"Eight horses in the same trough" Shilin legend. In 1950, Shandong University's History Department was full of talents and celebrities, and was one of the strongest in the history departments of comprehensive universities in China at that time.

"Eight Horses in the Same Roof" Shilin Legend

2021-11-14 Source: Dazhong Daily 07 edition

□ Reporter of this newspaper Lu Yu

1950, Shandong University's History Department was full of talents and celebrities, and was one of the strongest in the history departments of comprehensive universities in China at that time. Among them, eight professors represented by Yang Xiangkui, Tongs Books, Huang Yunmei, Zheng Hesheng, Zhang Weihua, Wang Zhonglu, Zhao Lisheng, and Chen Tongxie, are closely linked to the times and leading the academic trend, thus forming a style of academic importance that both "arbitrary studies" and "study and study", laying the foundation for the school tradition of "favoring literature and history" of Shandong University, and "eight horses and troughs" have also become a legend of the Shilin.

" Peking University is the alma mater, but I prefer to go to Shandong University"

About "Bama", there are different versions. Because among the "Eight Major Professors", Yang Xiangkui is a second-level professor, while others are third-level professors , while Wu Dakun is a third-level professor. One thing is to say, there should be Professor Wu Dakun among the "Eight Major Professors", and Yang Xiangkui is a higher level, which is not included in this list.

Abandoning disputes, "Eight Horses" may be just a symbol, representing the talented team of teachers in the history department of Shandong University. If you count the "horses" outside the "eight horses", it is amazing that you can't help but admire - there are too many horses in the history department. At that time and afterwards, at least Wu Dakun, Xu Siyuan, Huashan, Lu Zhenhua, Mo Dongyin, Yuan Shouchun, Han Lianqi , Sun Sibai , Jiang Jiefu and other famous professors...

Among the "Eight Horses", the leading figure was Yang Xiangkui. In 1946, Shandong University was preparing to resume the school after 8 years of suspension. At this time, Yang Xiangkui accepted the invitation of the principal Zhao Taichun and taught at Shandong University.

"In the autumn of 1946, I went to Qingdao Shandong University to teach, and since 1947, I served as the director of the Department of Chinese Literature. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, I returned to Beijing. Mr. Fu ( Fu Sinian ) asked me where I planned to go next semester. He was responsible for the introduction. I said I wanted to go to Qingdao Shandong University. This was the good impression I passed by Qingdao in 1937, which made me want to go. Later, he and Mr. Yang Zhensheng introduced me to Shandong University and taught for 10 years. Peking University is my alma mater. I lived for seven or eight years and had deep feelings. I was willing to stay; but I would rather go to Shandong University. I was in Shandong University for 10 years. It was my youth and middle-aged age. I think I had not had time for those 10 years." Yang Xiangkui once recalled this in the article "Remembering the Past".

On June 7, 1952, Dean of the School of Literature, Wu Fuheng, was changed to the Dean of the School of Literature, and Yang Xiangkui replaced Wu as the Dean of the School of Literature, and continued to serve as the director of the History Department. From then on until he left Shandong and entered Beijing in 1956, Yang Xiangkui was one of the main planners in the development of the discipline of liberal arts and history at Shandong University in the past and next decade.

The general environment at that time gave Yang Xiangkui room to show his strength. "In the early days of the founding of New China, famous professors wrote the poem "Since liberation, I have been happy to see the sky" and expressed the common voice of the teachers. When I entered Shandong University in the autumn of 1949, I saw that the teachers were all happy, and joy made them younger and even naive. In the literary performances of the whole school and various departments, famous middle-aged and elderly professors often performed on the same stage with their classmates. I still remember that historian Professor Yang Xiangkui once shook his head in love at the party and sang Xipai Peking Opera alumnus Meng Jia once recalled.

Hualiu has a long hiss, resonating with the north and south. In terms of "teachership", among the "Eight Horses", Zhang Weihua, Yang Xiangkui, and Children's Books and Arts are disciples of Gu Jiegang; although Zhao Lisheng is from Tsinghua , his academic influence comes from Peking University. As for Chen Tongxie, although he was born in , Nankai and specialized in Western history, he had no connection with other people, but in the mid-to-late 1930s he taught at Peking University (that is, when Yang, Zhang and Zhao were studying in Beijing), so he could be roughly considered the Peking University department. Three people in the south, Zheng Hesheng and Huang Yunmei were influenced by the "Southern High School Academic Style" and had a deep connection with Liu Yizheng, the pioneer of modern and modern history. Wang Zhonglu was a disciple of Taiyan , and his path to history also followed the Southeast academics, and he also had a return with Liu Yizheng.

"The most glorious era of Shandong University's History Department"

"The 'Eight Horses and Same Trough' era can be said to be the most glorious era of Shandong University's History Department after the founding of New China. I don't know if my colleagues in the history department will have any opinions later. This is just my personal feeling. When I entered school, these eight professors were in their prime. I think most of them were in their forties and fifties. Mr. Zhao was the youngest, but in his thirties. The department was full of a strong academic atmosphere. Professors often published papers with new ideas." Zou Yilin, a famous historical geographer who entered the school in the autumn of 1952 and graduated in the summer of 1956, once wrote an article.

At that time, the professors lived a simple life. Most of the people I wear are blue cloth Zhongshan clothing and cloth shoes, and some of them wear long robes in winter, such as Mr. Zhang and Mr. Tong. "The most important thing to wear is Mr. Yang. Usually, he is a Zhongshan suit. In winter, he adds a cashmere coat. The handkerchiefs he takes out are mostly silk. Our students say behind the scenes that the teacher's wife takes care of Mr. Yang. The least important thing is Mr. Tong. A robe has not been washed for many years and has all kinds of stains on it. We have met Mr. Tong and he loves neatness very much, but Mr. Tong has such a habit of living, so his teacher's wife really has no choice." Zou Yilin recalled.

Children's book business is not limited to details, but is rigorous and meticulous in preaching and receiving. He once said that he had the "Three Strict Spirits": 1. Treat commitments strictly. Never make a promise easily. Once a promise is made, it must be fulfilled. No exceptions or individual circumstances are allowed to occur; 2. Strict reading plan and time to follow. The things that day were done on the same day, regardless of wind and rain, day and night, and are never allowed to be delayed until the second day; 3. Strictly abide by class time and eliminate the phenomenon of . He never brings notes and other things in class. He comes with bare hands and plays improvised, but he is logical and orderly. What's even more peculiar is that whenever he finishes a big paragraph and announces the end of the class, the bell for the end of the get out of class always rings at the same time or within one or two minutes. The accuracy of its time is shocking.

At that time, the school did not have new teachers' dormitories, and most of them lived in the original housing around the school. Due to the different admission time, the housing conditions were also different. Mr. Zheng lives in the original small western-style building (first floor). The house is spacious and there is no decent furniture. They are all beds, tables and chairs received from the school. He has a lot of books. He heard that there are 50,000 copies, most of which are still wire-bound books. Unfortunately, only a few are placed on the bookshelf, and the rest are packed in soap boxes, which is extremely inconvenient to use.

"In 1987, I went to Qingdao for a trip and went to Mr. Zheng's house to visit him. At that time, he was sick and bedridden. Although he had moved into the newly built dormitory building, most of the books were still piled with soap boxes." Zou Yilin recalled that Mr. Chen Tongxie was very strange. His hometown was in Tianjin and refused to bring his family to Qingdao. He lived alone in a bungalow and cooked his own meals. "Every Sunday, Mr. Chen Tongxie invites his classmates to go to the suburbs to play. One day, he took us to Fort No. 5. Facing the sea, looking at the Tianhengdao , which was bravely killed by 500 heroes, he asked each of them to write a poem and then award the first, second and third prizes. The prize was paid for him and bought peanuts for everyone to eat. The first and second prizes only took the food, and the third prizes were punished - to run errands to buy peanuts." Shandong University alumnus and Mozi research expert Zhang Zhihan once recalled.

"Aspire to catch up with Professor Tong for ten years"

At that time, the History Department of Shandong University was rich and colorful. In Zou Yilin's impression, the two gentlemen Zhang Weihua and Zhao Lisheng were the most exciting. Mr. Zhang has confidence in his lectures and his voice is loud, and he whispers Shandong Mandarin . His local accent is very heavy. He keeps cigarettes on his mouth during class, one after another. Once he enters the classroom, he doesn't have to use matches anymore. The ashes fall on his chest and do not dust them off, and his thoughts are highly concentrated. Mr. Zhao has a baritone voice, his voice is loud and wide, and his ups and downs, which is very pleasant. He devoted himself to his whole body and walked around the podium during class, and worked very hard when writing on the blackboard, often breaking the chalk.A relatively boring philosophical thought course ( dialectical materialism and historical materialism) was taught very vividly and interestingly by him. Listening to his class was simply a pleasure. Before he knew it, the bell rang, but he still felt unsatisfied.

Zou Yilin recalled that Mr. Yang Xiangkui had a deeper class on ideological history, and sometimes it was related to some philosophy and physics issues. In the 1950s, those who took the liberal arts exam were often poor in mathematics, physics and chemistry (some exceptions), so I only knew it after listening to it. Because he is the department head and is a little afraid of him, he spends more time on reviewing than other classes after class.

Many Shandong University alumni have been impressed by Mr. Tong Shuye's amazing memory. At that time, Mr. Tong's ability to remember everything was well known. Many people had tested this and randomly turned out a page in " Shangshu " and read a sentence at will, and he could continue to recite it immediately. When he was in his forties, he could recite Engels' "The Origin of Family Private Property and the Origin of the State". At that time, there were several songs circulating, "The waist was sore and the anterior was thin, and I studied until the day. Why did you torture yourself? I have been determined to catch up with Professor Tong for ten years."

"Mr. Tong doesn't bring any paper in class. Which chapter is the first, second, third, and small (one) (second) (third), and very clear. Sometimes we students are very bad. During the break, we deliberately asked him what the title of the section was. He blurted out without thinking, and he was not bad at all. Everyone was very surprised that he had such a good memory." Zou Yilin recalled.

Children's Book Industry is still a fan of Peking Opera, and he usually goes to listen to small theater plays. When watching the show, he was tired of the singing and acting of the old actors. Whenever he was slow, he went to the smoking room to rest. As soon as the martial arts scenes came on, such as " Longtan Bao Luo " and "Yang Xiangwu Three Thieves Jiulong Cup", he was very happy and energetic. On the way home from the play, he must have told his fellow travelers that after listening to such a play, his spirit was restored, and the first class the next day must have been very exciting. "He even asked me to go to his class specifically. Sometimes, when it comes to 'Longtan Bao Luo' and ' Yang Xiangwu ', he can talk about a series of social customs in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and talk about the germination of capitalism. On the quiet streets in the night, he talked loudly and unrestrainedly, and he was simply full of energy." Zhao Lisheng, who is also a fan of the drama, once wrote an article.

Mr. Chen Tongxie has a standard Beijing dialect, with a strong voice, one word after another, no nonsense, and a good lecture notes are written down. Mr. Wang Zhonglu is accustomed to putting his right hand in his trouser pocket during class, raising his face to the ceiling, and telling it in a leisurely manner. There are a lot of historical materials mentioned in the course. "I didn't understand it at that time. Later, after reading his book " History of Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties " and "History of Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties", I realized how profound his academic research was. The "Geographical Records of Northern Zhou" he sent me was translated for decades because of work, and the books were broken. He taught Zhejiang Eastern Mandarin. I was a Ningbo . It sounded very friendly, but students from the north often couldn't hear it clearly." Zou Yilin said.

Mr. Zheng Hesheng speaks Zhejiang Eastern Mandarin, and the class he taught is boring history catalogue, and the class is full of copying books, and the students feel very tired. "He is also an expert in modern history. Unfortunately, when I was in school, he never taught us modern history classes. When I was writing my graduation thesis in the fourth grade, he was my instructor, guiding me to write papers about Westernization Movement ." Zou Yilin said.

"Eight Horses" are famous

has a close relationship with " Literature, History, and Philosophy "

In contrast to history, the huge influence of "Eight Horses" in the academic community is closely related to the founding of "Literature, History, and Philosophy". At that time, Shandong University President Huagang took the lead in founding the magazine "Literature, History and Philosophy", and Yang Xiangkui served as the first editor-in-chief. Under the leadership of President Hua, professors from the Department of Literature and History actively wrote articles, participated in the editing, reviewing, proofreading, and issuing, without receiving remuneration. The publication soon had a huge impact on the academic community and officially became the Liberal Arts Journal of Shandong University since 1953. According to statistics, the "Eight Horses" published 185 extremely high-quality academic papers in "Literature, History and Philosophy".

"Almost every issue of "Literature, History and Philosophy" has papers published by professors in the history department, which is a great encouragement for us young students (there were no graduate students at that time). Although everyone's level was extremely low at that time and there was no way to get started with history, they had already developed the desire to do academics and write papers in the future. This was different from the atmosphere of some old professors in some more conservative universities in China that did not allow young people to publish papers too early." Zou Yilin recalled that the history department teachers, with the main force of "Eight Horses", set the stage and influenced the students with the influence of their eyes.

The eight professors not only have their own characteristics in their lectures, but also have outstanding academic research. Huang Yunmei was originally a descendant of Zhejiang East , the founder of historiography Huanglizhou , and his logic has been in his lineage since then. Qing Dynasty Zhejiang Eastern Historical Education, which emphasizes reality and integrity, has had a great influence on him. "Mr. Huang's Ming History Certification was known when he was in school. He didn't see his book many years after graduation. It was completely the legacy of Qianjia School . I've devoted myself to doing such a test for decades, and now there is no successor." Zou Yilin sighed.

Mr. Zheng Hesheng has a wide range of knowledge. When he was in the National Compilation Museum in the 1930s and 1940s, he was already a famous domestic expert in catalog studies. He also specialized in modern Chinese history and the history of transportation between China and the West, especially his special works on Zheng He's voyage to the West. Mr. Wang Zhonglu has put a deep effort into a piece of Chinese history. Not only do he have two works of dynasties, but he has also been careful about his works for decades and is still the main reference books for studying the history of the Northern Dynasties.

"When I was at school, I heard that Mr. Zhang Weihua had taught the history of the Qin and Han dynasties in Qilu University. During my four years at Shandong University, he had not taught the history of the Qin and Han dynasties. He only read his comments on "The Four Biography of the Ming Dynasty Fafrancs and other biography" and the history of the Great Wall in the history of the Great Wall . Only then did I realize that Mr. Zhang has a wide range of knowledge and interests, and he was one of the earliest pioneers of the history of peasant wars and land system in the history department of colleges and universities. "He told us that ' Gu Yanwu' was his earliest knowledge base. In his later years, he also studied the history of pre-Qin and the history of transportation between China and the West, and was very ambitious."

"Mr. Tong's knowledge, when I was in school, I knew he was an expert in the history of the Spring and Autumn Period. After graduation, I learned that he had also engaged in history geography in his early years and had the friendship of his colleagues. I was very happy. Later, I read his "History of Handicrafts and Business Development" " Psychology ", as well as works on the history of ancient Chinese painting and pre-Qin classics. I was surprised that Mr. Tong had such a thin body and so much knowledge in his belly. It was really a very human being." Zou Yilin commented.

Yang Xiangkui believes that it is impossible to have a scientific worldview when studying philosophy without understanding the universe, time and space. His academic research spans two academic fields: social sciences and natural sciences. Yang Xiangkui's most important contribution in academic research is the classification of basic science and the cross-application and mutual reference of the two major disciplines of natural science and social science. "Mr. Yang Xiangkui's knowledge is difficult. I really can't understand his ancient ritual monographs and his natural sciences. Once I went to Beijing for a meeting and visited his mansion. I said, "Mr. Yang, you are so good at math, why didn't you do natural science back then? He said that he was interested in history when he was young. As far as I know, there are very few older generation historians in my country who are so knowledgeable about literature and science. He is really a genius." Zou Yilin recalled.