Evaluation of Mei Yi-Qi, president of Tsinghua university, regarding the student movements of China in the 1930s

Abstract

The Japanese imperialist invasion in the 1930s greatly strengthened the nationalism of the Chinese people. Numerous university students were greatly angered by the brutalities of the wartime Japanese imperialists and resisted with aggressive demonstrations and class absences. Mei Yi-Qi (1889-1962), the President of Tsinghua University, took a leading role in denouncing the Japanese imperialists and their use of provocative force. Nevertheless, he asked students to stop demonstrating and return to their classes by stating that “The best way to save the nation is devotion to learning.” It does not mean that Mei Yi-Qi had a dual personality or had succumbed to political power. Rather, despite his profound desire to improve, guide and protect the world, as an educator, he valued the safety of students above all things. He further objected to the student movement due to his concern for possible rash actions by the students. Although Mei valued the great patriotic fervor of the students, he tried to prevent them from joining any one political faction and acting violently. © Rushing Water Publishers Ltd. 2019.