Chapter 4 The third quarter masters gather in Tsinghua University

Li Ji, standing in front of him, has an extraordinary relationship with two generations of the Liang family, and their deep friendship began at the Academy of Chinese Studies of Tsinghua University. At the beginning of 1921, Peking University established the Guoxue School of the Institute under the active initiative of President Cai Yuanpei. Cai Yuanpei served as the director himself, and Shen Jianshi, a protege of the master of Chinese studies Zhang Taiyan and a professor of Peking University, served as the director of the Guoxue School.In addition to the famous teachers of the school, the professors hired are Luo Zhenyu and Wang Guowei, who are well-known in the society, as communication tutors.This move created a precedent for setting up research institutions on university campuses to specialize in academic studies, and was valued by scholars all over the world for a while.Tsinghua School, which is the same as Peking University, is an important educational center in the north. Since its establishment in 1911, its system has only been set up as an ordinary preparatory school for studying in the United States. Students enter Tsinghua Campus and mainly learn English and some European and American cultural knowledge. Chinese traditional cultural knowledge is relatively weak. .Seeing that Cai Yuanpei made Peking University’s Guoxue flourishing, professors of Tsinghua University and people of insight from all walks of life continued to send out appeals that Tsinghua should follow Peking University’s example and strengthen the teaching and research of Chinese Studies, so as to spread the incense of national culture to the world.

Amidst the clamor from all quarters and the turbulent social tide, at the beginning of 1924, those in power at Tsinghua University reported to the government for approval and wanted to formally "reform a university". Six well-known figures in the academic and educational circles served as consultants for the Preparatory Office of Tsinghua University.Among the six, except Zhou Yichun, the former president of Tsinghua University, who refused to accept, the other five were hired.In October of this year, according to the organizational outline drafted by the Preparatory Committee of Tsinghua University, it was decided to prepare for the establishment of a research institute while preparing for the establishment of the University Department.Due to limitations in financial resources, manpower, research directions, etc., after many discussions and deliberations, it was finally decided that the institute should first set up a subject of Chinese studies, which was later widely called the Institute of Chinese Studies by the society.The training goal is to "train Chinese studies talents who take writing as their lifelong career". The scope of disciplines includes Chinese history, philosophy, literature, language, and philology. At the same time, it absorbs the positive achievements of international academic frontiers such as Europe, America, and Japan, and rebuilds the soul of traditional Chinese scholarship. .

The plan was established, Tsinghua President Cao Yunxiang mobilized Hu Shi, a professor of Peking University who had "became famous" as early as 1917, to preside over the affairs of the Academy of Chinese Studies of Tsinghua University.Hu Shi, who was not too confused, immediately declined, saying that he would not be the dean if he was only a consultant, and suggested that President Cao adopt the tutor system of academies in the Song and Yuan Dynasties according to the excellent traditions of Chinese academic circles, and also take special research projects for degree thesis of graduate schools of foreign universities. Law to run a research institute.President Cao thought so, and said that he would invite Mrs. Hu to serve as a mentor, and recruit famous scholars from all over the world to demonstrate by himself, extending the blood of Chinese culture.But at this time, Hu Shi did not dare to ignore the Chinese culture momentum of Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao and other seniors who "raised the mountain" and the real existence of academic leaders, as well as the high mountains displayed by Wang, Liang and others as cultural Kunlun in the scholars of the world. , the stalwart figure of a master, he said again soberly and modestly: "I am not a first-class scholar, and I am not worthy of being a research institute instructor. I really dare not be. You'd better invite Liang Rengong (Qichao), Wang Jingan (Guowei), The three masters Zhang Taiyan (Binglin) can run the research institute well."

In February 1925, under the auspices of President Cao Yunxiang, the Preparatory Office of the Academy of Chinese Studies of Tsinghua University opened with a gong.Wu Mi, a generation of celebrities who returned from Harvard University in the United States, was hired to preside over the preparatory work of the research institute.From then on, Wu Mi began to assist the principal, Cao Yunxiang, in actively looking for and recruiting domestic Chinese masters who are well-versed in Chinese studies to teach in the school. According to Hu Shi's suggestion at the beginning, Cao Yunxiang asked Wu Mi to go to the residences of several masters to hire them one by one with the letter of appointment issued by him.Wang Guowei (named Guantang), who was 49 years old at the time, was the last emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty—Puyi's "emperor teacher", and naturally belonged to the old school. "job).Six months ago, Wang Guowei angrily resigned as a communication tutor because he was dissatisfied with some practices of Shen Jianshi and others from Peking University's Guoxue School. In the autumn of 1924, Feng Yuxiang, a general of the Zhili Warlords, led his troops in the war with Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang, the father and son of the Fengtian Warlords. He defected midway and quietly led his troops back to Beijing from the front line, launching the famous "Beijing Coup".Feng Yuxiang ordered Cao Kun, the president of the National Government, to be imprisoned. Soon after, he expelled Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, from the Forbidden City, and canceled all the preferential treatment the National Government had given to the royal family. On the morning of November 5, 1924, the national army sent by Feng Yuxiang without authorization surrounded the Forbidden City, announcing the abolition of the letter of preferential treatment to the Qing royal family, and ordered Qingxun Emperor Puyi to move out of the palace within three hours.Puyi, who still regarded himself as the emperor, read the letter and panicked. Under the coercion of the army, he held the last "imperial meeting", handed over the emperor's seal, packed up his personal belongings, and dismissed the eunuchs and maids.In the afternoon of the same day, the guard left the Forbidden City of the Imperial Palace and moved to the residence of Gan Shuiqiao's biological father in Houhai to avoid the sharp edge temporarily.

Puyi was expelled from the palace, and Wang Guowei's "South Study Room Walk" errand naturally came to naught, so Wang had to write books at home.At such a juncture, President Cao Yunxiang asked Hu Shi to deliver an informal printed letter of appointment to Wang Guowei, and asked Hu to explain to Wang the nature of the Institute and the teaching procedures.The Wang family was deeply afraid of being overwhelmed by personnel in the organization, so she didn't want to be hired at first, but after Hu Shi negotiated a peace, and Hu used his own car to take Wang Guowei around Tsinghua Garden, Wang began to have the idea of ​​entering Tsinghua University.

This time, Wu Mi came to the door again to understand and study the life and thinking habits of Wang Guowei, an old man in the late Qing Dynasty, and planned a countermeasure, striving to succeed in one fell swoop.After Wu arrived at Wang Guowei's residence at No. 10, Di'anmen Weaving and Dyeing Bureau in the inner city of Beijing, he adopted the strategy of going to the village to do as the Romans do, first prostrating three times as a ritual ceremony, and then mentioning the matter of employment.Wang Guowei was deeply moved by this move. He felt that the young man in front of him who had eaten foreign bread respected him very much, and felt quite happy in his heart.Wang said, "After the fact, he thought that the person who came would be a young man in a suit and leather shoes, shaking hands and sitting opposite each other. When he realized the difference, he decided to hire him." Wu Mi's thoughts were finally not in vain.

Wang Guowei, who decided to hire him, felt that such a major job transfer should be reported to the "emperor" to see if the "superior" was "approved", and then finally decided to stop.Therefore, Mrs. Wang lingered at home for a while, bit the bullet and sneaked to Zhangyuan, Tianjin to meet the emperor Puyi, and only let go of the post after "accepting an order to be hired by the Tsinghua University Research Institute". I came to my heart and packed my luggage. On April 18, I moved with my family to live in Guyuetang, Tsinghua Garden (moved to No. 16 and No. 18, West Campus in autumn), and took up the post of professor of the Academy of Chinese Studies.

The thin Wang Guowei, with a black and yellow face, a mustache, a melon skin hat, and a pigtail-like braid behind him, looks dejected and sluggish. He belongs to the typical old man of the Qing Dynasty portrayed in modern literature and film and television works. Image, doesn't look very cool, and a bit ugly.Lu Xun, who met Wang at the time, once said that he was "honest as a ham", and Hu Shi also bluntly said that Wang Guowei was "ugly, with pigtails, and really ugly, but just reading his poems and words, he thought he was an old man. What a romantic and talented man!" In response to the old saying "A man cannot be judged by his appearance, and the sea cannot be measured", the knowledge in this man's stomach can be said to be like rivers and lakes, vast and boundless, and it is rare in the world.

Wang Guowei was born in Haining, Zhejiang Province in 1877. In his early years, he aspired to study philosophy and aesthetics, and then wrote music. Through his genius and diligence, he was proficient in English, German, Japanese and other languages. The thoughts and theories of Grates, Plato, Aristotle and later masters such as Schopenhauer and Nietzsche have unique research and profound insights.Relying on the spirit of "going up to the tall building alone, looking at the end of the world" and "not regretting when the belt grows wider", after years of painstaking research, Wang finally became the first person to use Western literary principles to criticize old Chinese literature. The research on the history of Yuan opera is even more unique. It has reached the magical realm of "suddenly looking back, but the man is still there, in a dimly lit place". In 1906, Wang Guowei put forward the term "aesthetic education" for the first time in his article "Purpose of Education", which was the first educational concept in the history of Chinese education to advocate the simultaneous development of morality, intelligence, beauty and physical education, and clearly stated that the purpose of education is Cultivating "complete characters" has made an epoch-making contribution to the creation of modern Chinese educational theory.After the Revolution of 1911, Wang Guowei took refuge in Japan with Luo Zhenyu, a Manchu veteran and paleographer who was both a teacher and a friend. Astonishing achievements have been made in the fields of clay, inscriptions of the Han and Wei Dynasties, bamboo slips of the Han and Jin Dynasties, scriptures written in the Dunhuang and Tang Dynasties, and ancient history of the Yin, Zhou, Qin and Han Dynasties.The most shocking and admirable are the research results of unearthed oracle bone inscriptions and handed down bronze inscriptions.Through the lifelong pursuit of the study of oracle bone inscriptions unearthed in the Yin Ruins, Wang Guowei, with a thin body of less than 50 kilograms, and with the help of his ideological and academic awe-inspiring vigor, smashed open the door of the Yin and Shang Dynasty, which had been hidden for thousands of years. China has a history that can be tested in writing, and it has continued for nearly a thousand years.Because of this landmark epoch-making academic contribution, Wang Guowei became the originator of oracle bone studies and "the pioneer of new historiography" (Guo Moruo's words).Later generations commented on Wang Guowei's broad and profound knowledge, and there is a high praise of "there is almost no limit to look forward to, and the traces can be found" (Chen Yinke's words). On August 28, 1922, Hu Shi wrote in his diary: "Today's Chinese academia is really withered and scattered. There are only four old-style scholars left: Wang Guowei, Luo Zhenyu, Ye Dehui, and Zhang Binglin. The second is half-new and half-old transitional scholars. , and only Liang Qichao and a few of us. Among them, Zhang Binglin is already semi-rigid academically, Luo and Ye are not organized, and only Wang Guowei is the most promising."

At this time, although Hu Shi modestly included his name in the "half-new and half-old" circle, in terms of his national studies skills and achievements, it cannot be said that he could not hold a candle to Wang Guowei, at least he could not compare with Wang Guowei. Wang Guowei stood shoulder to shoulder, let alone rivaled.With regard to the academic framework and high-level theory of "studying the relationship between heaven and man, understanding the changes of the past and the present, and forming the words of a family", since the death of Sima Qian, the great ancestor of historiography more than 2,000 years ago, it took more than 100 years for Ban Gu to emerge; Ban Gu Xun Yue was born more than 50 years after his death; Chen Shou was born more than 80 years after Xun Yue's death.Seven hundred years after Chen Shou's death, it was not until the 11th century that Ouyang Xiu, Sima Guang and his assistants Liu Shu and Fan Zuyu came into being. Zheng Qiao was born in the 12th century.Six hundred years after Zheng's death, Zhao Yi, Qian Daxin, Wang Mingsheng, Quan Zuwang, Zhang Xuecheng and other famous scholars were produced in the 18th century.More than a hundred years after Zhao, Qian, Wang, Quan, Zhang and others died, Wang Guowei, the genius of the world, was born.The Wang family is not only "the most knowledgeable in ancient history and textual research" (Wu Mi's language), but also has profound knowledge. In the past few years, the famous historians of all dynasties are unmatched.It is precisely because of such a great pioneering work that later generations have the famous aphorism "If you don't look at Wang Guowei's knowledge, you don't know the greatness of the master and the height of the mountain".After Wang Guowei arrived at the school, in view of his illustrious reputation, President Cao Yunxiang asked him to be the dean of the Academy of Chinese Studies. The principal asked Wu Mi to take up the post, and Wu Naiyun took up the post of director."

Different from Wang Guowei's handling style, Liang Qichao, who was 53 years old at the time, accepted the letter of appointment delivered by Wu Mi with great joy. Liang Qichao's move was not a whim, but had a deep historical origin.At that time, almost everyone in the academic circles in Peking knew that the Liang family had a long-term close relationship and affection with Tsinghua School, and the three sons of the Liang family studied in Tsinghua School successively.Liang Qichao's eldest son, Liang Sicheng. Enrolled in 1915, graduated in 1923, and studied at the University of Pennsylvania the following year; his second son, Liang Siyong, enrolled in 1916, and studied at Harvard University in the United States after graduation in 1924; his third son, Liang Sizhong, enrolled in 1918, studied in the United States after graduation in 1926, and entered the The famous West Point Military Academy.Liang Qichao himself came to Tsinghua University several times to give "celebrity speeches" around 1914, and began to establish a sincere relationship and friendship with Tsinghua University.From the late Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China, Liang Qichao was not only a well-known master of Chinese studies all over the world, but also a "proud son" and "authority in the public opinion circle" with a world reputation. Speeches, like flashes of dazzling lightning, radiated scorching light in the drowsy China. Whether it was the period when he hosted "Current Affairs News", the early days of "Xinmin Congbao", opposed Yuan Shikai's proclaiming emperor, or opposed Zhang Xun's restoration period, His ideological sharpness has the mighty power to penetrate the Changhong and move mountains and seas. Yuan Shikai's "Prince", Yuan Keding, who was once ambitious to be the emperor's successor, once publicly admitted that Liang Qichao is a rare leader and celebrity, and has " He said that he is better than a hundred thousand Mausers."Many years later, Liang Shiqiu, who has become a writer and a famous professor, recalled listening to Liang Qichao's speech when he was studying at Tsinghua University. A short, thin, bald man with a wide chin came in, wearing a fat robe, walking steadily, with a graceful wind, looking left and right, radiant, this is Mr. Liang Rengong. He walked up to the podium, opened his speech, and glanced down , and then his very short opening remarks, only two sentences in total, the first sentence is: "Qichao has no knowledge——" rolled his eyes up, and nodded slightly: "But there is a little bit!" Such humility is at the same time It is rare to hear such conceited words." He also said: "The young students at that time had infinite admiration for Mr. Liang Rengong, not because he was the protagonist of the 1898 coup, nor because he was the planner of the Yunnan Uprising. The reason is that his academic articles really have the role of enlightening and leading the youth. In the past, many dignitaries and influential figures came to the school to give speeches, but they were not able to leave a deep impression on them.” Regarding this historical karma, Liang Qichao once said to himself, “Due to the relationship between Tsinghua University and I, I have become more and more deeply attached to the students and the school due to the repeated lectures.” In addition to giving speeches, Liang also came to Tsinghua University for vacations from time to time to “stay” and wrote books. And concerned about the future of Chinese studies.He said bluntly at a professor symposium organized by the school: "Tsinghua students should study Chinese studies in addition to Western studies. Building Chinese studies is the foundation of building a country. Contributions, especially Chinese studies, are not meritorious." Because of this Liang Qichao often taught and gave lectures at Tsinghua University. In 1914, on the occasion of the third anniversary of Tsinghua University, Liang went to Tsinghua University to give a speech titled "Gentleman". Tsinghua students strive to be strong: "As Qian Xiang said, a gentleman encourages himself, just like the continuous movement of the sky, and there must be no evils of violence and ten colds. And scholars must be persevering and strong, even in the face of ups and downs, unyielding.  …Kun As the saying goes, a gentleman grasps things and is magnanimous. Judah’s vast land contains everything. A gentleman is very responsible for himself and light for others..." In the analysis of "Heaven is moving vigorously, a gentleman strives for self-improvement; the terrain is Kun, and a gentleman is generous." After the gentleman's "road" of morality and content, Liang Qichao clearly stated: "In other years, he traveled overseas, absorbed new civilizations, improved our society, and promoted our politics. The so-called gentleman is not a student of Tsinghua University. Who will belong to him in the future? I sincerely hope that Opportunity, advocating morality and learning, encouraging to be a gentleman, and taking on great responsibilities in the future, is enough to turn the tide of the downfall and become the mainstay." Liang's rivers and rivers poured out, and his speech like a mainstay laid a deep impression on the hearts of Tsinghua teachers and students. It has a deep imprint on Tsinghua University and has had a huge and far-reaching impact on the development of Tsinghua School's excellent style of study and school spirit.Later, the school committee of Tsinghua University decided to designate "Self-improvement, Social Commitment" as the school motto and engrave it on the school badge to encourage teachers and students.Since then, the eight-character school motto, which contains the true "powerful" and "endless" mysteries, is like a towering signpost, showing the direction of Tsinghua's teachers and students. It is precisely because of such a deep historical relationship and emotional connection that Liang Qichao immediately became interested in applying for the job after receiving the letter of appointment.Of course, apart from Liang's relationship with Tsinghua University, there was another episode.That is, out of his deep love for Chinese studies and the purpose of carrying forward Chinese studies, Liang Qichao was preparing to set up a "Cultural Institute" in Tianjin for cultivating talents of Chinese studies at this time. The Academy of Chinese Studies of Tsinghua University sounded the gong and came to hire at the right time, so Liang Qichao made the decision to abandon the old institution and go happily. After the two masters Wang and Liang applied for the job, according to Hu Shi's proposal, Tsinghua University wanted to hire another master who is famous in the world and admired by scholars all over the world. , the Zhang family, who is arrogant, and has always been at odds with Liang Qichao, is unwilling to work with Wang and Liang.Because when Zhang was in Japan, he often fought with Liang Qichao on social and political issues such as "reform and reform" or "revolutionary republic"; in addition, Zhang Taiyan publicly opposed the theory of oracle bone script in the world. The oracle bone inscriptions unearthed in the Yin Ruins are all counterfeit and shoddy products fabricated by profiteers. Belief in them is just for cheaters, and Wang Guowei is famous for studying the oracle bone inscriptions and discovering the names of the ancestors and kings of the Yin and Shang Dynasties.In view of these many entanglements, Crazy Zhang got the offer, and became "crazy", and refused to accept the offer. He threw the letter of appointment on the ground and stepped on it on the spot, expressing his resolute attitude.Since then, Zhang Taiyan lost the opportunity to try his skills in Tsinghua Garden, and Tsinghua Garden lost a Confucian master. With the establishment of the Academy of Chinese Studies, Wang and Liang alone were obviously not enough to cope with various scientific studies. Therefore, Tsinghua Dean Zhang Pengchun actively recommended him to study in the United States at the same time. He was 34 years old at the time. Zhao Yuanren, Ph.D. from Harvard, came to teach.When President Cao heard about it, he readily agreed and immediately sent an email to hire him.Wu Mi, the director of the Academy of Chinese Studies, saw that Zhang Pengchun had recommended his classmate, and lost no time in strongly recommending to the principal Cao Yunxiang, a 37-year-old history prodigy who was studying at the Graduate School of the University of Berlin in Germany. Chen Yinke came to Tsinghua University as a tutor.After Wu Mi's strong recommendation and Liang Qichao's and Wang Guowei's joint efforts, President Cao finally agreed after repeated weighing, and Wu Mi called Chen Yinke to return to China for employment. ——This is the "Four Mentors" of Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Studies, which shocked the academic circles all over the world and was widely spread and far-reaching in later generations. Tsinghua University has spared no effort to hire the "Four Great Mentors" to teach. One of the distinctive features widely praised by later generations is that it attaches great importance to real talents and real learning, and does not admire false names and credulously trust diplomas.Among the "Big Four", only Zhao Yuanren has a doctorate certificate from Harvard University, while Wang, Liang, and Chen have no doctorate or master's title, and the younger Chen Yinke has not even obtained a bachelor's degree.Liang Qichao's title of "Doctor of Literature" was bestowed by Yale University in the United States after he taught at the Tsinghua Institute of National Studies.Although there are no glittering doctoral hats on their heads, the three are well-versed in Chinese and Western, and they are well-deserved academic masters.Chen Yinke went abroad for more than ten years, and transferred to Harvard, Berlin and other famous universities in the United States and Europe, but finally failed to return with a doctoral degree. He studied for knowledge.Three Chinese students who studied at Harvard University, Chen Yinke, Wu Mi, and Tang Yongtong, were known as the "Three Heroes of Harvard".And Chen Yinke is a dragon among men. His extensive and profound knowledge has reached the wonderland of perfection, and he is highly praised by the academic circle.As for who first called the titles of the "Four Great Professors" or "Four Mentors" in Tsinghua University, it is difficult for researchers to verify. According to Zhao Yuanren's wife, Yang Buwei: "The title of 'Four Professors' is not our own. Literally, this is what Zhang Zhongshu said in his letter when he approached Yuanren, and also when they met for the first time. And the principal Cao Yunxiang also called him in the same way when he held a meeting....In fact, the official name is 'four mentors'" Another mentor who entered the National Academy of Sciences after the "Four Big Ones" was the young "sea turtle" Li Ji who was later hailed as the father of Chinese anthropology and archaeology. Li Ji (zi Jizhi) was born in Zhongxiang County, Hubei Province on June 2, 1896. He entered the study room at the age of 4, and began to read ancient books such as "Pangu first came out, heaven and earth first divided" from a cousin. In 1907, Li Ji entered Wucheng Middle School (the predecessor of the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University), one of the two famous middle schools in Beijing, for the father of Xiaojing, an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Qing Dynasty, to study at the age of 14. After graduating in 1918 Stay in the United States. During the year Li Ji stayed in the United States, among the group of government-funded and self-financed students and inspectors who left Shanghai Pujiang Wharf on the same boat were Zhu Jiahua, who later became the Minister of Education, Ye Qisun, Dean of the School of Science of Tsinghua University, famous scholars Dong Shi, Zhang Daohong , Zha Liangzhao, Liu Shuhe, the poet Xu Zhimo, and Wang Zhaoming (Jingwei), a beautiful man and professional revolutionary who went to the United States on the same ship to prepare for the rebellion.When the ship arrived in San Francisco, Li Ji broke up with his friends and entered Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts with Xu Zhimo and others.Li and Xu lived together in an apartment and later in the same room, and the two formed a deep friendship.Li majored in psychology, and Xu majored in finance and banking.A year later, Xu Zhimo transferred to Columbia University in New York to study political economy (after the summer of 1920, he transferred to London), and Li continued to stay at Clark University as a postgraduate student in sociology. He received a master's degree in 1920 and transferred to Harvard University in the same year. As a major in anthropology, he became the only foreign student at Harvard Graduate School of Anthropology at that time, and also the first and only graduate student in this major since Harvard was founded.For three years at Harvard, Li Ji followed professors such as EA Hooton and Roland B. Dixon, who are internationally renowned masters of anthropology, "Using a viewpoint of ethnology, that is, China referred to in Chinese history According to Yidi, "analyze Chinese historical materials" to further clarify how the entire Chinese nation was formed and moved, "this most prominent phenomenon." In 1923, Li Ji received a Ph.D. in Philosophy (Anthropology) from Harvard University for his three-year thesis "The Formation of the Chinese Nation". He was the first Chinese to receive this honor.This year, Li Ji was 27 years old. After receiving his Ph.D. degree, Li Ji immediately packed his bags, bid farewell to the beautiful Charles River and the Harvard campus soaked in his three years of youthful sweat, and embarked on the journey back to China.A high-spirited "sea turtle", full of enthusiasm, crosses the vast ocean with waves and waves, carrying the new wind and vigor of Western culture, full of energy, and proudly climbs up the far eastern continent that is condensed, hardened and cracked by loess, and returns to the sea. Arrived in Beijing, the old capital that gave him youth and dreams.The "sea turtle" at this time is quite different from the new generation of "sea turtle" or "fake foreign devil" a few years later. In Li Ji's dream, he had the wish to become an academic master, but he did not make a big fortune. Official or get a millionaire or multi-millionaire quest.From Xu Zhimo's letter to Li Ji at Columbia University, it can be seen that this "brother", whom Xu called "resolute and dull, hard-working, and all the virtues required by scholars, are possessed by brothers", is filled with Ideals and ambitions such as "new culture, saving the country through science, and revitalizing the nation".This distinctive feature of the times, as Li Ji said a few years later: "None of the foreign students at that time wanted to stay in the United States for a long time, and no one wanted to dream of such a dream. The foreign students at that time were all They returned to China after graduation. When they returned to China, when they chose a career, no one considered the issue of how much money they would make and how to support their families. It was under the atmosphere of studying abroad that I chose my favorite subject—— -anthropology." After returning to China, Li Ji accepted the appointment of Zhang Boling, the president of Nankai University in Tianjin, under the recommendation of an American senior named Ling Bing, whom he had met during his Clarke University days Served as a professor of anthropology, sociology and mining, and served as the director of liberal arts in the second year.During the period, due to the relationship of mining majors, I met Weng Wenhao, a famous mineralogist and geologist in China at that time, and through Weng, I met Ding Wenjiang, an international geologist who had an important turning point in Li Ji’s life journey. In Jun), the two became lifelong friends. As a time-honored "Sea Turtle" who studied in European universities such as Cambridge and Glasgow for seven years and returned to China when the Revolution of 1911 broke out in 1911, Ding has already achieved the leadership position in China's geological circles. The Secretary-General is quite enthusiastic about field archaeological excavations and field data collection.At this time, the news of a batch of bronze wares unearthed from the Xinzheng ancient tomb in Henan spread to Beiping, which attracted the attention of the academic circles. When Ding Wenjiang learned about it, he immediately encouraged Li Ji to do some excavation work there himself, and raised 200 yuan as excavation funds. In addition, Tan Xichou from the Geological Survey Institute was sent as Li's assistant to assist in the work. Li Ji accepted Ding Wenjiang's kindness, and went to Xinzheng, Henan Province in the autumn of 1923 to do the first tentative small-scale archaeological excavation. Due to the bandits' troubles and the lack of cooperation with the local aborigines, and the tombs were almost robbed by tomb robbers, the excavation yield was not good. As you wish.Li Ji consciously felt a sense of "failure".It was this "failure" that enabled the young Li Ji to accumulate valuable field work experience from specific practical explorations, and published a short English report "Xinzheng's Bone".According to Li Ji, "From these countless valuable experiences, we can deeply appreciate Mr. Ding Wenjiang's painstaking care for us." Since then, Li Ji has taken the first step from an anthropologist to an archaeologist .The significance of this step in the history of Chinese archaeology is just like the immortal words that the American astronaut Armstrong said to the earth humans many years later when he stepped down the gangway of the spacecraft and walked towards the dead sea of ​​the moon Garrigate: "This is my One small step for mankind, but one giant leap for mankind.” Because of Li Ji’s first excavation in Xinzheng, the curtain of scientific archaeology was opened on the vast land of China, and the mystery of the ancient oriental civilization The door is opened again, and the entire human beings on the earth will be amazed by the incredible and highly developed ancient civilization in the Far East with the step-by-step advancement of field archaeological excavations in China and the display of fruitful results. In 1924, the Freer Gallery of Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, USA sent a delegation led by CW Bishop to China for archaeological excavation and research. As well as the opportunity for him to take a crucial step in the history of modern Chinese archaeology, the Mission Headquarters of the Bishops delegation in Beijing wrote to Nankai University in Tianjin, inviting Li Ji to join their team to jointly carry out field archaeological excavations.After Li Ji received the letter, he was quite hesitant. Finally, with the support of Ding Wenjiang, he decided to cooperate with the other party. Crucial conditions: 1. To do field archaeological work in China, one must cooperate with Chinese academic groups. 2. Antiquities unearthed in China must remain in China. After receiving the letter, Bishop immediately returned to Washington to report to his superior, the director of the Freer Museum of Art, Lodge, and praised Li Ji, finally reaching an agreement.Soon, Li Ji received a reply from Bi Shibo, saying: "We can promise you one thing, that is, we will never let a patriotic person do what he does not want to do."Satisfied with this answer, Li Ji resigned from his teaching position at Nankai University and joined Bi Shibo and others in early 1925.The two conditions of cooperation proposed by Li Ji created a precedent for "maintaining sovereignty and fair cooperation" and using foreign capital for scientific research. The direct benefits were not only for the later famous "solution of funding problems for the second and third excavations of the Yin Ruins". It laid the foundation, and more importantly, established a solid and stable coordinate for the later international cooperation between Chinese scholars and foreign scholars. Not long after Li Ji joined Bi Shibo’s archaeological team, Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Studies began to recruit world-class talents. Ding Wenjiang, a consultant of the preparatory office, suggested that Li Ji go to the research institute to teach and do research at the same time, and introduced the situation to his old friend Liang Qichao. .Liang Qichao was convinced, and the two came forward to recommend Tsinghua President Cao Yunxiang. Cao Yi heard that Li was a Harvard Ph.D. and was cooperating with Americans on a field archaeological excavation project.Therefore, Li Ji, who was 29 years old at the time, served as a tutor of the Academy of Chinese Studies as a lecturer. On June 15, 1925, Cao Yunxiang, President of Tsinghua University, officially announced the list of faculty members of the Academy of Chinese Studies: Professors: Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao, Zhao Yuanren, Chen Yinke; Lecturer: Li Ji; Assistants: Lu Weizhao (resigned in September of the same year and was replaced by Zhao Wanli), Liang Yancan, Zhang Zhaohuang; Director: Wu Mi: Clerk: Weisheng; Assistant: Zhou Guangwu. Such a streamlined and capable teaching staff team is quite praised by colleagues inside and outside the school. Wang Guowei, who has always been known for his taciturnity, is even more delighted. And if there are few people called managers, the results of a school must be impressive!" It is a pity that Wang's words will be regarded as lame and heresy in the future Tsinghua University and the national education circles, and they will be ruthlessly thrown into the garbage dump In China, a university controlled by a huge bureaucratic system and management team has been replaced, and its school-running achievements can be imagined. From the entire recruitment process of Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Studies, it can be seen that due to the number of academic circles in China at that time, especially the famous "sea turtles", the mutual recommendation among scholars and the recognition of the heads of the school who came from scholars played an important role in communication. overlapping influences and effects.As far as the entire team of mentors is concerned, although Li Ji at this time had the status of a master and was one of the five mentors of the academy, later generations of scholars did not rank him alongside Wang, Liang, Chen, and Zhao as the "Four Great Mentors" The reason for becoming one of the "Big Five" is that on the surface he does not have the title of professor of the former "Big Four". In fact, there are more complicated reasons and details, and these details gradually become blurred with the passage of time. , It became a historical case that was cut continuously and the reasoning was still chaotic.