Zheng Detao: a Speech Given at the Opening Ceremony for the Renovation of Chen Yinque’s Former Residence

Dear Mrs Chen Liuqiu, Mrs Chen Meiting, distinguished guests, teachers and students,

In celebration of the 85th anniversary of SYSU, today, we come together to witness the opening of the renovated former residence of Mr. Chen Yinque. not only does it represent a significant event in the academic and cultural life of SYSU, it also expresses our deep commemoration for the great master – Mr. Chen Yinque. Thanks for the generous offer of Liu Luanxiong foundation; the former residence of Mr. Chen Yinque got restored and transformed into “Chen Yinque Show House”. Here, I express my sincere gratitude for Mr. Liu Luanxiong’s generosity and kindness to carry forward the culture, on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University.

Mr. Chen Yinque, the most famous historian, researcher on classical literature and linguist in modern China, not only had succeeded in the quintessence of the pioneer generation but also had exploited a new style for the next generation. He had made lots of achievements in various fields and got the respect form the academic circles home and abroad. Because of his noble character, profound thought, Mr. Chen Yinque had always received people’s respect and admiration, and was glorified as the “only great person in three hundred years in respect to moral and learning”. On the eve of liberation in 1949, he came to Guangzhou and taught at Lingnan College. With the readjustment and transformation of colleges and universities, Lingnan College was later annexed to Sun Yat-sen University, and Mr. Chen started to take up his teaching post at Sun Yat-sen University.

Mr. Chen Yinque had lived and worked at SYSU for 20 years. Although he was suffering from blindness, he still kept perseverant and rigorous in education enterprise and never seemed tired. At this Kang Loc Garden, He not only finished many important writings such as and brought out a large number of talents in history, but also added a brilliant color to the lasting and excellent cultural tradition and spirit legacy with his “independent spirit and free thought”. Even until today, we still benefit greatly from Mr. Chen Yinque’s precious academic and spiritual legacy, which have a great influence in the world. The glorious name of Mr. Chen Yinque will be imprinted forever in the history of SYSU and eternally in the cultural history of China.

Mr. Chen Yinque has left imprints at SYSU. The red building behind us is the place where he had lived and worked. Due to his impaired eyesight, he could discern only dim light. Therefore, SYSU had paved this white path for him and built a fence on each side of the path for the sake of safety and later made a nameplate as a sign. During these years, countless teachers, students and visitors have passed here and they would always linger and commemorate the great master. To some extent, Mr. Chen Yinque has become one of the representative cultural icons of SYSU. And this red building is regarded as a spiritual holly land at Kong Lok Garden. Now we renovated this red building for the convenience of displaying Mr. Chen’s glorious life as much as possible to the public and commemorate for his enterprise and spirit. Isn’t it a plausible action?

I hope that teachers and students of SYSU would rethink Mr. Chen’s opinion of “break away from surveillance and constraints when learning and only then the truth can be exploited and developed”. Let’s move forward while commemorating with joint hands to construct a better SYSU and country.