April 5 this year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Zhang Boling, the renowned patriotic educator and founding president of Nankai University and the Nankai family of schools. To honor and carry forward his patriotic ideals and educational philosophy, and to promote the spirit of educators in the new era, Nankai University held a series of commemorative activities, including a memorial ceremony and a symposium. These events paid tribute to this revered pioneer, inspired younger generations to carry forward the patriotic tradition, and called on them to shoulder the missions of their time.

Those events were attended by Zhang Yuanlong, Zhang Yuanling, Zhang Jianyuan, and Zhang Le, descendants of Zhang Boling; Yan Shi, a descendant of Yan Xiu; Yang Qingshan, Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee and Chairman of the Nankai Alumni Association; Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University; Liang Qi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee; Bai Chengming, Vice President of Nankai University and Executive Vice Chairman of the Nankai Alumni Association; Wang Wenchang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Principal of Tianjin Nankai High School; Lyu Zhenlyu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Chongqing Nankai Middle School; Sun Zhuo, Principal of Tianjin No. 2 Nankai School and Vice Chairman of the Nankai Alumni Association; He Fang, Vice Principal of Zigong Shuguang Middle School; and Zhan Xianhua, Vice Chairman of the Nankai Alumni Association and Chairman of the Nankai University Alumni Association in Tianjin.

Those events were also attended by representatives from the Nankai Alumni Association, the Nankai University Alumni Association in Tianjin, the Tianjin Yan Xiu Research Association, the Tianjin Zhang Boling Research Association, and Nankai University’s School History Work Leading Group, as well as representatives of faculty and students from Nankai University and the Nankai family of schools.

At 9 a.m., Nankai University held a solemn memorial ceremony on Balitai Campus. All attendees bowed before the statues of Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling and laid flowers in tribute, expressing deep respect for the outstanding contributions the two pioneers made to the development of Nankai’s education. The ceremony was presided over by Bai Chengming.

Following the ceremony, a symposium commemorating the 150th anniversary of Zhang Boling’s birth, themed “Inheriting the Spirit of Patriotism and Promoting the Spirit of Educators”, was held in Shiing-Shen Building. It was chaired by Chen Yulu.

In his remarks, Yang Qingshan looked back with deep emotion on Zhang Boling’s remarkable journey of strengthening the nation through education. President Xi Jinping visited Nankai University on January 17, 2019 and pointed out that the University's soul lies in its proud tradition of patriotism. This remark fully affirmed Zhang Boling’s lifelong dedication to patriotism. Yang emphasized that, driven by Zhang Boling’s conviction that education could save the nation, Nankai University’s defining character was forged as an institution born amid national crisis and flourishing in service of national strength. Through his spirit of dedication and practical action, Zhang Boling shaped Nankai University’s distinctive ethos of striving for excellence and never yielding in the face of adversity. With his deep patriotism and devotion, he also distilled the university’s enduring ideals into its motto, “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day.” With sincere love for the country and a pioneering, trailblazing, and innovative spirit, Zhang Boling inspired generations of Nankai people to integrate their personal ideals into the great cause of national development and to stand at the forefront of the journey toward national rejuvenation. In recent years, Yang Qingshan said, the university has consistently regarded preserving and carrying forward Zhang Boling’s educational philosophy and moral legacy as an important mission in its governance and development, so that the spirit of Nankai University’s pioneers may take root and flourish in the new era. Today, the university is at a crucial stage in its efforts to build a world-class institution distinguished by Nankai character and Chinese characteristics. He emphasized that carrying forward Zhang Boling’s spirit must be embodied throughout the entire process of university governance, education, and talent cultivation, and translated into a powerful driving force for the university’s high-quality development. Looking ahead, Yang Qingshan urged faculty and students across the university to forge a stronger patriotism and remain steadfast in the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education; to temper themselves through hard work and carry forward a spirit of diligence, dedication, and perseverance; to put into practice the service-oriented commitment embodied in university’s educational philosophy of “Knowing China and Serving China”; and to promote the spirit of educators by building a high-caliber teaching faculty. He called on the entire university community to stay true to the founding mission, courageously shoulder the responsibilities of the times, and strive to write a new chapter in building a world-class university with Nankai character and Chinese characteristics, thereby contributing even greater Nankai University’s strength to national rejuvenation and the building of a strong nation.

In his remarks, Chen Yulu noted that President Xi Jinping had highly commended the patriotic tradition founded by Zhang Boling at Nankai University, the “Three Questions on Patriotism” he proposed, the Nankai motto, and the educational philosophy of “Knowing China and Serving China”, and had issued important instructions in this regard. Chen Yulu said the purpose of the symposium was to reflect on Zhang Boling’s original educational aspirations, carry forward his educational thought, and promote his noble character, turning the spiritual legacy of Nankai University’s century-long history into a powerful force for advancing the building of a strong nation in education. The spirit of Nankai University has been passed down from generation to generation, and the example set by its pioneers endures. Zhang Boling devoted his life to saving the nation through education and strengthening it through learning. Together with Yan Xiu, honored as the university’s founding father, he inscribed devotion to the country into the university’s motto and wove patriotism into its very foundation. The “Three Questions on Patriotism” still resonates powerfully more than a century later. The ideal of “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day” remains the clearest hallmark of university’s identity, while “Knowing China and Serving China” continues to provide the firmest direction for the university’s governance and development. Chen Yulu noted that the university is currently at a crucial juncture as it embarks on the opening stage of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. He emphasized that carrying forward Zhang Boling’s educational philosophy, noble spirit, and exemplary moral character must be translated into concrete action, so that upholding the Nankai spirit he helped found becomes a shared and conscious commitment of every member of the university community. He expressed the hope that all faculty and students would remain united in purpose and press ahead with resolve, bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s earnest expectations, steadfastly implement the major strategic plans of the CPC Central Committee for the new era, strive to achieve development outcomes that can stand the test of practice, the people, and history, and work together to write a new chapter for Nankai University worthy of history, the times, and the people.

Zhang Yuanlong, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress, attended the event as a representative of Zhang Boling’s family and extended sincere thanks to the organizer and to the faculty, students, and alumni present. Referring to Nankai University’s tradition of fostering national consciousness and patriotic education, he shared his understanding of the “Three Questions on Patriotism” and underscored the importance of sustaining patriotic education. Zhang Yuanlong stated that the three questions proposed by Zhang Boling essentially concern the philosophical questions of “Who am I?”, “Where do I come from?” and “Where am I going?”, and also carry profound educational significance. He stressed that patriotic education remains essential because it has the power to unite hearts and minds, and he expressed the hope that everyone would make their due contribution to world peace and national rejuvenation.

At the symposium, Liang Qi gave a systematic overview of Zhang Boling’s educational thought from four perspectives. First, patriotism as the soul of education and the university’s founding mission constitutes the core of Zhang Boling’s educational philosophy. Second, the concept of all-round development centered on “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day” is a defining hallmark of his thought. Third, the educational commitment to “Knowing China and Serving China” represents the practical orientation of his philosophy. Fourth, the spirit of educators, embodied in teaching by both word and example and in wholehearted devotion to nurturing students, gives personal expression to his educational thought. Liang Qi noted that Zhang Boling’s educational philosophy is not only a spiritual treasure of Nankai University, but also a precious asset of Chinese education. Going forward, the university should continue to explore its rich connotations in greater depth, provide more systematic interpretation, and vigorously carry forward its essence, while remaining true to its founding mission, fulfilling the educational responsibilities of the new era, and contributing its strength to the building of a strong nation.

Other speakers included Hou Jie, former chairman of the Tianjin Yan Xiu Research Association, Vice Chairman of the Tianjin Zhang Boling Research Association, and professor in the History College at Nankai University; Chen Xin, Director of the School History Research Office at Nankai University; Ma Mengfei, Associate Dean of the School of Marxism at Nankai University; Guo Ruitong, an undergraduate student in the 2023 Boling Class at Nankai University’s School of Economics; as well as Zhan Xianhua and Sun Zhuo. Speaking from different perspectives, they revisited Zhang Boling’s educational journey and elaborated on the spirit embodied in the university motto, “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day,” as well as the educational commitment of “Knowing China and Serving China”.

Zhang Boling (1876–1951), given name Shouchun and courtesy name Boling, graduated from the Beiyang Naval Academy in 1895. In 1898, after personally witnessing the humiliation of the three changes of the national flag, he became deeply convinced that the only way for the nation to strengthen itself lies in education and resolved to create a new model of education and cultivate a new generation of talent. That year, he met Yan Xiu, and together they embarked on their educational mission. Beginning in 1904, and through more than three decades of dedicated effort, they successively founded Tianjin Nankai High School, Nankai University, Nankai Girls’ Middle School, Nankai Primary School, and Chongqing Nankai Middle School, and also took over Zigong Shuguang Middle School, thereby establishing a complete education system of the Nankai family of schools. In the course of building and running these institutions, Zhang Boling forged a legacy of patriotism rooted in devotion to the nation and service to society, embodied the motto of “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day,” and fostered a youthful spirit marked by vitality and a forward-looking vision, leaving behind the distinctive “Nankai phenomenon” in the history of modern Chinese education.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)