Zhang Boling
Encyclopedia
Zhang Boling (April 5, 1876 in Tianjin
– February 23, 1951 in Tianjin
) was the founder of Nankai University
and the Nankai system of schools
.
in 1876 during the last years of the Qing Dynasty
. He was a cadet officer in the Beiyang Fleet
, but he abandoned his training after the fleet was destroyed during the First Sino-Japanese War
. He attended and graduated from Saint John's University
in Shanghai
.
After several years of teaching, Zhang Boling organized funding for a private college preparatory school, Nankai High School
, in Tianjin in 1904. In 1917 he briefly studied at the Teachers College at Columbia University
in the United States, where he was influenced by the American educator and reformer John Dewey
. Afterwards, he expanded his school into a full university, Nankai University
, in 1919. Under Zhang Boling's leadership, Nankai University continued to expand for the next few years and became one of the most prestigious universities in China.
He was noted for his emphasis on athletics, which he believed would rid China of its image as the 'Sick man of Asia' in the early 1900s, quoting that 'only a good sportsman can be a good teacher'. He established a number of annual national athletic meets and the forerunner to the modern Chinese Olympic Committee
. He established several smaller institutions, including a girls middle school (1923), experimental primary school (1928), institute of economics (1927), and of chemistry (1932).
During the 1930s, Zhang Boling anticipated the possibility of war with Japan and made preparations to evacuate Nankai University and Nankai High School from Tianjin to the Chinese interior. As part of these preparations, he founded the Nankai High School at Chongqing
in 1936. When the Second Sino-Japanese War
began on July 7, 1937, Zhang Boling evacuated the entire Nankai system of schools to Changsha, Hunan Province
.
As the Japanese military advanced towards the Chinese interior, Zhang Boling organized a second evacuation to Kunming
in Yunnan Province
in 1938. In Kunming, Nankai University joined with Peking University
and Tsinghua University
to form the National Southwestern Associated University
(國立西南聯合大學，国立西南联合大学), which continued to educate the top students in China until the war ended in 1945. Afterwards, Nankai University returned to Tianjin.
Zhang Boling died in Tianjin in 1951.
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
– February 23, 1951 in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
) was the founder of Nankai University
Nankai University
Nankai University , commonly known as Nankai, is a public research university based in Tianjin on mainland China. Founded in 1919 by educators Zhang Boling and Yan Fansun , Nankai University is a member of the Nankai serial schools. It is the alma mater of former Chinese Premier and key historical...
and the Nankai system of schools
Nankai High School
Tianjin Nankai High School is an elite college-preparatory high school in Tianjin, China. This is the original Nankai High School, and it is often referred to as Nankai High School in Tianjin to differentiate it from Chongqing Nankai Middle School, its sister school in Chongqing...
.
Biography
Zhang Boling was born in TianjinTianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
in 1876 during the last years of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. He was a cadet officer in the Beiyang Fleet
Beiyang Fleet
The Beiyang Fleet was one of the four modernised Chinese navies in the late Qing Dynasty. Among the four, the Beiyang Fleet was particularly sponsored by Li Hongzhang, one of the most trusted vassals of Empress Dowager Cixi and the principal patron of the "self-strengthening movement" in northern...
, but he abandoned his training after the fleet was destroyed during the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
. He attended and graduated from Saint John's University
Saint John's University, Shanghai
St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
After several years of teaching, Zhang Boling organized funding for a private college preparatory school, Nankai High School
Nankai High School
Tianjin Nankai High School is an elite college-preparatory high school in Tianjin, China. This is the original Nankai High School, and it is often referred to as Nankai High School in Tianjin to differentiate it from Chongqing Nankai Middle School, its sister school in Chongqing...
, in Tianjin in 1904. In 1917 he briefly studied at the Teachers College at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in the United States, where he was influenced by the American educator and reformer John Dewey
John Dewey
John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. Dewey was an important early developer of the philosophy of pragmatism and one of the founders of functional psychology...
. Afterwards, he expanded his school into a full university, Nankai University
Nankai University
Nankai University , commonly known as Nankai, is a public research university based in Tianjin on mainland China. Founded in 1919 by educators Zhang Boling and Yan Fansun , Nankai University is a member of the Nankai serial schools. It is the alma mater of former Chinese Premier and key historical...
, in 1919. Under Zhang Boling's leadership, Nankai University continued to expand for the next few years and became one of the most prestigious universities in China.
He was noted for his emphasis on athletics, which he believed would rid China of its image as the 'Sick man of Asia' in the early 1900s, quoting that 'only a good sportsman can be a good teacher'. He established a number of annual national athletic meets and the forerunner to the modern Chinese Olympic Committee
Chinese Olympic Committee
Chinese Olympic Committee represents the People's Republic of China in international affairs related to the Olympic Movement.-Timeline concerning Olympic recognition:...
. He established several smaller institutions, including a girls middle school (1923), experimental primary school (1928), institute of economics (1927), and of chemistry (1932).
During the 1930s, Zhang Boling anticipated the possibility of war with Japan and made preparations to evacuate Nankai University and Nankai High School from Tianjin to the Chinese interior. As part of these preparations, he founded the Nankai High School at Chongqing
Chongqing Nankai Middle School
Chongqing Nankai Secondary School is one of the best secondary schools in Chongqing, China. It is located in Chenjiawan, Shapingba District.-History:...
in 1936. When the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
began on July 7, 1937, Zhang Boling evacuated the entire Nankai system of schools to Changsha, Hunan Province
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
.
As the Japanese military advanced towards the Chinese interior, Zhang Boling organized a second evacuation to Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
in Yunnan Province
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
in 1938. In Kunming, Nankai University joined with Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
and Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
to form the National Southwestern Associated University
National Southwestern Associated University
When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out between China and Japan in 1937, Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University, merged to form Changsha Temporary University in Changsha, and later National Southwestern Associated University in Kunming...
(國立西南聯合大學，国立西南联合大学), which continued to educate the top students in China until the war ended in 1945. Afterwards, Nankai University returned to Tianjin.
Zhang Boling died in Tianjin in 1951.