The Paper's chief reporter Yue Huairang intern Gao Fengchen
After two years, the dispute over the history of "Anhui University" has made waves again.
On January 19, 2021, Anhui University, located in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, released an article through the official WeChat public account | Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the name of anhui university before and after" This article, written by Ma Renjie, director of the Anhui University Archives, begins with the establishment of the party and government system in Anhui Province before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and leads to a past story in 1958 when Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the name of Anhui University.
The reason why this article has aroused public attention is that the part of the article on the history of Anhui University is expressed.
The article reads: "In the autumn of (1952), the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to move Anhui University from Wuhu to Hefei, the provincial capital. In order to implement the decision of the provincial party committee on the relocation of the school, on October 27, 1952, the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Anhui University was established... According to the development plan of Anhui Province's education industry, Anhui Province will move the three departments of mathematics, physics and chemistry of Anhui Normal College to Hefei in the autumn of 1957, and officially enroll students in 1958, and by 1965, the development scale of Anhui University will reach 7200 people, and the total number will reach 8800 people. ”
Although this text confirms the relocation of three departments of Anhui Normal College to Hefei, it does not indicate whether the new university used the name "Anhui University" used in preparation in 1958.
The article then reads: "In June 1958, the main projects of the school, such as the main teaching building, student dormitories, and wind and rain playgrounds, were basically completed. When studying the naming of the school, Zeng Xisheng, secretary of the provincial party committee and president, advocated that the school be tentatively named 'Hefei University'. The name 'Hefei University' was subsequently used for three and a half months. ”
Why did "Hefei University" later become "Anhui University"?
Ma Renjie's article reads: "In mid-September 1958, Chairman Mao Zedong went south to Wuhan ... Zeng Xisheng invited Chairman Mao Zedong to inspect Anhui, and Chairman Mao Zedong readily agreed. Upon learning of this news, Guilin Qi, secretary of the Secretariat of the Provincial Party Committee, suggested that Zeng Xisheng ask Chairman Mao Zedong to write the name of the first comprehensive university in Anhui Province. September 16, 1958... After dinner, Chairman Mao waved his paper and wrote four 'Anhui University' in a row... After Chairman Mao Zedong left Anhui, the Anhui Provincial Party Committee decided to rename Hefei University to Anhui University, and Zeng Xisheng, the first secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, continued to serve as president."
It is worth noting that the article only briefly describes the time relationship between Chairman Mao Zedong's inspection of Anhui, the inscription of the name of the university, and the renaming of Hefei University to Anhui University, but does not explain the origin of this name change.
In fact, Professor Wang Maoyue of the College of Literature of Anhui Normal University wrote an article on the official WeChat account of Anhui Normal University a few years ago, "Using Archives to Testify and Solve the Dispute over the History of the University", which has a more detailed introduction to this history.
Wang Maoyue wrote in the article: "On September 16, 1958, Comrade Mao Zedong inspected Hefei, and Zeng Xisheng, first secretary of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee and president of Hefei University, asked Comrade Mao Zedong to write the name of the school for 'Hefei University'. That night, Comrade Mao Zedong inscribed the name of the school for 'Anhui University'. Therefore, there was hefei University (58) (School Office) No. 26 "On the Use of the Seal of Anhui University" this document, the original text is as follows: 'Hefei University' has been renamed Anhui University, and on October 13, the 'Anhui University' steel seal issued by the People's Committee of Anhui Province was launched, and the original 'Hefei University' seal was also invalidated and handed over, and hereby notified. The payment date was October 24, 1958. ”
Why does the history of Anhui University attract the attention of professors at Anhui Normal University? This involves the history of many universities in Anhui Province, such as Anhui University, Anhui Normal University, and Anhui Agricultural University. The three universities mentioned above, without exception, regard the provincial Anhui University, founded in 1928, as the predecessor of their own schools.
In 2018, the above three universities held their own 90th anniversary activities, and who is more qualified to inherit the history of the provincial Anhui University established in 1928, which caused widespread concern in the Anhui higher education circles at that time. The Paper, based on the positions of all parties at the time, wrote an article entitled "Whose Anhui University?" " objectively state the positions of all parties.
A "Big Anda", each discussed
Although they all claim to originate from the provincial Anhui University, the above three Anhui universities have their own expositions in the history of the university.
Anhui Normal University's 2018 "90th Anniversary of the Founding of the University" website introduction: "Anhui Normal University is the earliest institution of higher learning in Anhui Province, formerly known as anhui university founded in Anqing in 1928, renamed National Anhui University in 1946, moved to Wuhu in December 1949, and officially named Anhui Normal University in 1972. ”
According to this description of Anhui Normal University, since Anhui University moved to Wuhu in December 1949, the location of the school has not changed, but it was named Anhui Normal University 23 years later.
Anhui University, now based in Hefei, apparently cannot agree with this statement.
The official website of Anhui University said: "As the beginning of modern higher education in Anhui, the school was founded in 1928 in Anqing, the provincial capital at that time. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the school was forced to move westward and was once scattered, but in 1946 it was reinstated as National Anhui University. In December 1949, it was moved to Wuhu, and after several adjustments, the school moved to Hefei In 1956 and fully resumed enrollment in 1958. ”
Anhui University and Anhui Normal University still agree on the description of anhui university's educational experience before December 1949, but the description of Anhui Agricultural University simply does not want to mention the experience of "moving to Wuhu in December 1949".
Anhui Agricultural University said in the "School Celebration Announcement (No. 1)" published on its official website in February 2018: "Anhui Agricultural University is one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in Anhui Province. The school originated from anhui university founded in Anqing in 1928. In 1935, anhui university established the college of agriculture, and in 1954, the college of agriculture was established independently to establish the Anhui Agricultural College. In 1968, it moved down to decentralize the school, and in 1978, it moved back to Hefei. In 1995, Anhui Agricultural College was renamed Anhui Agricultural University. ”
According to the different expressions of the three colleges and universities, it can be seen that the three schools invariably regard Anhui University, which was established in 1928 before the liberation as the beginning of the establishment of their own schools, "the three schools have the same origin", so they all choose to celebrate their "90th birthday" in 2018, but the expressions are different.
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However, some people do not agree with the saying that "the three schools are of the same origin".
For example, the above-mentioned article by Professor Wang Maoyue of the College of Literature of Anhui Normal University, "Using Archives to Testify and Solve the Dispute over School History", analyzes which colleges and universities are more qualified to inherit the history of Anhui University before liberation.
After introducing the renaming of "Hefei University" to "Anhui University" in the article, Wang Maoyue also wrote: "There were three Anhui universities in our (Anhui) province at different times, namely the provincial university before liberation, the National Anhui University (1928-1949), the Anhui University in the early liberation period (1949-1954) and the current Anhui University (1958 to the present), and it is easy to misunderstand the relationship between them. The results of the study of the internal relations of the three objectively existing Anhui universities are that Anhui University before liberation - Anhui University in the early liberation period - Anhui Normal University is in the same vein, the history of Anhui Normal University began in 1928; the history of anhui University began in 1928, and the history of Anhui University began in 1958, the predecessor of Hefei University. That is to seek truth from facts. ”
The article argues that it is clear that the predecessor of the current Anhui University is Hefei University, which is a newly founded university and has no other relationship with Anhui University before the liberation except for the same name.
In the 2018 "Special Topic for the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of Anhui Normal University", there is also an article written by Professor Wang Maoyue entitled "Two Unforgettable School History". Wang Maoyue said in the article that he graduated from Anhui University majoring in archival science and entered Anhui Normal University to engage in archival work after graduation.
Wang Maoyue wrote in the article: "After the publication of the article ("Using Archives to Testify and Solve the Dispute over the History of Schools"), my work unit was full of applause, believing that what I wrote was an objective fact and that I came to a fair conclusion of seeking truth from facts. But for my alma mater, Anhui University, it is another kind of repercussions, some teachers and classmates gently criticized me for not writing this article, archival science can write a lot of articles, why do you have to write a school history? Only then did I realize the impact of my little article, and if I had anticipated it beforehand, I am afraid that this article would have been stillborn. But now that the article has been published and the impact has been generated, although some people have criticized me, I do not regret it, because I love my alma mater, I love my teachers, but I love the truth even more. ”
Anhui University obviously does not recognize the statements that "there is no relationship other than the same name" and that "Anhui University is just a newly established university". According to the official website of Anhui University, its origins with the National Anhui University, which was relocated to Wuhu in December 1949, also include: "In February 1954, the Government Council decided to establish the normal and agricultural colleges of Anhui University independently, and the teachers and students of the departments of physics and some management cadres of the school were relocated to Hefei to build a comprehensive university. ”
According to this statement of Anhui University, the National Anhui University, which was relocated to Wuhu in December 1949, was divided into three parts in its subsequent development: the Normal College remained in Wuhu and evolved into today's Anhui Normal University; the College of Agriculture was first established in Wuhu and later evolved into today's Anhui Agricultural University; and the teachers, students and some management cadres of physics and other departments were relocated to Hefei, and with the assistance of Fudan University, East China Normal University teachers, books and equipment, it evolved into today's comprehensive university - Anhui University.
From more than 2 years later, on January 19, 2021, anhui university official WeChat public account article "Anda Memory | Chairman Mao Zedong wrote the name of anhui university before and after" statement, Anhui university still uses this statement on the official website.
Who is more qualified to inherit the anhui university context?
In addition to the "three schools of the same origin" controversy, there are many more voices.
The Surging News reporter found that an article signed by Wang Jun published by Anhui Business Daily on April 22, 2018, "The Lesser-known Provincial Anhui University Campus", pointed out that other schools are more qualified to inherit the pre-liberation Anhui University context than the above-
The article reads: "In April 2018, the 90th anniversary of the founding of Anhui University, Anhui University, Anhui Normal University, Anqing Normal University, and even Anhui Agricultural University all claimed to be the successors of this school, but the real successor, Anqing No. 2 Middle School, remained silent." ”
For his own view, the author argues by interpreting the history of Anhui University in detail before liberation.
The article said: "In April 1928, the provincial Anhui University rented the Anqing Baihuating Sao Paulo Middle School building, and since then, liu Wendian, Wang Xinggong, Yang Lianggong, He Lu, and Cheng Yansheng's main school have been on this campus during the golden age. By the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, talents of the new school and the old school gathered, and the famous professors in the history of the Provincial University of Ontario gathered here, such as Yao Yongpu, Li Fanzhi, Chen Shendeng, Yu Dafu, Su Xuelin, Zhu Xiang, Wang Jingzhi, Mei Guangdi, Lu Simian, Liu Yingshi, Zhang Weici, and Zha Liangjian. ”
Curiously, the author writes, after the Provincial An'an University retired from rent and moved into a newly completed building outside the city (now the Dalinghu Campus of Anqing Normal University), there were few well-known professors, which may be related to the school philosophy of Li Shunqing, the principal hired by the warlord Liu Zhenhua during the Anhui period. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Li Shunqing even left his post without authorization, causing the collapse of Anda on the way to the west, and the hundreds of thousands of books and instruments accumulated were all lost.
The article pointed out that the National Ontario University, which was re-established at the Linghu Campus in 1946, was actually a newly established university and had little to do with the provincial Ontario University before the War of Resistance. Coinciding with the resignation of Wang Xinggong, president of National Wuhan University, Wuhan University had a dispute over the Anhui and Xiang clans, and the professors of the Anhui Department of Wuhan University who followed Wang Xinggong in and out became the main force in the construction of Wuhan University, and Tao Yin, the first president of National Ontario University, was the provost of Wuhan University.
In April 1928, when the provincial Anhui University was established in anqing, the provincial capital, the school's teaching buildings, office buildings, auditoriums, and libraries were all in the Baihua Pavilion in the city, and the school building of the Anglican St. Paul Middle School (now Anqing No. 2 Middle School) was rented, called the First Courtyard. The boys' dormitories, laboratories, etc. are located in the former site of Jingshi College (Anhui Law College) on the banks of Linghu Lake outside the city, called the Second Courtyard.
The article said that at that time, the headquarters of Anhui University was in the Sao Paulo Campus of Baihuating, and it can be seen from the pictures that in addition to the first hospital of Anhui University, there is also a sign: Anhui Provincial Anhui University. In 1932, when Cheng Yansheng was the president, he increased the construction of the old site of the former JingshikShu College on the west side of Linghu Lake, and in the following year, Liu Haofang of Shanghai Dade Engineering Design Society designed three major buildings of the university (teaching building, large hall, and science museum), and Nanjing Miao Shunxing Construction Company won the bid for construction.
The project was completed in March 1935, and in August of the same year, the provincial Anhui University abandoned the SKH church building and moved into a new building. On October 7, the provincial Anhui University held the inauguration ceremony of the new building. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the provincial Anhui University was re-established, and the National Anhui University was established here in November 1946.
According to the view of this article "The Lesser-known Campus of Anhui University", Anqing No. 2 Middle School is more qualified to inherit the history of Anhui University before liberation than the above-mentioned universities in Anhui Province.
In fact, unlike the other three universities, Anqing Normal University has long been not satisfied with taking the provincial Anhui University founded in 1928 as its predecessor, but has traced its history back to JingshikShu College in 1897, and held a ceremony to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the establishment in 2017.
The controversy is a controversy, but it does not prevent Anhui University, Anhui Normal University and Anhui Agricultural University from celebrating the 90th anniversary of its founding. Even, in April 2018, Anhui Normal University and Anhui Agricultural University, which have the same roots, jointly held a joint commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the university.
According to the official report of Anhui Normal University, on the day of the "4.10 School Celebration Day", Anhui Normal University and Anhui Agricultural University, which have the same roots, jointly held a joint commemoration activity for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the university.
Anhui Normal University said that in the course of running the school in the past 90 years, the two brother schools have been nourished by the long-standing Hui culture, jointly inherited the same spiritual context, have a very similar development background, and have cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for the national society, especially for the education of Anhui Province and the cause of "three rural areas". For a long time, these two sister universities have also maintained friendly and intimate cooperative relations, supporting each other, sharing honor and disgrace, and brotherhood has lasted for a long time on the road of common development.
Obviously, Anhui Normal University is more willing to admit the "same root and same origin" relationship with Anhui Agricultural University. However, on September 16, 2018, when Anhui University listed the blessings it received from sister universities, it did not mention Anhui Normal University and Anhui Agricultural University, two universities in the same province.
Two years later, Anhui University released the article "Memories of Anhui University" written by Ma Renjie, director of the Anhui University Archives, through the official WeChat public account, | Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the name of Anhui University before and after", which shows that the dispute over "whose Anhui University" will continue.
Editor-in-Charge: Jiang Ziwen
Proofreader: Luan Meng