the group, so prestige.If the difference in height is only a few centimeters, no one would care about it, but the content of meals at the upper and lower tables is also quite different. The dishes and varieties on our table are incomparable with the delicacies enjoyed by the gentlemen at the high table.Every year, the meals spent on this "high table" are an astonishing expenditure for the college.The university newspaper "Varsity" of the University of Cambridge once published a report saying that the students of Cambridge have gradually become disgusted with the unequal system of "high and low tables". In a prayer ceremony for the human beings threatened by hunger in the world, he pointed out that "when there are people in the world who are struggling on the verge of starvation, the scholars of Jianda sit on the 'high table' to eat delicious food." ’, do we really need an ‘advanced life’?” This question aroused long-term latent dissatisfaction and caused a wave of opposition to the “High Table”. It is still only for ordinary students like us to look up.

Cherishing tradition is a rare quality of character, but if abiding by tradition goes to extremes, it becomes conservative, feudal, or even ignorant.According to historical records, Darwin studied in Cambridge, where he studied under the famous geographer Sedgwig.When his theory of evolution first appeared, Cambridge, a school that values ​​religious traditions, was naturally unbearable. Cambridge students made a monkey by themselves and hung it under the stage to humiliate Darwin.And his respected mentor also thought that he slandered the Bible and was treasonous, so the two broke up unhappy.New ideas are resisted by tradition, and so are new institutions.Open the thick Who's Who in Cambridge, before the 20th century, it was difficult to find traces of women. No wonder some people say that the history of Cambridge is the history of "his" in capital letters, showing the magnificence and glory of "his".Women in Cambridge have obtained full student status 30 years later than Oxford, and the right to grant degrees is the latest in the UK-because it is a century-old tradition of Cambridge to accept only boys and boycott girls.The more than 20 men's colleges in Cambridge did not begin to recruit female academicians and female students until the 1970s.I heard that Newnham College had its iron gates smashed down by angry boys for admitting girls.And when Madeleine College decided to enroll girls in 1987, many boys with inflated "male chauvinism" actually held a funeral in grief and righteous indignation to protest.Dressed in filial piety, with black veils wrapped around their arms, and with bleak faces, they carried a coffin in a procession through the town, mourning the end of the orthodox era of the academy.This scene, which seems ridiculous and unbelievable today, actually happened in the history of Cambridge. This is the result of rigidly clinging to tradition.It is true that traditional culture is the blood and flesh of a school, and it is not something to give up just by giving up.But how to choose and how to choose is a kind of wisdom.Today's Cambridge has become much more open and tolerant. She is constantly learning how to cherish and protect history while avoiding complacency, learning how to turn tradition into wealth instead of burden, and learning to follow the trend of the times to innovate and forge ahead.

In the early spring, I went to the library to search for information, intending to write a thesis on "Globalization and Traditional Culture".On the way back, I clearly smelled the fresh aroma of the grass.I love the green of the grass here: it is tender, soft, natural and vibrant.Large expanses of open green make people's hearts light and refreshing.The buildings thousands of years ago are still old and solemn, but the green background also makes them lively and close.It has been a long time since the cows and horses raised on the pasture in the backyard of King’s College have been gone for a long time, and today they actually came out for a walk, leisurely and leisurely (raising cows, sheep, horses and ducks on campus is also a unique tradition in Cambridge) .This is basically a picture with distinct layers: in the distance there is the setting sun shining in the west, in the nearer stands towering Gothic buildings, and in the nearer there are luxuriant grasses, cattle and horses add vitality to this picture.It is really suitable for movement and stillness.

There is a strange rule in Cambridge that only academicians and cattle and horses can trample on the grass of each college.Their IQs may be somewhat different, but the power is equal, which is a good thing, but we students who come here are inferior to horses and cows.It’s fine on weekdays, don’t fight with him/them, but the attractive green of the spring grass really makes me angry, why?I couldn't help it, I really couldn't help it, I stepped on the green lightly, and ran away in a hurry when I was afraid of being seen, feeling very satisfied-as if what I stepped on was not the grass, but the little tail of spring .

It's just a section of road, a piece of green, a light foot, I am very happy.