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Nanjing University

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Nanjing University (南京大学) is one of China's most prestigious universities, and is also one of the oldest higher education institutions. Nanjing University is the cradle of modern science of China, and is regarded as the first actual modern university in China.

History

Nanjing University, originated in 258 as the highest institution of learning of ancient Central Kingdom, was modernly founded in 1902. In 13th century, it was world's largest higher education institution, with about 10 thousand students, numerous of whom came from many other countries, Wu ChengEn, Zheng He and Zheng Chenggong are three famous alumni at the time. In its modern history it has had several names, including Nanjing Higher Normal Institute(南京高等师范学校), National Southeast University(国立东南大学), and National Central University(国立中央大学). It changed its name from Central University to Nanjing University in 1949. In 1952, another famous Christian university, University of Nanking(金陵大学), founded in 1888, was merged with Nanjing University.

Historic Events

  • "The Science Society of China", the first and dominating Chinese science organization, settled in the university in 1918. It strengthened Nanjing University's position as the science center of China.
  • The monthly Xue Heng started publication in January, 1922. It is the symbol of the naissance of "Xue Heng School", with representative persons such as famous Chinese scholar Liu Boming, Liu Yizheng, Mei Guangdi, Wu Mi, Hu Xianxiao, etc., whose tenet is to renaissance traditional Chinese culture by integration with modern humanism. During the period, Nanjing University was recognized as an academic and cultural exchange centre for east and west. Many famous scholar in the world came to discourse or teach, among them including American educationist P. Paul Monroe, philosopher J. Dewey, educationist W. H. Kilpatrick, psychologist R. S. Woodworth, litterateur Pearl Buck, British ideologist B. Russell, German philosopher Hans Driesch, Indian poet R. Tagore. Nanjing University was praised as the "Oriental Education Centre".
  • In 1976, the teachers and students at Nanjing University launched "Nanjing 3.29 Movement" in aim to fight against and end the destructive proletariat "Cultural Revolution" initiated by Mao Zedong. The effort led to the break out of countrywide "4.5 Movement". In 1978, Hu FuMing , a teacher from the Philosophy Department of Nanjing University, wrote and published the historic article entitled "Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth". It brought on nationwide "Debate on Standards for Judging the Truth" and directly promoted the end of "Cultural Revolution" and the start of new era of reform and openness led by Deng Xiaoping. Since then mainland China has been gradually making progress in becoming a free society and integrating into the world.

Faculties & Schools

Nanjing University is a pioneering institution of higher learning with long history and abundant heritage. It is the first higher education institution in China to change education method from "Teaching" to "Instruction", to adopt "Credit System", to introduce "Elective System", to engage female professor, to implement coeducation, to provide doctoral education, and to launch "Generalist Education" project in both science and humanities. It is the pioneer to initiate "Teacher's Day" in China. It set up the first academic research laboratory in China. Nanjing University established many first faculties in China, including first faculty of biology, first faculty of meteorology, first faculty of psychology, first faculty of western literature, first faculty of architecture, first faculty of aeronautics, first faculty of agriculture, first faculty of forestry, first faculty of physical education, first faculty of art, first faculty of film and broadcast, first faculty of modern mathematics, first faculty of modern geosciences, first national school of medicine, first professional school of public administration, first professional law school, first business school including first faculty of business management, first faculty of banking & financing, first faculty of accounting, first faculty of international trading, ect. Nanjing University also has many other faculties of long standing such as Chinese, literature, drama, history, philosophy, religion, anthropology, sociology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, electrical & electronics, computer science and urban planning.


Campus

Nanjing University consists of two campuses. The main campus is located in Gulou District, the centre of Nanjing. The new affiliated campus constructed in 1993 lies in Pukou District, suburb of Nanjing.

Facilities and Resources

International Exchanges

Famous Alumni

  • Chang Cheh(Zhang Che), film director. The "Father of New GongFu Film".
  • Chang Chi-yun(Zhang QiJun), historian, geographer, educationist, politician.
  • Chang Dai-chien(Zhang DaQian), great Chinese art.
  • Chiang Kai-shek(Jiang JieShi, Jiang ZhongZheng), statesmen. President of China. He was also the president of the university in 1943 and 1944.
  • Chiang Yee(Jiang Yi), poet, author, painter, calligrapher. The "Silent Traveller".
  • Chien-Shiung Wu(Wu JianXiong), scientist. Regarded as the "Greatest Experimental Physicist in 20th Century".
  • Chao CY(Zhao ZhongYao), physical scientist. The discoverer of antimatter, the first scientist that observed positron.
  • Choh Hao Li(Li ZhuoHao), biologist.
  • Choh-Ming Li(Li ZhuoMing), educationist, economist.
  • Feng Duan, physicist.
  • Feng Kang, mathematician. The founder of finite element algorithm.
  • Francois Cheng(Cheng BaoYi), writer, poet. A "Bridge Between Eastern and Western Culture"".
  • Gang Tian(Tian Gang), mathematician.
  • Gao Xingjian, novelist, dramatist and critic. Nobel Prize Winner in Literature in 2000. He entered Middle School Attached to University of Nanking (Now Nanjing Univesity Experiment School -- Jinling High School) in 1952.
  • Hu BangJi, journalist. China's war correspondent in European battlefield in World War II. She interviewed many men of the time, including Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, De Gaulle, Truman, Chamberlain and Tito. Her husband, Bi Jilong, former vice secretary of United Nations, is her schoolmate at Nanjing University.
  • Jiang ZeMing, statesmen. President of China. He studied at Nanjing Central University from 1943 to 1945.
  • Kenneth J. Hsü(Xu JingHua), scientist.
  • Kim Jun-Yop, historian, educationlist, social activitist.
  • Kwoh-Ting Lee(Li GuoDing), economic expert, statesmen. The "Father of Taiwan's Economic Miracle".
  • Liu Dongsheng, geologist. Tyler Environmental Prize winner.
  • Mochtar Riady(Li WenZheng), financial magnate in southeast Asia. Considered as The Best Banker in Asia. The Founder and CEO of Lippo Group. The founder of several banks.
  • Nieh Hua Ling(Nie HuaLing), writer. Contributed a lot to world literature exchange.
  • Pearl Buck, novelist, writer. "A Cultural Bridge Across the Pacific". Pulitzer Prize winner, Nobel Prize winner. She had taught at the university for more than ten years where she spent her most productive years. Related:Former Residence of Pearl Buck
  • Sha Zukang, diplomat. President of the Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
  • Tang I-Fang(Tang YiFang). industry magnate. The founder and Chaireman of Board of WBL Corporation. The Pioneer of Singapore Industry.
  • Tao XingZhi, great educationist. The Chinese "Modern Confucius".
  • T.C. Tso(Zuo TianJue), agriculturalist, tobacco scientist.
  • Te-Tzu Chang, agriculturalist.
  • Wang Gungwu(Wang GengWu), historian, educationist.
  • Wu Teh Yao(Wu DeYao), educationist, politics scholar.
  • Vikram Seth, poet, novelist.
  • Woo YH(Wu You Xun), physical scientist.
  • Wu LiangYong, architect.
  • Yuan-Cheng Fung(Feng YuanZhen), scientist. The "Father of Bioengineering", the "Founder of Biomechanics".
  • Yuan LongPing, agriculturalist. "China's Most Famous 'Farmer'", Father of Hybrid Rice", Wolf Award winner. He graduated from Middle School Attached to National Nanjing Univesity (Now NSFZ) in 1949.
  • Yu Chi-chung(Yu JiZhong). press magnate. The founder of the China Times Group.
  • Zhihong Jeff Xia(Xia ZhiHong), mathematician.
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