Fudan University

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Fudan University

Introduction

Fudan University is China's first private university and one of the most prestigious universities, which have made great contributions to China's independence, establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC), growth, development, prosperousness, and modernization of modern China.

One of the most profound contributions Fudan University has made was for China's independence and the establishment of PRC.

Cradle of PRC

In the early 20^th century, China was a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society under the rule of foreign invaders and the emperor. At that time, the most important challenge and choice facing China was to end the colonialism and feudalism, and to establish a new independent China.

However, the foreign invaders and old rulers would not give up the power. Only revolution and China Independent War could save China and Chinese people’s future. To China, the importance of China Independent War was similar to the importance of American Independent War to America. It was at this critical moment that Fudan University had played crucial roles, which had changed the course of China's history and world's history.

In 1920, Fudan University professor Chen Wang Dao first translated and published the book "Gong Chan Dang Xuan Yan" in China. This historical work was very important and significant in China history. It had significantly influenced the establishment of China's ruling party -- CPC in 1921, which had changed China's history.

Professor Chen Wang Dao's book was also the major required book during 1920s and 1930s for all Long March Red Army generals and soldiers, underground cadres, etc., who later on became China's founders and leaders.

As a result, this book had become the most influential work in modern China history, which had educated, encouraged, and inspired the entire generation of PRC leaders, including:

Mao Ze Dong -- founder and chairman of PRC, president of the PRC Central Military Commission of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Zhou En Lai -- co-founder and premier of PRC.

Zhu De -- co-founder of PRC, founder and chief general of PLA.

Liu Shao Qi -- co-founder and president of PRC.

Deng Xiao Ping -- co-founder and general secretary of PRC. General designer and senior leader for China reform and open policy.

Besides above PRC founders, professor Chen Wang Dao's work had also educated, inspired, and influenced all PRC ministers, military generals, and provincial governors, leaders, etc.

After the establishment of PRC, Mao Ze Dong mentioned three books that had the most influences on his career. Professor Chen Wang Dao's book was ranked as the first one, which had changed Mao Ze Dong's career. For many other China's founders and leaders (including Deng Xiao Ping, etc.), professor Chen Wang Dao's book was the only book that had changed their careers. Therefore after the establishment of PRC, Zhou En Lai said to professor Chen Wang Dao: "We were all educated by you."

As a result, Fudan University had become PRC's earliest "Zhong Yang Dang Xiao" (the school for PRC leaders), which had educated and inspired the entire generation of PRC founders and leaders. Fudan University had thus become the cradle of PRC, and had changed the course of China's history as well as the world's history.

China's Cambridge

In China, university reorganization and development issues usually belong to the jurisdiction of China Ministry of Education. However, Fudan University was an exception. In 1952, after the establishment of PRC, in recognition of Fudan University's special contributions to China's independence and the founding of the PRC, Mao Ze Dong personally designated Fudan as China's Cambridge, wrote the title for the new Fudan University, and appointed professor Chen Wang Dao as the president of new Fudan University.

As a result, Fudan's reorganization and development were carried out under direct instructions from Mao Ze Dong, Zhou En Lai, China Central Committee, China State Department, China Ministry of Education, and was carried out with the participation of China People's Liberation Army (PLA) Central Military Committee and PLA troops, etc.

Due to its special contributions to the founding of PRC, Fudan University has become one of China's most influential universities that has shaped and changed China history and the world history, and has become one of China’s top universities.

About Chen Wang Dao

Chen Wang Dao not only contributed to the theoretical foundation for the future of a new China, he also pioneered in the process of CPC's establishment.

From 1920 to 1921, Chen Wang Dao worked with Chen Du Xiu to establish the China's ruling party -- CPC, was a cofounder of CPC, and a co-organizer of the CPC First Conference in Shanghai. However, because he disliked Chen Du Xiu's dictatorship style and disagreed with Chen Du Xiu on many issues, as a cofounder of CPC, he finally decided not to attend the CPC First Conference. There were twelve representatives attended the CPC First Conference in 1921. Mao Ze Dong was one of the twelve participants.

The personal disagreements between Chen Du Xiu and Chen Wang Dao became so intensified that finally, Chen Wang Dao decided to separate from Chen Du Xiu, and quitted the CPC (controlled by Chen Du Xiu then) in 1923.

As a CPC cofounder, quitting CPC was a very serious issue to CPC, and this incident was kept a low profile in China. Since then, Chen Wang Dao did not play too much roles in CPC and PRC politics later on in China history.

Mao Ze Dong knew Chen Wang Dao very well and understood the reasons why Chen Wang Dao quitted CPC. After the establishment of PRC, Mao Ze Dong instructed: "Whenever Chen Wang Dao wants to come back to CPC, just let him come back. No autobiography or resume is needed. No discussion is needed. He may keep CPC status confidential." In 1957, under Mao Ze Dong's direct instruction, the CPC Central Committee directly accepted Chen Wang Dao back to CPC. Due to historical reasons, Chen Wang Dao's re-joining CPC had been kept confidential in China. Only very few people knew Chen Wang Dao's re-joining CPC status, which include the Gang of Four.

As a cofounder of CPC and co-organizer of CPC First Conference, Chen Wang Dao's status in CPC was more senior than Mao Ze Dong, Zhou En Lai, Zhu De, etc. PRC founders. After the establishment of PRC, when Mao Ze Dong personally appointed professor Chen Wang Dao as Fudan University president in 1952, he became the most heavy-weighted university president in all universities in China.

During the Cultural Revolution, most university presidents in China were either stepped down, sent to labor camps, jailed, or killed. But Chen Wang Dao was an exception. Due to his special contributions to China and PRC, Chen Wang Dao was specially protected by Mao Ze Dong and Zhou En Lai. As a result, Chen Wang Dao became the only president of top universities in China who was not persecuted during the Cultural Revolution.

As a cofounder of CPC, Chen Wang Dao was one of the most influential people in the 20th century in China. However, he had been kept a low profile during his life because of the following reasons:

1. Quitting CPC. Although the cause of his quitting CPC was due to personal conflict with Chen Du Xiu, however, the fact that a CPC cofounder quitted CPC would damage the CPC's image. So keeping a low profile would minimize the image damage to CPC.

2. Relationship with the Gang of Four. In 1952, Chen Wang Dao was appointed as Fudan University president by Mao Ze Dong personally. During the Cultural Revolution, Chen Wang Dao was one of the three persons specially protected by Mao Ze Dong and Zhou En Lai directly in Shanghai. Due to above reasons, the Gang of Four knew that Chen Wang Dao was not an ordinary person and had special ties with China's top leaders. As a result, the Gang of Four treated Chen Wang Dao differently from other people. This special treatment from the Gang of Four made Chen Wang Dao appeared to have close relationship with the Gang of Four (in fact, based on Chen Wang Dao's contribution to CPC and special relationships with Mao Ze Dong and Zhou En Lai, he had no need to follow the Gang of Four. His relationship with the Gang of Four was more out of a courtesy.) However, due to above reason, he was kept in a low profile.

As time goes by, confidentiality will not be necessary, above history will be known to more and more people.

Anniversary

2005 witnesses Fudan University's centennial anniversary. ACMA joins the global celebration for the special anniversary, and wishes Fudan to make greater achievements in the new century.