Xu Chongqing

Xu Chongqing was born on January 20, 1888, in Guangzhou, Guangdong, with ancestral roots in Shantou. His father died when he was eight years old, and he was raised by his mother under difficult circumstances. At the age of twelve, he was sent to Wuchang in Hubei, where he attended a missionary school. In 1905, he went to Japan as a government-sponsored student, where he completed his secondary education and later studied philosophy and education at the University of Tokyo. During his time in Japan, he developed a strong interest in the educational thought of Japan, Germany, and the United States, and became proficient in Japanese, English, and German.^[3]

While studying abroad, Xu returned to China in 1911 to participate in the Xinhai Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, after which he went back to Japan to complete his studies. He returned to China in 1920 and soon met Sun Yat-sen in Shanghai, who encouraged him to work in Guangdong. Xu subsequently assumed leadership roles in educational administration in Guangzhou and Guangdong. In 1923, he joined the Kuomintang with the introduction of Liao Zhongkai and was appointed a member of the Central Executive Committee by Sun Yat-sen. He participated in the reorganization of the party and contributed to drafting the "Manifesto of the First National Congress of the Kuomintang" in 1924, particularly the section on education.^[4]

During the First United Front period, Xu Chongqing worked closely with early Marxists such as Chen Duxiu in promoting educational reform in Guangdong. In 1921, he founded the Guangzhou Civic University, which was regarded at the time as a pioneering initiative in Chinese education. He later served as director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, where he promoted literacy campaigns among workers and advocated reforms such as reclaiming control of missionary schools and prohibiting religious proselytization in educational institutions. He also lectured on revolutionary theory alongside figures such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Pai, emphasizing the relationship between education, social transformation, and revolutionary practice.^[5]

After the failure of the revolution in 1927, Xu turned to academic research, focusing on Marxist educational philosophy and attempting to construct a new theoretical system based on dialectical materialism. He continued to critique contemporary educational policies and advocate for the development of scientific and technical education in China. In 1931, he became president of Sun Yat-sen University, where he expanded academic programs and promoted institutional reforms. However, following student movements related to resistance against Japanese aggression after the Mukden Incident, he was dismissed from his position in 1931 due to political pressures.^[6]

Throughout the 1930s, Xu continued his academic work and briefly served again as director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, where he promoted rural education and social education initiatives. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was appointed acting president of Sun Yat-sen University and oversaw its relocation under wartime conditions. He recruited progressive scholars and lectured on dialectical and historical materialism, advocating resistance against Japan and democratic reforms. His progressive stance led to his removal from office in 1941.^[7]

In the postwar period, Xu resumed teaching and research, publishing works on educational philosophy and supporting movements for political and cultural freedom. In 1949, he moved to Hong Kong, where he published articles supporting the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Later that year, he returned to Guangzhou and participated in the reorganization of higher education institutions, becoming president of a restructured Guangzhou University.^[8]

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu held several important positions, including Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and President of Sun Yat-sen University, a position he held until his death.^[9] He joined the China Association for Promoting Democracy on August 15, 1952, and served in various leadership roles within the organization.^[10]

Xu Chongqing devoted his life primarily to education and is regarded as an important figure in modern Chinese educational history. His work in educational theory and practice, particularly his application of Marxist philosophy to education, had a lasting influence on the development of education in China. Xu died in Guangzhou on March 14, 1969, at the age of 82.^[11]