44 Facts About Chang Po-ling

Chang Po-ling was a Chinese educator who, with Yan Xiu, founded Nankai University and the Nankai system of schools.

Chang Po-ling was born in Tianjin in 1876 during the last years of the Qing Dynasty.

Chang Po-ling graduated from the Beiyang Naval Academy in 1894.

Chang Po-ling was a cadet officer in the Beiyang Fleet, but he abandoned his training after the fleet was destroyed during the First Sino-Japanese War.

Chang Po-ling attended and graduated from Saint John's University in Shanghai.

In 1935, during an opening ceremony at Nankai University, Chang Po-ling famously posed three questions that would later be known as the "Three Patriotic Questions", which are still recited as a university tradition during ceremonies.

Chang Po-ling 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, stating that 'only a good sportsman can be a good teacher'.

Chang Po-ling established a number of annual national athletic meets and the forerunner to the modern Chinese Olympic Committee.

Chang Po-ling established several smaller institutions, including a girls' middle school, an experimental primary school, an institute of economics, and an institute of chemistry.

On January 29,1947, the president of the University of California wrote to Chang Po-ling, proposing to award him the degree of honorary doctor of law.

However, Chang Po-ling was unwilling to abandon the cause of his life.

Chang Po-ling is the officer of the Qing Dynasty, can say this, I am very grateful.

Chang Po-ling's grandfather Chang Qian was a student at the Imperial College.

Chang Po-ling developed mental health issues after failing to graduate multiple times and passed away at the age of 38.

Chang Po-ling's father Chang Yungae was an only child.

Chang Po-ling failed the imperial exam when he was young, but had a passion for music and mounted archery.

Chang Po-ling was particularly talented at playing the lute, which earned him the nickname "Lute Chang" among people in Tianjin.

When Chang Po-ling's father was young, he married a woman surnamed Wu.

Wu died and Chang Po-ling's father married another woman surnamed Yeung.

Chang Po-ling's brother Peng Chun Chang Po-ling was a representative for the Republic of China at the United Nations and had taught at Nankai University, Tsinghua University and Columbia University in the City of New York.

In 1895, Chang Po-ling married a woman surnamed Ang from Yixingfu, but she died of pulmonary tuberculosis five days after the wedding.

The next year, Chang Po-ling married Wang Shuzhen, who was usually referred to as Mrs Wang.

Chang Po-ling's eldest son Chang Xilu was born in 1901 and was a mathematician.

Chang Po-ling's second son Chang Po-ling Xiyang was born in 1907.

Chang Po-ling was a businessman and died of persecution during the Cultural Revolution.

Chang Po-ling's third son Chang Po-ling Xizuo was born in 1908.

Chang Po-ling was an accountant and suffered the same fate as his older brothers during the Cultural Revolution, dying in 1976.

Chang Po-ling's fourth son Chang Po-ling Xihu was born in 1913.

Chang Po-ling died serving his country in 1937 when the bomber he was piloting crashed in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province while on its way to bomb the Japanese cruiser Izumo.

Chang Po-ling once served as the Vice-secretary of Jiangsu Province's Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and as a professor in the School of Life Sciences in Nanjing University.

Chang Po-ling Yuanzhen died of an illness in Nanjing on January 8,2020.

On February 14,1951, Lu Muzhai's son Lu Kaiyuan visited Chang Po-ling and informed him that Beijing was planning to appoint him as Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Elated about his appointment, Chang Po-ling personally walked Lu off his residence.

When Chang Po-ling was on the verge of dying, President of the Student Union of Nankai University Yan Ziheng suggested writing Chang Po-ling's obituary on his behalf.

President Chang Po-ling was progressive and patriotic when he was alive, and his commitment to education has benefited the people.

In 1962, Chang Po-ling's wife passed away, and the couple was laid to rest in the Tianjin Beicang First Public Cemetery.

Subsequently, in 1979, a ceremony for the interment of ashes took place at the Tianjin Water Park Martyrs Cemetery, where Chang Po-ling's ashes were laid to rest.

Conversely, in mainland China, Chang Po-ling's name was once considered taboo prior to the country's reform and opening up.

The distinctive elements that once symbolized "old Nankai," such as the school song, the blue lotus and purple school colors, the school motto, and Chang Po-ling himself, were intentionally downplayed.

Chang Po-ling's legacy was gradually diluted, and he was omitted from the history of Nankai School, with sole credit given to Yan Xiu as the founder of Nankai School.

Statues of Chang Po-ling have been erected at Nankai University, Tianjin Nankai Middle School, Chongqing Nankai Middle School, the former site of National Southwest Associated University, and other campuses as a tribute to his legacy.

In 1999, the Chang Po-ling Building was constructed on the campus of Nankai University.

On October 16,2013, alumni donated two bronze statues of Yan Xiu and Chang Po-ling, which were completed and installed on the campus of Nankai Middle School in Tianjin.

Furthermore, MingDao University in Taiwan named its administrative center the Po-ling Building in honor of Chang Po-ling, recognizing him as an exemplary educator dedicated to lifelong service.