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'Nanjing University' (Chinese: 南京大學/南京大学; Pinyin: Nánjīng Dàxué; colloquially 南大, Pinyin: Nándà) is located in Nanjing (Nanking), an ancient capital of China. It can date back to the first year of Yong'an reign (AD 258), making it one of the oldest higher learning institutions in the world. It was transformed to be a college under new educational system in 1902 and became the first modern Chinese university in the early 1920s. Its name has been changed time after time and it was renamed 南京大學 (Nanjing Daxue) in 1949.

Contents

History

Faculties

Campus

International exchanges

Notable alumni

Notes

External links

History

Nanjing University was refounded in 1915 with the name 'Nanjing Higher Normal Institute' (南京高等師範學校) on the site of former Nanking Imperial University.
'Imperial Nanking University', the predecessor of Nanjing University, was originally founded in the first year of Yong'an reign (AD 258) under the Kingdom of Wu by the emperor Sun Xiu, and the first president was Wei Zhao. The Imperial University in Nanking (南京太學, Nanking Daixue) was reestablished by Jin Dynasty's emperor Sima Rui in 317 and 155 new rooms were built in the campus. Like its original forerunner Shang Hsiang (上庠) founded by Yu (禹, 21st century BC) in Zhongyuan, the earliest recorded imperial higher school, it was the Kingdom's central university, with the role of educating literate and virtuous citizens and educating leaders to govern and serve the kingdom. In 470 during the Song Dynasty, the Imperial Nanking University became a comprehensive institution combining higher education and research and consisted of five divisions: Literature, History, Confucianism, Dao Study and Yin Yang StudyConfucianism is a culture covers a broad range of subjects such as moralities, ethics, convenance, life attitude and manner, social and political ideas. Dao Study (道學, Dao Xue) at the time was not simply Taoism. It integrated Taoism with Xuan Study (玄學, Xuan Xue) and Xuan Study is a Chinese metaphysics with the view that social and natural principle and order are uniform. Yin Yang Study (陰陽學, Yin Yang Xue) is a learning that studies the negative and positive features and changes of both nature and human beings. Yin Yang Xue supposes that Yin and Yang are two universal paired and opposite characters and elements. For instance, life world consists of Yin Jie and Yang Jie. Yang Jie is where people live and Yin Jie is where ghosts and gods live. The death of a person or an animal means that he, she or it goes from Yang Jie to Yin Jie. Human bodies are controlled by Yin Qi and Yang Qi, and the balance between them will keep a healthy body. This theory is one of the foundations of traditional Chinese medicine. According to the concept, female is Yin, male is Yang, moon is Yin, sun is Yang, cold is Yin, hot is Yang, soft is Yin, hard is Yang .... Using it to explain modern sciences, acid is Yin, alkaline is Yang, negatron is Yin, positron is Yang, antimatter is Yin and matter is Yang., and it was the first research educational institution in history. In the period the faculty members included such scholars and scientists as Zu Chongzhi, Ge Hong, Wang Xizhi.
In the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty, the 'Imperial Central University' in Nanking was the world's largest higher education institution, with about 10 thousand students, many of whom came from a number of other countries. Wu Cheng'en, Zheng He and Zheng Chenggong studied there around the time. Each time when Nanking became a non-capital city, the Nanking Imperial University was changed to be Nanking Academy. The Nanking Imperial Central University (南京國子監, Nanking Guozijian) was changed to 'Nanking Academy' (江寧府學, Jiangning Fuxue) in 1650 after Qing Dynasty replaced Ming Dynasty. The ancient school history was recorded in the university's official school history book before 1949, but the school administration under CPC no longer recognized the history just as they did not recognize the traditional culture.
The 'Sanjiang Normal College' under new educational system was established to replace the traditional Chinese school Nanking Academy in 1902. The name was changed to 'Liangjiang Normal College' in 1906, and established the first Faculty of Art in China. In 1915 after the Republic of China replaced Qing Dynasty, the Nanking Higher Normal School was founded to replace Liangjiang Higher Normal School, and the school established the first Faculty of Gymnastics (Physical Education) in 1916.
The "Chinese Science Society" (中國科學社), the earliest comprehensive science society in China, and mainly by whose members the "Academia Sinica" (中央研究院) which was later moved to Taiwan and known as the "Chinese Academy of Sciences" (中国科学院) in mainland China was established, settled in the university in 1918. Numerous Chinese modern science pioneers converged there to found many sciences in China. It became the Chinese cradle of modern science. Hereafter, many graduates achieved pioneering works in many fields for Chinese scientific enterprise. For instance, among 81 academicians of "Academia Sinica" elected for the first time in 1948, 5 entered or graduated from the university in the year 1920. More than half of the leading Chinese scientists whose works were published in journals such as ''Science'' and ''Nature'' in the early period of Chinese modern science were graduates or academics of Nanjing University.
Guo Bingwen was an extremely influential university president, appointed in 1919. He insisted on the university’s independence and academic freedom. Liu Boming advocated liberty education, scholar spirit and pure learning ethos. Tao Xingzhi changed the traditional Instruction Approach to the Approach of Unity of Teaching and Learning, and adopted the Discipline-elective and Cause-credit-elective system. Tao Xingzhi, is famous for proposing ''The Audit Law for Women Students'' (《規定女子旁聽法案》) on December 7th, 1919. He also proposed that the university to recruit female students. He was supported by Guo Bingwen, Liu Boming and famous professors such as Lu Zhiwei and Yang Xingfo. Finally, the meeting passed the law and decided to recruit women students next year. Nanjing Higher Normal Institute became the first in China to recruit coeducational students and enrolled eight women students in 1920. In 1921 the school became 'National Southeastern University' (國立東南大學). The earliest modern scientific research laboratories and groups in China were established at the university. It integrated teaching and research, and was regarded as the earliest modern Chinese university. There were many comments from educators and scholars. For instance, John Leighton Stuart named it the ''first Chinese national modern university''. The historic contributions of Nanjing University were not limited to higher education and academe. Under the leadership of Kuo Ping-wen and Tao Xingzhi, the primary school and the middle school attached to the university also became models. They laid the foundations for the establishment of modern educational system (壬戌學制, Renwu Xuezhi, 1922) in China. The Kindergarten attached to the university (Gulou Kindergarten) founded in 1923 was also adopted as the model for Chinese kindergartens in 1928, including its teaching system, teaching materials, teaching methods and teaching tools. The Faculty of Business established in 1917 was moved to Shanghai to establish the first business school in China.
In October 1921, "Hsuehheng Society" (學衡社) was founded in the university which was the focus of the "Hsuehheng School" included the scholars Liu Boming, Liu Yizheng, Mei Guangdi, Wu Mi and Hu Xianxiao. They tried to reinvigorate traditional Chinese culture and start to publish the monthly "Critical Review" (Xueheng, 學衡 in Chinese) in January 1922. During this period, Nanjing University was known as the foremost "Oriental Education Centre" and recognized as an academic and cultural exchange centre for east and west. Many famous scholars visited and instructed there, including the American educationist Paul Monroe, W. H. Kilpatrick, E. L. Thorndike, philosopher John Dewey, writer Pearl Buck, British ideologist Bertrand Russell, German philosopher Hans Driesch and the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
The "Chinese Association of Natural Science" (中華自然科學社) was founded at the university in 1927. In August 1928 the school became 'National Central University' (國立中央大學). During the Anti-Japanese War between 1937 and 1945, the university moved to Chongqing. The "Natural Science Forum" was founded by the faculties of the university in 1939 and it founded the "China Association of Scientific Workers" (中國科學工作者協會) in 1944. In 1958 the associations were merged to be the "China Association for Science and Technology" (中国科学技术协会) in Beijing. The "Natural Science Forum" was renamed "Sept. 3rd Forum" and later again renamed "Sept. 3rd Society" in 1945. The "Sept. 3rd Society", or called "Jiusan Society", is a China organization for intellectual workers.
In 1949, the central government of the Republic of China moved from Nanjing, mainland China, to Taipei, Taiwan, and the National Central University was renamed 'National Nanjing University' (國立南京大學). In 1952, a famous Christian university, 'University of Nanking' (金陵大學), was merged with 'Nanjing University' (南京大學). National Central University was reinstated in Taiwan under the ROC in 1962.
In 1976, the faculties and students of the university launched the "Nanjing 3.29 Movement" to oppose the Cultural Revolution, spreading countrywide. In 1978, Hu Fuming, a faculty member of the Philosophy Department of Nanjing University, wrote and published the historic article entitled "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth". It led to the nationwide "Debate on Standards for Judging the Truth" and promoted the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Faculties

Nanjing University has been at the forefront of developments in teaching and research in China. It was the first institution in the country to adopt student-centred teaching methods. It was the first co-educational Chinese university. It was the first Chinese university to provide doctoral education. It has been a pioneer in many fields in China, such as literature, art, history, philosophy, religion, sociology, biology, astronomy, physics, geoscience, computer science and business studies.
'Schools and Departments'

★ School of Humanities

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★ Chinese, History, Philosophy, Religion

★ School of Foreign Studies

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★ English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, International Business

★ School of Science

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★ Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy

★ School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

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★ Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer material

★ School of Geoscience

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★ Earth Science, Atmosphere Science, Urban & Resources Science

★ School of Technology

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★ Computer Science & Technology, Electronics Science & Engineering, Material Science & Technology

★ School of Business

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★ Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, International Trading, Electronic Commerce,Marketing

★ School of Public Administration

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★ Politics, Government Administration, Sociology, Information Management

★ School of Journalism & Communication

★ School of Law

★ School of Medicine

★ School of Environment

★ School of Architecture

★ Software Institute

★ Department of Intensive Instruction

★ Education, Gymnastics, Art

★ Other research and education institutes in areas such as African Studies, Judaic Studies, International Affairs, Anthropology, Agriculture, Space Science, Engineering Management, etc.

Campus

Nanjing University consists of two campuses: Gulou Campus and Pukou campus. The main campus, Gulou campus, as the name suggests, is located in Gulou District, center of Nanjing City. The main campus itself is divided into two sections by Hankou Road: North Garden, Bei Yuan, is where most of teaching and research take place, and South Garden, Nan Yuan, serves as the living area for both students and academic staff.
The newly added Pukou campus rests in suburban Pukou District and became part of Nanjing University in 1993. Pukou campus hosts undergraduate freshmen, sophomore and junior students and is connected with the main campus by both shuttle bus and public transportation.

International exchanges

★ Honorary professors:

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★ Charles W. Woodworth, Professor Emeritus and founder of the Entomology Division UCB (1891-1930) was a lecturer in Entomology during his sabbatical there in 1918 and then again between 1921-4. See the C. W. Woodworth Award.

★ Selected recipients of honorary doctoral degree from Nanjing University:

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★ François Mitterrand, President of France

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★ George Herbert Walker Bush, President of United States (also contributed to the establishment of Hopkins-Nanjing Center - jointly administered by Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University)

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★ Bob Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia

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★ Boutros Boutros Ghali, United Nations Secretary General

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★ Johannes Rau, President of Germany (also contributed to the development of German-Chinese Institute for Legal Studies - jointly operated by University of Göttingen and Nanjing University)

Notable alumni

'Graduates'

★ Chang Chi-yun, historian, geographer, educationist, politician.

★ Chung-Yao Chao, physical scientist. The first scientist that captured positron through electron-positron annihilation and tested the existence of antimatter.

★ Chiang Yee, poet, author, painter, calligrapher. The "Silent Traveller".

★ Kwoh-Ting Li, economic expert, statesmen. The "Father of Taiwan's Economic Miracle".

★ Chien-Shiung Wu, scientist. Regarded as the "Greatest Experimental Physicist in 20th Century".

★ Feng Duan, physicist.

★ Yuan-Cheng Fung, scientist of bioengineering and biomechanics

★ Feng Kang, mathematician. The founder of finite element algorithm.

★ Liu Feipeng, Prevelent Forestry Wood Scientist

★ Kim Jun-Yop, historian, educationalist, social activist.

★ Gang Tian, mathematician.

★ Hu Bangji, journalist. China's war correspondent in European battlefield in World War II. She interviewed many men of the time, including Winston Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, De Gaulle, Truman, Chamberlain and Tito. Her husband, Bi Jilong, former vice secretary general of United Nations, was her schoolmate at Nanjing University.

★ Chang Cheh, film director. The "Father of New Gongfu Film".

★ Kenneth J. Hsu, scientist and geologist

★ Liu Dongsheng, geologist. Tyler Environmental Prize winner.

★ Mochtar Riady, financial magnate in southeast Asia. Founder and CEO of Lippo Group. Chairman of the Asian Bankers Association. The founder of several banks.

★ Nieh Hua-Ling, writer. Contributed a lot to world literature exchange.

★ Sha Zukang, diplomat. Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

★ Tang I-Fang, industry magnate. The founder and Chairman of Board of WBL Corporation. The Pioneer of Singapore Industry.

★ Tang Junyi, philosopher.

★ Wang Gungwu, historian, educator.

★ Vikram Seth, poet, novelist.

★ Y. H. Woo, physical scientist. After Wu Youxun verified Compton effect (X-ray diffraction), Nobel Prize was given to Arthur H. Compton.

★ Yu Chi-chung, Taiwan's media gurus, the founder of the China Times Group.

★ Jeff Xia, mathematician.

★ Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China (Studied at Nanjing Central University from 1943 to 1945).
'Faculty'

★ Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China. He was the president of the university between 1943 and 1944 when the university moved to Chongqing.

★ Chang Dai-chien, great Chinese artist.
'Alumni of the University of Nanking (merged in 1952)'

★ Choh Hao Li, biologist, biochemist. His achievements include isolating and synthesizing the human pituitary growth hormone and he received many honors including Lasker Award.

★ Choh-Ming Li, educationist, economist.

★ Francois Cheng, writer, poet. A "Bridge Between Eastern and Western Culture".

★ T.C. Tso, agriculturalist, tobacco scientist.

★ Te-Tzu Chang, agriculturalist. Member of Pontifical Academy of Sciences (Vatican City). He receives Tyler World Prize for Environmental Achievement 1999.

★ Thome H. Fang, philosopher.

★ Wu Teh Yao, educationist, politics scholar.
'Alumni of Attached/Affiliated Schools/Institutions'

★ Gao Xingjian, novelist, dramatist and critic. Nobel Prize Winner in Literature in 2000. He entered Middle School Attached to University of Nanking (Now Nanjing University Experiment School -- Jinling High School) in 1952.

★ Yuan Longping, agriculturalist. "China's Most Famous 'Farmer'", "Father of Hybrid Rice", Wolf Award winner. He graduated from Middle School Attached to National Nanjing University (Now NSFZ) in 1949.

Notes

External links

★ Nanjing University

★ Internet forum & bulletin board BBSNJU(official) | Lilybbs(private)

★ General Alumni Association of Nanjing University

★ US Alumni Association of Nanjing University

★ Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index CSSCI

★ School of Architecture of Nanjing University

★ Hopkins-Nanjing Center