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The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

October 21, 1874

Patriotic overseas Chinese leader Chen Jiageng was born

today

The 145th anniversary of his birth

Remembering his people and deeds, Chen Jiageng loved his hometown and patriotism all his life, devoted himself to learning, abided by honesty, and was diligent and thrifty, which still has a far-reaching impact. A large number of overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese followed his example, and the spirit of Jiageng was passed on.

The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

Statue of Chen Jiageng Photo by Ran Wenjuan

"To achieve success in a very special career, it should be very hard"

Born in a fishing village in southern Fujian, Tan traveled to Nanyang at the age of 17 to Singapore, where his father lived. Later, he independently ran a pineapple canning factory, a rice shop, etc. During the First World War, he changed his thinking and integrated the agricultural, industrial and trade operations of rubber into one, setting a precedent for overseas Chinese to trade directly with foreign merchants without foreign firms in the hundred years of British rule in Singapore.

The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

Chen Jiageng Memorial Hall. Photo by Zeng Xiaowei

After more than 20 years of hard work and hard work, Chen Jiageng has become a well-known large industrialist in Nanyang. In a letter to a friend, Chen Jiageng said: "To achieve success in a very special cause, it should also be very hard, if you lack considerable perseverance, if you are not satisfied, you will be bored. ”

In addition to extraordinary perseverance, integrity is also the creed that Chen Jiageng has always adhered to. In 1904, after his father's enterprise went bankrupt, Chen Jiageng, who was in his first year, repaid his father's debts on behalf of his father, made a comeback, and won credibility among overseas Chinese.

"I'd rather sell the building than support Xiamen University"

In 1911, Chen Jiageng embraced the beliefs of "rejuvenating the country through education" and "rejuvenating the country", and successively founded Jimei Primary School, Jimei Middle School, Normal School, Aquatic Products, Navigation, Commerce, Agriculture and Forestry schools in Xiamen (collectively referred to as Jimei School). The prestigious Xiamen University was also founded by Chen Jiageng.

In 1921, Chen Jiageng personally pledged 1 million yuan for the start-up fee and promised to contribute 3 million yuan (paid in 12 years) to establish Xiamen University. In his speech, he called for:

Contemptuous people are deeply ashamed of cotton power, limited burden, only unlimited sincerity. It is hoped that the princes of the mainland and overseas Chinese compatriots will shoulder the responsibilities of the people, work together in the same boat, and see the righteousness and courage, then it will not be difficult to set up a fund of tens of millions of yuan.

At the inaugural meeting of the school, Chen Jiageng promised: "No matter how much suffering I encounter, I will do my best to do a good job in education!" ”

The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

Data map: Commemorative bronze statue of Chen Jiageng at Huaqiao University's Quanzhou Campus.

This is not an empty promise. From 1926 to 1934, affected by the economic crisis, Chen Jiageng's industry lost more than 10 million yuan. In the past eight years, he has managed to remit 3.78 million yuan to Jimei School and Xiamen University, which is all money he borrowed from the bank as collateral for factory buildings, real estate and goods.

At that time, Chen Jiageng said a sentence: "I would rather sell the building than support Xiamen University!" ”

Caring for the motherland "fulfilling the duty of a member of the people"

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chen Jiageng was elected as the chairman of the "Nanyang Overseas Chinese Relief Association for The Relief of Refugees in the Motherland", and under his call, overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia contributed money and efforts. He wrote that I had lived in Nanyang for a long time, but I had the motherland in mind and hoped to serve the country.

Between 1939 and 1942, inspired by the patriotic overseas Chinese leader Chen Jiageng, more than 3,200 Chinese children gave up their superior and peaceful life abroad and returned to China from Southeast Asian countries to rush to transport the strategic materials urgently needed by China for the War of Resistance on the newly opened Burma Highway.

The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

Source: Screenshot of The new video

In his later years, Chen Jiageng asked people to burn the "Whole Map of Taiwan Province" in Aoyuan Garden, and never forgot the reunification of the country. The old man's last words were, "Taiwan must return to China."

The style lasts forever, and the spirit is eternal

Today, Mr. Jiageng's contribution and influence have expanded to many parts of the country and even the world. The Jiageng Star, Jiageng Jellyfish, Jiageng Road, Jiageng Park, "Jiageng" Research Boat, Jiageng Road, Jiageng Park, etc. named after him all reflect the admiration and nostalgia of the world for him.

The mountains are up, and the style lasts forever! Today, we remember Chen Jiageng

Data chart: The commemorative cover of the fifth anniversary of the Malaysian Chan Ka Kee Foundation embodies the spirit of Chen Jia Geng's "treating people with sincerity and perseverance in handling things". Photo by Zhong Xin

In September this year, at the "Most Beautiful Strivers" commendation meeting held in the Great Hall of the People, Chen Jiageng was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Strivers".

Carry forward the spirit of Jiageng

Inherit the feelings of home and country

Material source: China News Network, China Overseas Chinese Network, China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese WeChat public account, etc

Editor: Ran Wenjuan

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