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mainsite_psd_minguo03_2

After the founding of the Republic of China (ROC), remarkable achievements were made in culture and education, especially in tertiary education, thanks to the Nationalist Government’s school reform and the impact of the New Culture Movement. Apart from the universities established earlier like Zhejiang University (浙江大學, 1897), Peking University (北京大學, 1898), Fudan University (復旦大學, 1905), Jinan University (暨南大學, 1906), and Tsinghua University (清華大學, 1911), many famed tertiary institutions were founded in the early Republican years. These included Wuhan University (武漢大學, 1913), National Central University (國立中央大學, 1915), Nankai University (南開大學, 1919), Xiamen University (廈門大學, 1921), and Sun Yat-sen University (中山大學, 1924). In 1937, the five national universities - National Central University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Wuhan University conducted a national joint entrance examination.

Meanwhile, there were many church schools. Some notable examples were St. John’s University (1879), University of Nanking (金陵大學, 1888), Lingnan University (嶺南大學, 1888), Soochow University (東吳大學, 1900), Aurora University (震旦書院, 1903), Shantung Christian University (or Cheeloo University, 齊魯大學, 1904), Shanghai College (滬江大學, 1906), West China Union University (華西協和大學, 1910), Hangchow Christian College (or Zhijiang College, 之江文理學院, 1914), Fukien Christian University (福建協和大學, 1915), Yenching University (燕京大學, 1919), Université de Tsin Ku (or Tsin Ku University, 津沽大學, 1921), Fu Jen Catholic University (輔仁大學, 1925), and Huachung University (華中大學, 1926).

The outbreak of the Total War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression had a serious impact on domestic education. During the time of national crisis, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the private Nankai University merged to form the National Southwest Associated University (國立西南聯合大學, NSAU for short), which was moved to Kunming (昆明), Yunnan Province (雲南), in 1938. These three universities returned to their respective home cities to resume normal operations in 1946. Likewise, during the war, National Central University moved to Chongqing (重慶); Zhejiang University moved to Zunyi (遵義), Guizhou Province (貴州); and Wuhan University moved to Leshan (樂山), Sichuan Province (四川). Many professors never abandoned their posts even under the toughest circumstances, cultivating a wealth of talents for the country.

What is the history of NSAU? Who were some of its famous alumni and faculty members?

See answer below.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_1

Peking University and Tsinghua University were founded in Beijing (北京, renamed “Beiping” ﹝北平﹞in 1928) in the late Qing dynasty (清代). They became top universities after the founding of the ROC.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_2

Founded in Shanghai (上海) in the late Qing dynasty, Fudan University and Jinan University became top universities in the Republican period.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_3

Wuhan University (left) in Hubei Province (湖北) and National Central University (right) in Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu Province (江蘇), were tertiary institutions established in the early Republican years.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_4

Left: faculty members of Xiamen University in Fujian Province (福建) in 1927. Right: the bell tower of Sun Yat-sen University during the Republican period. Sun Yat-sen University was originally named Guangdong University (廣東大學). It took its present name since 1926.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_5

Yenching University (left) and Fu Jen Catholic University (right) in Beijing during the Republican period. Both were founded by churches.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_6

A series of vocational schools were established during the Republican years. Left: Shanghai College of Fine Arts founded in 1912. Right: National Northwest Junior College of Agriculture and Forestry in Shaanxi Province (陝西) founded in 1934.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_7

Left: Nankai University in Tianjin (天津) was badly damaged from the Japanese air raid in 1937. Right: the main gate of NSAU. After the Japanese seizure of Beiping and Tianjin, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University merged to form the NSAU in Kunming in 1938 and continued to teach during wartime.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_8

NSAU recruited many famous scholars, including litterateur Wen Yiduo (聞一多) and mathematician Hua Luogeng (華羅庚). Left: Wen at NSAU. Right: Hua Luogeng and his family in front of their Kunming residence during his teaching career at NSAU.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_9

After victory was won in the War of Resistance, NSAU announced its dissolution on 4 May 1946. Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University  moved back to their home cities to resume classes. Photographed here at the 36th anniversary of Tsinghua University’s founding in Beiping on 27 April 1947 are Mei Yiqi (梅貽琦, third from left), the Chairman of the NSAU Council cum President of Tsinghua University, Hu Shi (胡適, second from left), the President of Peking University, Zha Liangzhao (查良釗, far left), the Dean of the NSAU cum President of National Kunming Normal College (昆明師範學院), and Huang Yusheng (黃鈺生), the Secretary-General of Nankai University.

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mainsite_psd_minguo03_10

After the NSAU was dissolved, what remained became the National Kunming Normal College and developed into today’s Yunnan Normal University (雲南師範大學). The photos show the NSAU monument (left) and the National Kunming Normal College memorial column in Yunnan Normal University.

What is the history of NSAU? Who were some of its famous alumni and faculty members?

NSAU was merged by the national Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the private Nankai University after the War of Resistance erupted. The institution relocated southward to Beiping, Tianjin, and finally settled in Changsha (長沙) as the Changsha Temporary University (國立長沙臨時大學). Later on 2 April 1938, it moved to Kunming as NSAU and started classes on 4 May the same year. At first, the administrative affairs of the university were managed by the Standing Committee comprised of Tsinghua University President Mei Yiqi, Peking University President Jiang Menglin (蔣夢麟), and Nankai University President Zhang Boling (張伯苓). Later, Mei oversaw the administration as Chairman of the Standing Committee. NSAU operated for eight years before its dissolution on 4 May 1946. Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University moved back to their respective home cities to resume classes. The remaining school in Kunming became National Kunming Normal College and developed into today’s Yunnan Normal University.

NSAU had a multitude of famous professors, including Wu Dayou (吳大猷), Zhou Peiyuan (周培源), Chen Yinke (陳寅恪), Liang Sicheng (梁思成), Wang Li (王力), Zhu Ziqing (朱自清), Feng Youlan (馮友蘭), Shen Congwen (沈從文), Chen Daisun (陳岱孫), Wen Yiduo (聞一多), Qian Mu (錢穆), Qian Zhongshu (錢鍾書), Pan Guangdan (潘光旦), Fei Xiaotong (費孝通), Hua Luogeng (華羅庚), Zhu Guangqian (朱光潛), Wu Mi (吳宓), Wu Han (吳晗), Zhao Jiuzhang (趙九章), Zeng Zhaolun (曾昭掄), Lei Haizong (雷海宗), and He Bingdi (何炳棣). It also recruited professors from the United States, Britain, and other countries. From 1938-46, more than 2,000 students graduated from NSAU, among them were many prominent scholars. Approximately 170 graduates went on to become members of the Chinese Academy of Science or Chinese Academy of Engineering, including eight “Two Bombs, One Satellite” Meritorious Medal recipients (Zhao Jiuzhang﹝趙九章﹞, Deng Jiaxian﹝鄧稼先﹞, Guo Yonghuai﹝郭永懷﹞, Zhu Guangya﹝朱光亞﹞, Wang Xiji﹝王希季﹞, Chen Fangyun﹝陳芳允﹞, Tu Shou’e﹝屠守鍔﹞, and Yang Jiachi﹝楊嘉墀﹞), two Nobel Prize winners (Yang Zhenning﹝楊振寧﹞and Li Zhengdao﹝李政道﹞), and a winner of the Wolf Prize in Mathematics (Chen Xingshen﹝陳省身﹞).

Source of most photos used in this feature piece: Fotoe.