Chapter One A Life Dedicated to Saving the Nation through Education................... 1
Tracing Ancestral Roots.............................................................................................................. 2
Intelligent and Upright as a Child ............................................................................................. 4
Indignation at the Defeat of Beiyang Forces............................................................................. 6
Teaching at Private Schools and Saving the Nation through Education................................ 9
Nankai School: Thriving amid Challenges.............................................................................. 12
Overcoming Five Ills and Practicing Self-cultivation ............................................................ 18
Promoting Dedication and Collaboration through Drama and Sports................................ 21
From the September 18th Incident to the July 28th Incident .............................................. 24
Becoming Stronger with Each Bombing and Keeping Rebuilding ...................................... 28
Embracing the Times: Advocating for Public Interests and All-round Capability ............ 34
Winning the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Reopening Nankai
School ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Fifty Years of Growth and Challenges at Nankai................................................................... 41
The Whole Story of Serving as the President of the Examination Academy for Three
Months........................................................................................................................................ 46
Late Life Serenity and Posthumous Honor............................................................................. 52
Chapter Two The Story of Nankai—One Mission for a Lifetime.............................. 55
A Review of Nankai for the Past 40 Years............................................................................... 56
Twenty-six Years of Acquaintance with Principal Zhang Boling.......................................... 78
Reminiscences of Principal Zhang Boling and the Unique Aspects of Nankai University101
Appealing to Principal Zhang for the Establishment of a Girls’ Middle School................112
My Teaching Career at Nankai University ............................................................................116
Nankai Middle School during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression ......... 135
Not Loving Money, Wholeheartedly Devoted to Education ............................................... 161
Chapter Three Patriotically Striving—Addressing the Challenges of the Critical
Times............................................................................................................................. 164
Instilling Patriotic Sentiments in Students............................................................................ 165
The Historical Journey and the Emerging Vision of Nankai .............................................. 167
Opportunities and Responsibilities for Chinese Students Today: A Speech to Students in
Shenyang .................................................................................................................................. 169
“Even If China Were Destroyed, It Would Surely Revive”—Reflections on the Trip to
Northeast China....................................................................................................................... 175
Origin of the Northeast China Research Association........................................................... 178
Establishing the Manchuria-Mongolia Research Association in Response to the Northeast
Crisis......................................................................................................................................... 181
Principal Zhang: A Man Dedicated to Saving China through Education.......................... 185
Patriotism: The Core of Nankai Spirit .................................................................................. 194
“To Save China, One Must Begin with Education.” ............................................................ 200
A Lifelong Career—Saving the Nation through Education................................................. 213
“You Have Done Well; Your Actions Are in Line with Nankai Spirit.”.............................. 218
Economic Geography of Northeast China in the Context of the September 18th Incident 221
Chapter Four Public Morality and Capability: The Soul of Education ................. 223
On the Educational Objective of Nankai School .................................................................. 224
Sincerity: A Virtue to Cherish and Uphold for Life ............................................................. 229
The Paramount Objective of New Education: Cultivating a Spirit of Social Service....... 231
The Purpose of Education: Seeking Progress for the Entire Society.................................. 234
Cultivating Public Morality: The Core of Moral Education............................................... 237
The Morality of Public Interests and the Power of Capability ........................................... 242
The Objective and Spirit of Nankai....................................................................................... 244
“Forming Cliques for Public Interests” and Collaborating to Serve the Nation............... 253
The Best Approach to Serving the Nation and the Public: Making Dogged and Honest
Effort......................................................................................................................................... 257
Know the Environment and Work Hard............................................................................... 259
Details of the School Buildings: Evidence of the Ingenuity in Nankai Education............. 266
Chapter Five Comprehensive Talent Development: Combating Five Ills—Disunity,
Weakness, Ignorance, Poverty, and Selfishness......................................................... 273
The Two Forces that Chinese People Lack............................................................................ 274
Cultivating Well-rounded Individuals: Ensuring a Balanced Development of Moral,
Intellectual, and Physical Education ..................................................................................... 277
China’s Last Hope Rests with the Students. ......................................................................... 280
In the Future, Unity Will be Essential for Working in Society. .......................................... 283
Determined to Quit Gambling and Reclaiming Responsibility........................................... 287
Eliminating Selfishness............................................................................................................ 289
Nankai’s New Mission in the Future...................................................................................... 291
Performing on Stage and Building One’s Character ........................................................... 294
Physical Education: The Most Neglected One among the Three Pillars of Education..... 295
Sports and Education.............................................................................................................. 299
“We Respectfully Request that all the Chairmen Prioritize the Development of Sports with
Extraordinary Efforts.”........................................................................................................... 302
The Collective Life at Nankai Middle School ....................................................................... 305
Young People Should always Display Vigor and Vitality. .................................................... 319
Recollections of My Theatrical Life That Began in Tianjin ................................................ 325
The Beginning of a Lifelong Theatrical Career.................................................................... 331
Nankai Soccer Team and Zhang Boling ................................................................................ 335
Recalling the Days When the “Five Tigers” of Nankai Competing across the Country... 337
Chapter Six New Teaching Approach: Incorporating Methods from Advanced
Countries around the World ....................................................................................... 343
New Regulations at Nankai..................................................................................................... 344
New Policies in the New Semester.......................................................................................... 345
Using Nankai as an Experimental Ground to Foster Growth and Advancement............. 351
A General Introduction to Nankai University ...................................................................... 355
Origin of the School of Economics at Nankai University .................................................... 361
Curriculum at the Early Stage of Nankai ............................................................................. 364
Some Practices of the Old Nankai Middle School ............................................................... 368
Laying a Solid Foundation in Core Subjects at Middle School........................................... 370
The Significance of Pursuing Knowledge: Curriculum Training at Nankai...................... 378
Recollections of Life at Nankai in Shapingba ....................................................................... 386
“Lofty is the Nankai Spirit”—Recollections of Chongqing Nankai 34 Years Ago ............ 389
Tracing Ancestral Roots.............................................................................................................. 2
Intelligent and Upright as a Child ............................................................................................. 4
Indignation at the Defeat of Beiyang Forces............................................................................. 6
Teaching at Private Schools and Saving the Nation through Education................................ 9
Nankai School: Thriving amid Challenges.............................................................................. 12
Overcoming Five Ills and Practicing Self-cultivation ............................................................ 18
Promoting Dedication and Collaboration through Drama and Sports................................ 21
From the September 18th Incident to the July 28th Incident .............................................. 24
Becoming Stronger with Each Bombing and Keeping Rebuilding ...................................... 28
Embracing the Times: Advocating for Public Interests and All-round Capability ............ 34
Winning the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Reopening Nankai
School ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Fifty Years of Growth and Challenges at Nankai................................................................... 41
The Whole Story of Serving as the President of the Examination Academy for Three
Months........................................................................................................................................ 46
Late Life Serenity and Posthumous Honor............................................................................. 52
Chapter Two The Story of Nankai—One Mission for a Lifetime.............................. 55
A Review of Nankai for the Past 40 Years............................................................................... 56
Twenty-six Years of Acquaintance with Principal Zhang Boling.......................................... 78
Reminiscences of Principal Zhang Boling and the Unique Aspects of Nankai University101
Appealing to Principal Zhang for the Establishment of a Girls’ Middle School................112
My Teaching Career at Nankai University ............................................................................116
Nankai Middle School during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression ......... 135
Not Loving Money, Wholeheartedly Devoted to Education ............................................... 161
Chapter Three Patriotically Striving—Addressing the Challenges of the Critical
Times............................................................................................................................. 164
Instilling Patriotic Sentiments in Students............................................................................ 165
The Historical Journey and the Emerging Vision of Nankai .............................................. 167
Opportunities and Responsibilities for Chinese Students Today: A Speech to Students in
Shenyang .................................................................................................................................. 169
“Even If China Were Destroyed, It Would Surely Revive”—Reflections on the Trip to
Northeast China....................................................................................................................... 175
Origin of the Northeast China Research Association........................................................... 178
Establishing the Manchuria-Mongolia Research Association in Response to the Northeast
Crisis......................................................................................................................................... 181
Principal Zhang: A Man Dedicated to Saving China through Education.......................... 185
Patriotism: The Core of Nankai Spirit .................................................................................. 194
“To Save China, One Must Begin with Education.” ............................................................ 200
A Lifelong Career—Saving the Nation through Education................................................. 213
“You Have Done Well; Your Actions Are in Line with Nankai Spirit.”.............................. 218
Economic Geography of Northeast China in the Context of the September 18th Incident 221
Chapter Four Public Morality and Capability: The Soul of Education ................. 223
On the Educational Objective of Nankai School .................................................................. 224
Sincerity: A Virtue to Cherish and Uphold for Life ............................................................. 229
The Paramount Objective of New Education: Cultivating a Spirit of Social Service....... 231
The Purpose of Education: Seeking Progress for the Entire Society.................................. 234
Cultivating Public Morality: The Core of Moral Education............................................... 237
The Morality of Public Interests and the Power of Capability ........................................... 242
The Objective and Spirit of Nankai....................................................................................... 244
“Forming Cliques for Public Interests” and Collaborating to Serve the Nation............... 253
The Best Approach to Serving the Nation and the Public: Making Dogged and Honest
Effort......................................................................................................................................... 257
Know the Environment and Work Hard............................................................................... 259
Details of the School Buildings: Evidence of the Ingenuity in Nankai Education............. 266
Chapter Five Comprehensive Talent Development: Combating Five Ills—Disunity,
Weakness, Ignorance, Poverty, and Selfishness......................................................... 273
The Two Forces that Chinese People Lack............................................................................ 274
Cultivating Well-rounded Individuals: Ensuring a Balanced Development of Moral,
Intellectual, and Physical Education ..................................................................................... 277
China’s Last Hope Rests with the Students. ......................................................................... 280
In the Future, Unity Will be Essential for Working in Society. .......................................... 283
Determined to Quit Gambling and Reclaiming Responsibility........................................... 287
Eliminating Selfishness............................................................................................................ 289
Nankai’s New Mission in the Future...................................................................................... 291
Performing on Stage and Building One’s Character ........................................................... 294
Physical Education: The Most Neglected One among the Three Pillars of Education..... 295
Sports and Education.............................................................................................................. 299
“We Respectfully Request that all the Chairmen Prioritize the Development of Sports with
Extraordinary Efforts.”........................................................................................................... 302
The Collective Life at Nankai Middle School ....................................................................... 305
Young People Should always Display Vigor and Vitality. .................................................... 319
Recollections of My Theatrical Life That Began in Tianjin ................................................ 325
The Beginning of a Lifelong Theatrical Career.................................................................... 331
Nankai Soccer Team and Zhang Boling ................................................................................ 335
Recalling the Days When the “Five Tigers” of Nankai Competing across the Country... 337
Chapter Six New Teaching Approach: Incorporating Methods from Advanced
Countries around the World ....................................................................................... 343
New Regulations at Nankai..................................................................................................... 344
New Policies in the New Semester.......................................................................................... 345
Using Nankai as an Experimental Ground to Foster Growth and Advancement............. 351
A General Introduction to Nankai University ...................................................................... 355
Origin of the School of Economics at Nankai University .................................................... 361
Curriculum at the Early Stage of Nankai ............................................................................. 364
Some Practices of the Old Nankai Middle School ............................................................... 368
Laying a Solid Foundation in Core Subjects at Middle School........................................... 370
The Significance of Pursuing Knowledge: Curriculum Training at Nankai...................... 378
Recollections of Life at Nankai in Shapingba ....................................................................... 386
“Lofty is the Nankai Spirit”—Recollections of Chongqing Nankai 34 Years Ago ............ 389
Lin Yurong is a dedicated teacher and translator with a profound connection to Nankai
University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree (1994-1998) and later her Master’s degree (2001-
2004) from the School of Foreign Studies at Nankai University.
Since 1998, Lin Yurong has devoted herself to teaching at the School of Foreign Languages
of Tianjin University, where her passion for languages, culture, and education has flourished.
Driven by a deep affection for her alma mater and a heartfelt commitment to the teaching
profession, Lin Yurong undertook the translation of this book with a clear and inspiring mission:
to share the remarkable history of Nankai University with a wider world. She hopes this book will
illuminate the enduring legacy of one of Nankai’s founding figures, the esteemed Zhang Boling,
capturing his vision and dedication. Through this translation, she aspires not only to honor
Nankai’s storied past but also to ignite in readers the same spark of passion for education that
has guided her own career and fueled the spirit of Nankai for generations. It is her sincere wish
that this book will motivate more individuals to embrace the transformative power and profound
rewards of a life dedicated to teaching and learning