Qian Xuantong, a veritable literati of the Republic of China and a member of modern Sinology, although he died young, his ideological development reflected an era.
He was influenced by Zhang Taiyan, and once admired Kang Youwei and Cui Shi, but during the "May Fourth" period, he not only broke the "family law" of modern and ancient classics, but also rushed out of the classics, marched into the literary revolution and ideological revolution advocated by "New Youth", and became the poster of the new cultural movement with Chen Duxiu, Hu Shi, Li Dazhao, and so on, and then became the backbone of ancient history research, and he never left the study of chinese culture in his life.
His father, Qian Zhenchang, was a jinshi in the tenth year of Tongzhi (1871), and Lu Xun's grandfather Zhou Fuqing was also on the list of the same subject; his uncle Qian Zhenlun was a jinshi in the eighteenth year of Daoguang (1838) and later became Weng Tonggong's brother-in-law.
After working as a petty official in Beijing for a few years, Qian Zhen often found it better to return to his hometown to teach, because he had a student like Cai Yuanpei under him. But his wife died early, and after several upheavals and displacements, she was very lonely, so after returning to the south, she married a side room. Soon, there was Qian Xuantong.
When Qian Xuantong was born (1887), his father was sixty-two years old. He was fortunate to survive, but his body was often sick, and his father disciplined him very strictly.
But unfortunately, his father had just disciplined him to the age of twelve, and he had a hard time laying the boy's work of governing school, but he died.
Fortunately, the eldest brother Qian Ke and the eldest sister-in-law Shan Shili took over their father's baton. Qian Ke was a capable diplomatic talent in the late Qing Dynasty, who introduced a huge amount of Western knowledge to China, and had a deep understanding of modern disciplines such as finance, political science, and geography. Phonology later became Qian Xuantong's main academic direction.
Brother Yan, who was thirty-three years older, and coupled with his sister-in-law, Qian Xuantong grew up very quickly, so he was very obedient to his brother and sister-in-law.
When Qian Xuan co-ran "New Youth", he was afraid that his brother would find the magazine and always refused to show it, but he was still seen by Qian Ke.
The elder brother didn't say anything, and Qian Xuantong's hanging heart was put down. He hated the lunar calendar and the kneeling prayer, but when his brother was alive, he would go to his brother's house with his wife at the end of the lunar calendar every year to bow to his ancestors.
Qian Xuantong's marriage was arranged by his brother, and although his wife Xu Wanzhen was a famous bridesmaid, Qian Xuantong had no feeling of love for her. Madame is also sick, and unlike Qian, she is very dangerous as soon as she is sick, and Qian Xuan has been serving for ten years.
In early 1926, Xu Wanzhen's illness was diagnosed as a cervical tumor, using radiation therapy, which was very rare at the time, and the cost was extremely expensive, requiring twenty oceans per day. Moreover, the condition had developed very seriously, and he was once told that he was critically ill, which caused Qian Xuantong to suffer a great blow both mentally and financially.
In 1927, Qian Xuantong entered the age of confusion, and even wanted to publish an issue of "Mr. Qian Xuantong's Special Number of Mr. Chengren" in the "Language Silk Weekly", and also prepared manuscripts such as elegy, elegy, and sacrifice, all of which were some funny things.
However, just as Zhang Zuolin entered Beijing, in order to avoid causing trouble, the special issue was not printed, but its main purpose was circulated. Those who did not know the inside story saw it, believed it to be true, and relayed it to each other. For a time, Qian Xuantong's friends and students sent letters of condolence.
On September 12, 1928, on the occasion of Qian Xuantong's forty-first birthday, Hu Shi wrote a "Commemorative Song for the Anniversary of His Deceased Friend Mr. Qian Xuantong" in response to his theory that "he should be shot at the age of 40". Ge Yun: "Damn Qian Xuantong, how come he has not died yet!" All his life he has been killing the ancients, and last year he took his turn. Unfortunately, the knife was not fast, and it was shameful to throw water, so and so hesitant, after September 12, unfortunately I was not present, and I did not come to supervise you. Last year, I suddenly wrote a letter to make a 'Chengren Memorial', which is not difficult, please read the "Biography of the Fengshen Gods" first. When I go home, I will first dig a pit, sleep well in it, cover my body with grass, light a lamp in front of my feet, and sprinkle rice on the grass, so that I can hide it from the ghost judgment of Yama, hide it from the scholars of the four directions, and mourn the Great Ceremony of Chengren. On September 12 this year, pray and pray everywhere, and you will ascend to heaven early so that you will not make trouble in hell. Qian Xuantong cried and laughed after reading it.
Qian Xuantong and his wife Xu Weizhen had six children, three of whom died prematurely. The status and resources of the father's generation obviously benefit the future generations, the three sons of the Qian family are not from Peking University, that is, from Tsinghua, and the eldest son Bingxiong and the second son, the three strongest, have also studied in Japan and France respectively. And Qian Sanqiang's popularity among today's Chinese people has far surpassed that of his father. For the education and influence of the father, the sons have mentioned the father's new and open attitude in the memories of different occasions: let the children accept a new type of school education and choose their own major. In the summer of 1938, Qian Tong, director of the Beiping Antiquities Exhibition Center, fell ill and died. The "Chu Bao" sent a message mistakenly for Qian Xuantong, and many people sent condolences to send a telegram of condolences.
On the evening of January 17, 1939, Qian Xuantong suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died at the age of 52.
In February 1949, Xu Wanzhen died, and his son Qian Sanqiang was preparing to show his skills in New China, ten years after Qian Xuantong's death.