Cai Yuanpei’s Vision for True Learning | Generated by AI

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Question: Provide the English translation of “就任北京大学校长之演说” (Cai Yuanpei’s inaugural speech as President of Peking University, from the University Chinese course, code 04729).

Answer:

Speech on Assuming the Presidency of Peking University
(by Cai Yuanpei, January 1917)

Five years ago, when Mr. Yan Jidao (Yan Fu) was President of this university, I was serving in the Ministry of Education and made some contributions to the school on the opening day. Most of you have come here after graduating from the preparatory course, so you are probably familiar with that occasion. As the saying goes, “After three days of separation, one should look at others with new eyes.” How much more so after several years have passed? You must have made great progress compared to before.

Now that I have become the head of this university, I would like to offer you three pieces of advice.

First: Hold firmly to your purpose.

You have come here to study, and you must have a definite purpose. To determine whether that purpose is upright and great, you must first understand the nature of a university. Nowadays, people attend specialized schools, complete their studies, and then take up positions—this is inevitable. But a university is different. A university is an institution for the pursuit of advanced scholarship.

Foreigners often criticize our university for its corruption, saying that those who study here all have the intention of becoming officials or getting rich. Therefore, among preparatory graduates, many enter the law department, very few enter the literature department, and even fewer enter the science department—because the law department is seen as the “shortcut to officialdom.” Because of their eagerness to become officials, students do not care about the depth of a teacher’s scholarship but only about the size of his official rank. Those with high ranks are especially welcomed, as they may provide help after graduation.

At present in our country, those proficient in politics and law mostly enter government service, and very few devote themselves exclusively to teaching. Therefore, when hiring faculty, we have no choice but to employ people who hold concurrent positions—this is unavoidable. Whether the foreign criticisms are justified or not, let us leave that aside for now. But to silence slander, nothing is better than self-improvement. If others call us corrupt and we are not corrupt, then our conscience is clear—what have we to fear?

If your real goal is to become an official or get rich, there are plenty of specialized schools in Beijing. Those interested in law can attend law schools; those interested in commerce can attend commercial schools. Why come to this university?

Therefore, you must hold firmly to your purpose and come here for the sake of learning. Those entering the law department should not do so to become officials; those entering the commerce department should not do so to get rich. Once your purpose is set, you will naturally follow the right path.

You will study here for three or four years—a not inconsiderable amount of time. If you cherish your time and diligently pursue learning, your achievements will know no limits. But if you are merely intent on becoming officials or getting rich, your purpose will be misguided, and your direction will deviate accordingly. In ordinary times you will indulge in dissipation and pleasure-seeking; during examinations you will memorize lecture notes without regard for true knowledge, caring only about scores. Once exams are over, books are cast aside and forgotten. You muddle through three or four years perfunctorily, obtain your diploma, and use it to make your way in society. Is this not completely contrary to your original intention in seeking education?

Wasting time and acquiring no real knowledge—this is self-harm. Moreover, in the Revolution of 1911, we revolted because of the corruption of Qing officials. Even today, we are dissatisfied with those in power largely because of their moral degradation. If you do not now lay a solid foundation and study diligently, then in the future, if forced by livelihood to take up positions—whether as teachers (where you will mislead students) or in government (where you will mislead the nation)—you will cause harm to others. Harming yourself and others—surely this is not what you desire?

Therefore, your purpose must be upright and great. This is my first hope for you.

(The speech continues with the second and third points: “Sharpen your moral character” and “Respect teachers and befriend classmates,” emphasizing moral integrity amid social corruption and mutual respect within the academic community.)

This famous address is a key text in modern Chinese education history, criticizing utilitarian motives for university study and redefining the university as a place for pure scholarly pursuit rather than a stepping stone to wealth or power. It played a foundational role in Cai Yuanpei’s reforms that transformed Peking University into a center of academic freedom and the New Culture Movement.

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