1 Founding of Qiushi Academy

Lin Qi (1839-1900)

Courtesy name Dichen, was a jinshi (highest degree in the imperial examination system) in the late Qing Dynasty and served as a junior compiler in Hanlin Academy. He also served as the Education Commissioner of Shaanxi Province, and Investigating Censor of Zhejiang Circuit. Having opposed Empress Dowager Cixi's decree of appropriating funds from the military to construct the Summer Palace, he was demoted to Prefect of Quzhou. In 1896, he was transferred to Prefect of Hangzhou, where he devoted great efforts to governance, advocating a pragmatic way of working, highlighting production, developing economy and education, and fighting for prosperity of China. People at that time commented on his governance:“Gaining achievements through governing Hangzhou, gaining talents through cultivating people, and fighting for the interests of every single citizen.” Lin Qi believed that the old-fashioned academy “only focused on theory and played on unrealistic words”, which could not adapt to the need of reform and self-strengthening for China. Therefore, Lin Qi, together with Liao Shoufeng, Grand Coordinator of Zhejiang Province, founded a modern academy—Qiushi Academy and served as its director general, responsible for drafting regulations, employing faculty members and enrolling students. He also selected and sent students to study in Japan, cultivating a group of professionals. Besides Qiushi Academy, Lin Qi established two other modern educational institutions: Hangzhou Yangzheng School and Sericulture Academy.

Cultivating talents is the first priority to govern the nation.

Stressing practical learning is the first priority to cultivate talents.

From Qiushi Academy to Zhejiang Advanced College, a group of erudite scholars striving for reform in China were teaching at school.

Chen Handi (1875-1949)

Courtesy name Zhongshu, he helped to found Qiushi Academy. From May 1897 to 1902, he served as Vice Supervisor, Acting Supervisor, and Supervisor of Qiushi Academy, Supervisor of Zhejiang Academy. After Xinhai Revolution (the Revolution of 1911), he served as Secretary of Presidential Palace, and Secretary General of the State Council.

Song Shu (1862-1910)

Courtesy name Yansheng, he was a modern philosopher, serving as Director General of Chinese Studies in Qiushi Academy in 1901. He was one of the representatives of the early reformers in China.

Lao Naixuan (1843-1921)

Courtesy name Jixuan, from October 1901 to June 1903, he was President of Zhejiang Qiushi Academy and Zhejiang Grand Academy.

Ma Xulun (1884-1970)

Courtesy name Yichu, he was a modern educator and linguist. In 1905, he was a lecture of Chinese at Zhejiang Advanced College. Then he served as the first chairman of China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD). After the founding of New China, he was the first Minister of Education of the PRC. Ma was also an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Wu Zhenchun (1869-1941)

Courtesy name Leichuan, he served as imperial junior compiler in Hanlin Academy. From August 1906 to 1910, he was Supervisor of Zhejiang Advanced College. Later, he served as Standing Vice Minister of Education of Nationalist Government, and President of Yenching University.

Shen Yinmo (1883-1971)

Courtesy name Zhong or Qiuming, he was a famous calligrapher and poet. In 1908, he was an instructor of Zhejiang Advanced College. He was one of the initiators of New Culture Movement (May Fourth Movement) in 1919.

Shao Peizi (1884-1968)

Courtesy name Changguang, he was an educator. In 1899, he was admitted to Qiushi Academy. In 1910, he was a lecturer of English at Zhejiang Advanced Academy. Later, Shao served as President of Zhejiang Advanced College, Dean of School of Liberal Arts and Science of the Third Sun Yat-sen University, Vice President and President of National Zhejiang University. He advocated the idea of “scholars running school” and “openness of public opinion”, and highlighted that university education should be based on cultivating all-round talents.

Chen Qubing (1874-1933)

Courtesy name Chaonan, or Peiren, he was a famous modern poet, as well as the founder of South Society, China's first bourgeois revolutionary literary group. In 1911, he taught at Zhejiang Advanced College. In his early years, he followed the revolutionary steps of sir Sun Yat-sen and made great contributions.

Chen Daqi (1886-1983)

Courtesy name Bainian, or Bonian, he was a psychologist. He was President of Zhejiang Advanced College from July 1912 to 1913, Provost and Acting President of Peking University, and President of National Chengchi University.

From the times of Qiushi Academy to Zhejiang Advanced College, a group of foreign teachers were invited to the school, enhancing the teaching quaility of Western studies.

Stanley K. Hornbeck

an American teacher

P. D. Merica

an American teacher

Suzuki Keijyu

a Japanese teacher, awarded by the Qing government after 5 years of teaching in Zhejiang Advanced Academy

Qiushi Academy was one of the earliest schools in China to send students to study abroad. Students who studied in Japan included He Yushi, Xu Shoushang, Jiang Zungui, Jiang Fangzhen, Wang Jiaju, Qian Jiazhi, Zhou Chengtan, Li Jiafu, Shou Changyan, Han Yongkang, Shi Lin and Chen Qishan, etc., and a group of talents for the development of China were cultivated.

He Yushi (1878-1961)

Courtesy name Xiehou, he was an educator. In 1897, he was admitted to Qiushi Academy. He went to study in Japan after 1898, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1905, as the first Chinese student graduating from a Japanese university. He was the first President of Peking University.

Chen Duxiu (1879-1942)

Courtesy name Zhongfu, he was a revolutionary and thinker. Chen was the most important founder and early leader of Communist Party of China (CPC). He studied at Qiushi Academy in 1898.

Xu Shoushang (1883-1948)

Courtesy name Jifu, he was a biographer and educator. He studied at Qiushi Academy in 1898 and went to Japan for further studies in 1902. Xu was a close friend of Lu Xun, author of Lu Xun's Thought and Life, Chronicle of Lu Xun, etc.

Courtesy name Baili, he was a military theorist born in Haining, Zhejiang Province. He was admitted to Qiushi Academy in 1899 and later studied in Japan. In 1903, he became the chief editor of The Tide of Zhejiang published in Tokyo, promoting the revolution in China. Jiang was President of Baoding Military Academy, Acting President of National Defense University. He was the first to introduce systematic modern Western military theories to China.

Jiang Fangzhen (1882-1938)

Jiang Zungui (1882-1931)

Courtesy name Boqi, he was a famous military strategist. He first studied at Qiushi Academy and later went to Japan for further military studies. Then he joined Guangfuhui (Restoration Society) and Tongmenghui (Chinese Revoluntionary Alliance). Jiang once was military governor of the Junta of Zhejiang Province.

Xia Yuanli (1884-1944)

Courtesy name Fuyun, he first studied at Qiushi Academy and went to the US and Germany for further studies. Xia was among the earliest theoretical physicists in China. He served as director of School of Sciences at Peking University. Xia studied the Theory of Relativity with Albert Einstein and translated Einstein's Ideas on Theory of Relativity.

Ma Zonghan (1884-1907)

Courtesy name Ziqi, he was admitted to Zhejiang Academy in 1902. In 1907, Ma helped Xu Xilin assassinate En Ming, Grand Coordinator of Anhui Province but failed, then he was murdered by the Qing Government.

Chen Bulei (1890-1948)

Originally named Xunen, pseudonym Bulei, courtesy name Yanji, he studied at Zhejiang Advanced Academy from 1906-1911. Chen served as Chiang Kai-shek's confidential assistant for a long time.

Shao Piaoping (1886-1926)

Originally named Xincheng, courtesy name Zhenqing, pseudonym Piaoping, he was a pioneer of journalism in China. He studied at Zhejiang Advanced Academy from 1906-1908. Shao established Beijing News Editing Society and an influential daily newspaper called Jing Bao (Peking News). In 1926, Shao was executed by Zhang Zuolin, the warlord of Manchuria.

During the development from Qiushi Academy to Zhejiang Advanced College, the whole nation was in crisis and turmoil. Students carried out a series of progressive social activities such as publicizing democracy, as well as promoting revolution and anti-imperialist patriotic ideology. The school had become a key base for publicizing democratic revolution ideas.