This year marks the 130th anniversary of Wuhan University. However, the celebration has attracted a series of doubts and controversies. As one of the important parts of this school celebration, the scale of alumni donations is also jaw-dropping. When Lei Jun generously donated 1.3 billion, it not only became the highest single donation record for a single Wuhan University alumnus, but also highlighted the dwarf donation strength of other schools. At the same time, Tianjin University's behavior was unexpected, and they did not seem to congratulate Wuhan University on its anniversary, but stepped on Wuhan University. For this unexpected behavior, the school anniversary of Wuhan University seems to have been betrayed by Tianjin University. They seem to be demonstrating to Wuhan University, "It looks like you have 130 years of history, but I'm skeptical about it." What's even more surprising is that at the scene of the school anniversary, Lei Jun was arranged in the back seat, and was sarcastically said that Wuhan University has money and can't give you a front seat.
However, Tianjin University's attitude is only the tip of the iceberg. In congratulatory letters from other schools, one will find some subtleties. These congratulatory letters are usually official, expressing recognition and praise for Wuhan University in different fields. However, they don't seem to attach much importance to the 130th anniversary of Wuhan University, and they don't mention it a word. At the end of the congratulatory letter, although they expressed their desire for friendly relations between the two universities, they were reluctant to acknowledge the historical fact of the 130th anniversary positively.
Tracing back to the founding time of the two schools, we found some suspicious points. Wuhan University claims to have been founded 130 years ago in 1893, as evidenced by their anniversary message. However, in their own introduction, Tianjin University claims to be the oldest institution in the history of modern higher education, founded in 1895. The conflict between these two historical data has sparked a debate about the term "earliest". The Ministry of Education, as an authoritative agency, did not make it clear which version was correct.
In order to resolve this controversy, one had to dig deep into the archives to find clues. In a 1983 Wuhan University journal, it was clearly mentioned that the school was founded in 1913, not 1893, a 20-year time gap. This new discovery has attracted attention because no historian or education department has so far recognized the date of the school's founding in 1893. Therefore, this 130th anniversary celebration remains to be verified. According to the information available so far, this year should be the 110th anniversary of the founding of Wuhan University. It is worth mentioning that the congratulatory message sent by the Ministry of Education did not mention the 130th anniversary.
In the history of the development of higher education in China, Peking University (1898), Tianjin University (1895), Shanxi University and Taiyuan University of Technology (1902) are the oldest institutions. However, the establishment of these institutions of higher learning is based on the Western education model, and the establishment of modern institutions of education is not the traditional way of running schools. If it really goes back even further, Hunan University may be able to trace its founding history back to Yuelu Academy. Yuelu Academy was founded in 976 A.D., and this historical traceability is unmatched by other ordinary institutions. Therefore, Wuhan University may be a little reluctant to promote its own 130th anniversary.
From the perspective of authoritative institutions, the history of Tianjin University is generally recognized. However, there are certain controversies and disagreements about the historical time of Wuhan University. However, whether it is the 130th anniversary or the 110th anniversary, the strength and prestige of Wuhan University cannot be denied.
As for the attitude of Tianjin University in the congratulatory message, some people think that it is sour. They have always claimed that they were the first institutions to be established, but they ushered in Wuhan University, which was founded earlier than them, which is unacceptable to them. But personally, Tianjin University is not stingy. They just have no basis to claim to be the earliest, and they can't talk nonsense without hard evidence. After all, the Ministry of Education was also not involved and did not make it clear who was the earliest.
As for how Wuhan University advertises its own history, that's their own business. From a modest point of view, it might be more appropriate to publicize the 110th anniversary. After all, it is not easy to be able to become a student in these institutions, and it has already demonstrated their status in society. Long history is not the only criterion, first-class academic strength is what they should really pursue.
This kind of controversy is not uncommon among Chinese universities. Every school is eager to showcase its achievements and history during the school celebration, but it can also cause some controversy and questioning. In this controversy, different schools may have some personal interests and attitudes. For students and the public, we should focus more on the real value and influence behind these institutions, rather than competing for historical fame.
We should look at these controversies rationally and not turn the celebration into an opportunity to attack and compare with each other. Whether it is Tianjin University or Wuhan University, they have played an important role in the development of education and contributed to the prosperity of the country. They have their own characteristics and advantages, and they all deserve our respect and encouragement.
Finally, as students and the public, we should pay more attention to the quality of education and academic strength of the school, and strive to cultivate outstanding talents. History is in the past, and what is important in the present and future is whether the school can cultivate excellent talents and make meaningful contributions to society. Only by continuously improving the quality of education and academic strength can the school gain greater recognition and respect in the society.