Preface
Liu Chunlin, the last champion, is a dazzling pearl, but his fate is bumpy, and his fate makes people. As soon as he ascended to the throne, the Qing Dynasty ushered in its end.
However, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Liu Chunlin's life did not end there, and what kind of treatment did he receive during the Republic of China? Today, let's walk into Liu Chunlin's life trajectory and explore his extraordinary life.
From poverty to glory - the first half of the imperial examination
Liu Chunlin was born in a poor farming family in Suning, Hebei Province. His father, Liu Kuishu, was a small official, and his mother worked as a maid in a landlord's house to support the family. The poverty of his family did not stifle Liu Chunlin's thirst for knowledge, on the contrary, he showed extraordinary talent since he was a child.
The reputation of "little calligrapher" is widely spread in the village. Liu Chunlin was quick-witted, good at calligraphy and painting, and from an early age, he was able to support his family by selling his couplets and calligraphy in the bazaar. His parents knew that their son was extraordinary, and resolutely invested their only savings in Liu Chunlin's education.
Resonate with the determination of fate
As a teenager, Liu Chunlin's family suffered a famine, and the family had to take refuge in the home of a distant relative in Baoding. The life of a devotee did not dampen Liu Chunlin's determination to learn, and he and his brother worked outside the farm during the day and studied hard under a dim oil lamp at night.
The poor living environment cannot hinder a soul seeking knowledge, and Liu Chunlin uses his will and talent to open up the Yangguan Road in adversity. At the age of 18, he was admitted to Xiucai with excellent results, and at the age of 32, he won the highest laurel of the palace examination - the throne of Zhuangyuanlang.
The grand occasion of the champion hand-picked
The joy of the list
In the early morning of July 7, 1904, when all the tribute students who participated in the Jiachen examination gathered outside the Qianqing Gate, a name read aloud by the minister reading the paper spread throughout Chang'an Street: "First in the first class, Liu Chunlin!" "
This astonishing announcement marks that Liu Chunlin has won the champion throne of this year in one fell swoop. With his indomitable and galloping talents, he finally found a way to get ahead in the poor mountains and bad waters, and became the focus of attention from the government and the opposition in one fell swoop.
The hand-picked of the champions
Liu Chunlin's excellent performance in exams eventually attracted the attention of the Empress Dowager Cixi. After skimming through his examination papers, the Empress Dowager Cixi happily named this young man from Suning and whose name means "Spring Rain" as the champion.
She also personally gave Liu Chunlin the official position of editing the Hanlin Academy. In this way, a peasant son who once sold calligraphy and paintings in the bazaar became a dignitary of the dynasty, and since then he has embarked on the pinnacle of life.
Radiance is ephemeral - the departure on the eve of the Qing Dynasty
After the champion and the second, Liu Chunlin thought that he would enter the traditional career and enjoy prestige and glory until the end of his career. But the reality was far more cruel and ruthless than he expected, and just a year after he was named on the gold list, the Qing Dynasty announced the abolition of the imperial examination system and the promotion of a new style of school.
Departure on the eve of the imperial examination
For a champion like Liu Chunlin, the imperial examination is the last glory after all. In order to revitalize the cultivation of new-style talents, the Qing government sent Liu Chunlin and a number of other new champions to study at the Japan University of Political Science and Law.
In 1909, after Liu Chunlin returned from studying abroad, although he held some advisory and educational positions in the government, everything was no longer in the way. The times no longer yearn for those literati who only know poetry and books, but instead have practical knowledge of Western studies.
The glory of the champion is no longer there
Liu Chunlin was never able to gain a foothold in the new dynasty, and after the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, the Qing Dynasty perished. In 1928, Liu Chunlin completely resigned from the government of the Republic of China and chose to live in seclusion in Beiping, living a life of escape from the world.
In seclusion, the national ethics are reproduced - the road to resist Japan
Condemn the September 18 incident
Although Liu Chunlin gradually lost contact with the world after his seclusion, when the "September 18 Incident" broke out in 1931, he still sent letters of condemnation to his friends one after another, openly denouncing Japan's aggression. This shows that he has always been concerned about the future of the country and the nation, and has retained the responsibility of the older generation.
The national righteousness is in front of the people
In 1937, after the Japanese army occupied Beiping, the Japanese side sought Liu Chunlin to work for him three times in a row, and promised the official positions of "puppet Minister of Education of Manchukuo" and "Mayor of Beiping City" respectively.
However, neither the militarist Zheng Xiaoxu nor Liu Chunlin's former classmate Wang Yitang could persuade the former champion to succumb to the threat of money.
In the face of the temptation of money and the coercion of force by the Japanese, Liu Chunlin did not hesitate to refuse all "favors", and angrily rebuked "traitors" like Wang Yitang as "things with soft bones". He would rather "be a beggar" than a traitor, and his national integrity and spiritual realm are highly respected by later generations.
Arrest and eventual death - the end of a national hero
Unyielding in prison
Because of his public opposition to Japan's invasion of China, in 1941, Liu Chunlin, who was in his late teens, was arrested by the Japanese army. Despite his torture in prison, Liu Chunlin always insisted on not bowing his head to the Japanese and refused to make any statements in support of Japan.
After vigorous rescue efforts from all walks of life at home and abroad and the intercession of some pro-Japanese personages, Liu Chunlin was finally released. But the long period of captivity had severely damaged his health, and he had to return to his hometown of Suning with his family to escape the fighting.
Lifelong education gives back to the hometown
In Suning, Liu Chunlin, who is already old, has brought together all his learning, experience and life experience into the cause of teaching and educating people.
He established a primary school in his hometown and cultivated a group of successors. Liu Chunlin devoted his life's work to the work of his life, hoping to work hard for the nation through his own meager efforts.
An eternal national hero
On January 8, 1944, Liu Chunlin died of a heart attack at the age of 72. Although he did not see the final victory with his own eyes, his precious spiritual wealth and life experience will be forever engraved in the memory of the Chinese nation.
The ups and downs, ups and downs, twists and turns, and tragicomedy of Liu Chunlin's life show the integrity and integrity of a national hero. He inherited the essence of traditional Chinese culture, and at the same time had a broad vision to keep pace with the times, and was an outstanding model for modern Chinese intellectuals.
epilogue
Liu Chunlin, a hero who once reached the pinnacle of his life, but took the initiative to give up fame and fortune, wrote a singing and crying legend with his life. He sought glory with his intelligence and talent, but exchanged his noble character for the dignity of the nation.
Although fate plays tricks on the world, the blood-thirsty immortal soul will eventually shine. In the face of strong authority, Liu Chunlin resolutely chose the self of personality; In the face of temptation, he has always maintained his true integrity.
After many scheming, the last champion finally drew a successful end, and passed on all his residual heat and spiritual heritage to the Chinese nation.
His experience shows us that in the face of the grim reality, everyone should adhere to the true nature of humanity, pursue national righteousness, and carry forward the patriotic sentiment of "preferring to be a beggar rather than a traitor".