◎ Shang Yuntao
- Words to open the column -
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that cultural relics and cultural heritage carry the genes and blood of the Chinese nation, and are non-renewable and irreplaceable resources of China's excellent civilization. It is necessary to conscientiously implement the work requirements of the Party Central Committee on adhering to the protection first, strengthening management, excavating value, effective utilization, and making cultural relics come alive, and comprehensively improve the level of protection and utilization of cultural relics and the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage.
The No. 15 Courtyard of the Terracotta Hutong in Xisi South, Beijing, is the former site of the China Geological Survey, the first scientific institution in modern China, and the place where China's geological work began. Adhering to the scientific spirit of "mountaineering must reach the peak, moving must walk", the pioneers of geology in China have cultivated their own geologists to carry out geological survey and research work, so that geology has played a key role in the "mother science", made pioneering achievements in many fields, and became "China's first veritable scientific research institution". It not only fills the gap in the field of geology in the mainland, lays a solid foundation for the subsequent development of geology, but also makes this courtyard the embodiment of "Mr. Sai in China".
The past is a hundred years old, and it is timeless. Culture is the backbone of a nation. The best respect for excellent traditional culture is to be upright; The greatest tribute to human civilization is innovation. So, what kind of unforgettable history does every building and object in the former site of No. 15 Terracotta Division carry in the end? How should we let the cultural relics speak, let the history speak, let the culture speak, protect, develop, utilize and inherit these precious cultural heritages: in today's geological work towards modernization, how should we keep pace with the times, inherit and magnify the scientific spirit of the pioneers of geological work, and constantly give this spirit and culture a new interpretation and new connotation?
"China Mining News" decided to open a column of "Inheriting the Glorious Dream of a Century and Promoting Excellent Traditional Culture - The History of the Geological Survey" to trace the roots, systematically introduce it, and discuss it. Stay tuned.
At the beginning of the 20th century in China, a magnificent new cultural movement swept across the land like a spring breeze. Under the influence of progressive ideas, "science" and "democracy" became the distinctive signs of leading the trend of the times at that time.
It is hard to imagine that the word "science" that we are familiar with today was called "Gezhi" in the last years of the Qing Dynasty more than 100 years ago. In 1911, Zhang Hongzhao, Ding Wenjiang, Li Siguang and other geological masters who returned from studying abroad were awarded the titles of "Gezhi Science Jinshi" and "Engineering Jinshi" by the Beijing Normal School. Although Liang Qichao, Yan Fu and others began to use the word "science" in accordance with the elaboration methods of Western natural sciences and social sciences during the Wuxu Restoration, their influence was relatively weak. The banner of "science" and "democracy" was really raised high in the land of China during the New Culture Movement.
Chen Duxiu published the "Reply to the Benzhi Crime" in New Youth, Vol. 6, No. 1, vigorously advocating "Mr. De" (democracy) and "Mr. Sai" (science) Image source: Natural Resources News
In 1919, the "Mr. Sai" and "Mr. De" shouted by the "New Youth" became the banner of the May Fourth Movement. In 1923, Mr. Ding Wenjiang, then director of the Geological Survey, held high the banner of "science" and launched a debate on "science and outlook on life". In the later period, with the participation of Chen Duxiu, Qu Qiubai and others, the controversy was given a deeper meaning. In this magnificent movement, the Institute of Geological Survey, as a staunch defender and practitioner of "science", has become an important force in promoting the development of modern science in China with its outstanding contributions and far-reaching influence.
Ding Wenjiang Image source: Geological Society of China
The Geological Survey Institute, located in the Terracotta Hutong in Xicheng District, Beijing, has become a center for scientific exchanges between China and foreign countries since it moved in at the end of 1915. It is not only the venue for many academic conferences, but also the platform for the first release and display of major scientific achievements of the year.
Some popular science books compiled by the ancestors of the Geological Survey Image source: Natural Resources News
The Geological Survey is not only the first team in China to devote itself to scientific practice in the form of entities and achieve remarkable results, but also an authoritative institution with extensive influence at home and abroad in the early days.
The Geological Survey has also made outstanding contributions to the popularization of scientific knowledge and the dissemination of scientific culture: museums and libraries have been established here, exhibits have been organized by scientific cataloguing, and special exhibitions have been organized according to social hotspots to popularize scientific knowledge to the public. Scientists at the Geological Survey have sown the seeds of science in the hearts of the general public by publishing popular science articles, travelogues, essays, and giving lectures in academia and on the radio.
In addition, the Institute of Geological Survey has also actively promoted the development of China's scientific system. As the initiator and participant of many scientific communities such as the Geological Society of China, the Geographical Society of China, and the China Science Society, the Institute of Geological Survey has not only promoted the unity and cooperation of the scientific community, but also injected new vitality into the development of China's scientific undertakings. They participated in or guided the work of provincial geological surveys, organized national geological surveys or scientific investigations, and made great contributions to the progress of China's geological and scientific undertakings.
It is worth mentioning that the Geological Survey Institute also embodies the scientific spirit of "patriotism, innovation, truth-seeking, and dedication". With the heart of saving the country through science and industry, scientists have devoted themselves to geological survey work, defying difficulties and having the courage to innovate. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they made outstanding contributions to the construction of industry and mining in the rear, showing the responsibility and dedication of scientists.
This article was originally published in the first edition of China Mining News on April 30
Original title: "Geological Survey and "Mr. Sai"