Source: China News Service WeChat public account
What did Chen Jiageng bury under the cornerstone of Xiamen University 100 years ago?
Author: Yang Fushan, Yan Xu, Wang Dongming, Li Siyuan
On May 9, a hundred years ago, Chen Jiageng led more than 100 teachers and students of Xiamen University to cross the sea from Jimei School to the martial arts field located at the southern tip of Xiamen Island to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the first main building of Xiamen University in the thick smoke and rain.
Minnan people have the habit of burying things under the foundation stone, and at that time, silver dollars were usually buried, hoping that there would be no shortage of silver money for future generations. What did Chen Jiageng, a native of Southern Fujian, bury when he embedded the four-square foundation stone into the foundation of the building? It has been a question in people's minds for many years.
Recently, Zhu Shuiyong, a professor at the School of Humanities of Xiamen University, told reporters that under the cornerstone of Xiamen University, Chen Jiageng's speech on organizing Xiamen University was buried.
Under the cornerstone of Xiamen University, Chen Jiageng's speech to organize Xiamen University is buried. China News Service reporter Yan Xu photographed
"I recently studied Chen Jiageng and saw the book "Chen Jiageng's Research II: Memories of Chen Jiageng's Selected Writings" published by the Central Literature Publishing House, which contained an article that said that Chen Jiageng buried a delicate stone carved box under this cornerstone." Zhu Shuiyong said, "What is in this stone carving box?" It was Chen Jiageng's speech at Xiamen University. ”
"Today the state is in danger, and the only thing that depends on it is the education of the people who are alive and the hearts and ears of the undead."
"The people's hearts do not die, the national pulse still exists, and with forty million people, there is no reason to live under the people." If we do not reach today, there will still be a coming day, and if we do not reach it, there will still be descendants, such as the reclamation of the jingwei, the migration of the mountains of the fools, and the day of the implementation of the purpose. ”
——Excerpt from Chen Jiageng's speech at Xiamen University
Zhu Shuiyong said: "The day when the purpose will be carried out is the day when the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will finally be realized, and the day when Xiamen University will eventually become the "university of the world."
This speech introduced why Chen Jiageng founded Xiamen University, and he expounded the reality that if education is not prosperous, the country will be eliminated, which not only expresses Chen Jiageng's inner pain, but also reveals his deep anxiety.
Riding the tide of the May Fourth Movement, in May 1919, Chen Jiageng, a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader, returned to his hometown to advocate the establishment of Xiamen University. On April 6, 1921, Xiamen University, the first university founded by overseas Chinese in China, was proclaimed. At that time, the school building had not yet been built, and Xiamen University borrowed the school building of Jimei School Village to open.
The foundation stone of Xiamen University was laid on May 9, 1921. On the same day, the foundation stone of Xiamen University Qunxian Building Group began. The foundation stone of that year was engraved with Chen Jiageng's handwritten book "Xiamen University Building Commencement", which is still well embedded under the wall of the central hall of Xiamen University Qunxian Building. "The stone looks small, but it's very heavy." In Zhu Shuiyong's view, there are three very important elements in this cornerstone, one is time.
Why may 9th? Zhu Shuiyong said that on May 9, 1915, Yuan Shikai's government at that time recognized the "Twenty-One Articles" of mourning power and humiliating the country, which provoked an anti-Japanese movement of the people of the whole country. May 9 has since been designated as the Day of National Shame. Speculating on the motivation for Chen Jiageng to choose the foundation day of Xiamen University on May 9, Zhu Shuiyong believes that this is to show that xiamen university students do not forget the national shame and strive for the country.
The second element, mentioned above, is that under the cornerstone is Chen Jiageng's speech to organize Xiamen University.
"Third, this stone is the only place in the entire Xiamen University that leaves the three words 'Chen Jiageng' on thousands of acres of land and tens of thousands of square meters of buildings." Zhu Shuiyong told reporters, "You can't see it anywhere else, although this school was built by him, but he never left his name on any building, only on this cornerstone, leaving 'Chen Jiageng foundation stone'." ”
"Jiageng Architecture" is not just a building
Qunxian Building Group is the birthplace of Xiamen University,the "ancestral home" of Xiamen University, and is the first batch of buildings that Mr. Chen Jiageng invested in and presided over the construction of Xiamen University at the beginning of its establishment.
The word "one" is placed on the group of xian buildings. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Five buildings, the word "one" is arranged, located at the northern midpoint of the martial arts field, facing the sea corridor through their own five independent buildings, the center of the main building Qunxian Building was once the center of Xiamen University office and assembly. When Xiamen University was founded, the construction of a school building was the first important thing in the construction of the school. In fact, at first, Mao Danyang's school building drawings designed by Xiamen University were arranged in a corner of the northwest of the martial arts field as the main buildings of the school, forming a combination of "pin" glyphs, and Chen Jiageng personally changed the glyph of "pin" to a glyph of "one".
He said, "I'm going to stand at the end of the promenade and see the Xiamen university students walking under the first building to the fifth building." "The opening of the word 'one' is the most important feature of 'Jiageng architecture', leaving an open square in front of the entire building." Zhu Shuiyong said, "This is a very big, very deep feeling. ”
The corridor runs through five separate buildings. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
These majestic and magnificent buildings of Chinese and Western integration are far more than just buildings and buildings, during which they have accumulated the deep feelings of home and country of generations of Xiamen people over the past hundred years, which can be called the refraction of the patriotic spirit of Chen Jiageng, the famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader and the head of Xiamen University, and the connotation of traditional Chinese culture.
Nowadays, the Qunxian Building Group has been set aside as the Xiamen University History Museum, Lu Xun Memorial Hall and other venues. The exhibition of xiamen university's centennial school history is being held in Qunxian Building, focusing on the important nodes, important events and important achievements in the school's centennial development process, depicting the magnificent picture of Xiamen University's education serving the country and cultivating people with virtue for one century, and highlighting Xiamen University's persistence in running a university in the land of China and the courage to stand at the head of the tide of the times.
The exhibition of xiamen university's centennial school history is being held in Qunxian Building. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Exhibition of the Centennial History of Xiamen University. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Later generations remembered the school master and erected an inscription for Chen Jiageng.com. In the middle of the square in front of the Qunxian Building, a statue of Chen Jiageng, the founder of Xiamen University, completed in 1984, stands, and the cornerstone of the statue is engraved with large golden characters such as "Chen Jiageng (1874-1961)" and "Overseas Chinese Flag National Glory". This may go against the original intention of the school owner's humble and low-key, but it has also become a totem for us today to cherish the heavens and the earth and love the South Sea.
Directly in front of the statue of Chen Jiageng is the martial arts sports field that was renovated in August 2017 and the new school gate facing the sea, which is spectacular in a straight line with the statue of Chen Jiageng, the main building of the Qunxian Building group and the highest point of Wulao Peak.
Statue of Chen Jiageng completed in 1984. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
"The unveiling of the new school gate and the school plaque has realized the ambition of the school owner to build a 'spectacular institution' that can be seen from the sea at the beginning of the school." A xiamen university teacher who is quite proud said that in the "Jimei School Village and Xiamen University Early Buildings" listed as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, Qunxian Lou is included, "As a Xiamen University, I feel deeply and proud." ”
For the "Jiageng architecture" that still exists so far, Wu Daguang, professor and doctoral supervisor of Xiamen University, believes that "Jiageng architecture" is not only beautiful in appearance and harmonious in nature, especially each building is named after a unique name, some are derived from classic works, some are from allusions, some are related to historical figures, are elegant, and contain rich culture. ”
Aerial photo of Xiamen University. China News Service reporter Wang Dongming photographed
The "Qunxian" building, taken from Wang Xizhi's "Orchid Pavilion Preface", is the sentence "Qunxian Bizhi, Shaochang Xianji", which means praise and expectation for master Xia's students; on both sides of the main building are the "Jimei" building and the "Tong'an" building, using the place name of Mr. Chen Jiageng's hometown; the two at the east and west ends are named "Yingxue" and "Capsule Firefly", quoting the Jin Dynasty Sun Kang Dongyue Yingxue reading and Che Yin sac Yingzhao book of diligent study.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of Xiamen University, Thai alumni Ding Zhengzeng and Cai Yueshi, Hong Kong alumni Huang Baoxin and Wu Liying, Singaporean overseas Chinese Wu Dingji and Li Wexia, as well as overseas Chinese living in the Philippines, Singapore and other places and other places jointly donated and built Jiageng Building group, which is jointly donated by Chinese compatriots in the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong, and Other Places, has been completed and opened, highlighting the continuous inheritance and enduring renewal of the Jiageng spirit.
A combination of Chinese and Western "Jiageng architecture". Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Chen Jiageng's great love spirit of sangzi and dedication to education has influenced generations of Xiamen university people and inspired alumni, overseas Chinese and social enthusiasts to pass on the torch. Chen Ronglan, former vice president of xiamen university's overseas education college, said that Mr. She Mingpei, a correspondence student in the Philippine Chinese, and his wife donated funds to build a gymnasium for his alma mater; Mr. Lin Lianxing, a Chinese correspondence student in Indonesia, donated a multi-functional teaching building for the Overseas Education College, demonstrating the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation.
The most magnificent Jiannan building group in the "Jiageng Architecture". Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
At that time, Mr. Jiageng devoted the most effort, and it was also the most magnificent Jiannan building group in the "Jiageng Architecture", and it was also the "one master and four subordinates" pattern, but it was more majestic. The main building of the Jiannan Building Group is a Unique Charm of Chinese and Western Jiannan Auditorium, where the graduation ceremony is held every year, witnessing generations of Xiamen University students bidding farewell to their alma mater and going to the society.
When Xiamen University was founded, a large bell hung, and the tradition of ringing bells at Xiamen University has continued from the beginning of the establishment of the university to the present day. For 100 years, the sound of this bell has accompanied xiamen university's growth years, calling teachers and students to go to class and rest and struggle, becoming a unique scenery in Chinese universities.
Xiamen University's tradition of ringing bells has continued since its founding. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Jiannan bells ring out every day on the beautiful Xiamen University campus, and the cycle continues endlessly.