Established in January 1991, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore, and its predecessor, Nanyang Polytechnic, was established in 1981 on the site of the former Nanyang University. Did you know that Nanyang University is the first overseas Chinese university established by overseas Chinese themselves, and the establishment of Nanyang University is the spiritual home of Nanyang Chinese.
Chen Liu, who is 23 years younger than Chen Kah Kee, is a fellow villager and a clansman, and Chen Kah Kee's son-in-law Lee Kong Chian are both business tycoons who affected the global rubber ** in the 50s of the last century. We can say that the "Nanda Spirit" and the "Jiageng Spirit" led by Chen Liu's envoy are in the same line, and they are expounded in the inheritance.
"The spiritual navigator of NTU" Chen Liu
Mr. Tan Kah Kee (1874-1961).
Mr. Chen Jiageng (October 21, 1874 - August 12, 1961), also known as Jia Geng, was a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader, and praised him as "the flag of overseas Chinese, the glory of the nation".
As a great figure in the history of overseas Chinese in the 20th century, integrating politics, economy, culture, education, and social activities, and a well-known entrepreneur, educator, and social activist at home and abroad, Mr. Tan Kah Kee is a giant who has crossed the times, and the "Kah Kee Spirit" will always shine at home and abroad.
Tan Kah Kee, born on September 12, 13th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (October 21, 1874) in Jimei Village, Rendri (now Jimei District, Xiamen City), Tong'an County, Fujian Province, entered a private school at the age of 9, and went to Singapore at the age of 17 to assist his father Chen Yingji (also known as Qibai) in running a Shun'an rice shop, and since then, his life has been running around and living overseas for 50 years.
Soon after arriving in Singapore, his father's business failed and went bankrupt, and after operating independently, Tan Kah Kee first paid off the debts left by his father and gained a good reputation. Since then, he has been the first to introduce rubber in Singapore and plant it on a large scale, first processing rubber products and putting them into industrial-scale production, and at the same time, he also runs a pineapple canning factory, and has also expanded his business to Thailand, Malaysia and his hometown Xiamen.
At the peak of his career, Tan Kah Kee owned more than 30 factories, including rubber products factory, canning factory, rice factory, timber factory, rock sugar factory, biscuit factory, leather shoe factory, etc., and also owned more than 100 stores; As one of the largest rubber plantations among overseas Chinese, Tan Kah Kee's rubber and pineapple orchards are more than 150,000 acres, and at its peak, the company employed more than 320,000 people. By 1925, Tan Kah Kee was already a well-known "rubber king" in Southeast Asia, a famous industrialist, an entrepreneur, and a wealthy man in Nanyang, with assets of 12 million yuan (note: the currency is "rattan currency", about one million taels**).
Future generations will remember Mr. Tan Kah Kee's extraordinary life, in addition to being a great industrialist and entrepreneur, but also because he was an outstanding overseas Chinese leader, because he invested in education, gave back to the society regardless of remuneration, returned to his hometown in his later years, and devoted himself to the cause of education, and his contributions to cultural education and social construction were admired and admired by future generations.
He has a deep love for his hometown, homeland and countryChen Jiageng, in the face of his difficult situation, decided to say "I would rather sell the building than run Xiamen University", and achieved the "strong south" - Xiamen University. Before he died, he donated all the money he had to Jimei School, leaving no penny for his children and grandchildren. In fact, living in an era of drastic changes in China's history and rapid social and political changes in Southeast Asia, Tan Kah Kee has also contributed to the social progress of Singapore and Malaysia, and his selfless dedication is still admired and admired by future generations. Nowadays, the Chinese society in Southeast Asia is inspired by the "Jiageng Spirit" to jointly build a bridge of friendship.
Chen Liuzhi (1897-1972).
Chen Kah Kee's feat of founding Jimei School and Xiamen University has deeply affected one person, who is Chen Kah Kee's family member and regards Chen Kah Kee as his father's "spiritual navigator of NTU" Chen Liu.
Tan Lark Sye, known as the "Father of Nanyang University", was born in 1897 in Xunjiang Community, Jimei Street, Jimei District, Xiamen City. Over the years, Chen Wenqo and Chen Liuzhi Kunzhong have been regarded as supporters and helpers of Chen Kah Kee's cause, and are loyal practitioners of the "Kah Kee spirit".
In the 50s of the last century, Chen Liuzhi and Tan Kah Kee's son-in-law Lee Kong Chian were both business tycoons who affected the world's rubber **, when Tan Kah Kee decided to return to China, Chen Kah Kee took over the responsibility of "overseas Chinese leader" Chen Liu, and became the leader of important overseas Chinese communities including Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jardine Heen Club, etc.
Chen Liuzhi is not only a famous entrepreneur and Chinese leader, but also a philanthropic educator. In 1953, Chen Liu, who chose to "take root" in Singapore and Malaysia, followed the example of Mr. Tan Kah Kee for the sake of Chinese education and the education of overseas Chinese children.
Chen Liu, who only has a primary school education, is the chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, and under his initiative, he immediately set off a "full ** movement" in Singapore and Malaysia to donate one day's income. Nanyang University's bricks and tiles are a lot of hard-earned money from the small people in the market, including the charity sale of small traders, the charity of tricycle drivers, the charity fried-fried by Chinese restaurants, the charity scissors of barbers, the charity performances of cabaret dancers, and the charity of taxis, barges and ships. Of course, there are also many Chinese entrepreneurs who have donated millions. It can be said that Nanyang University is the most "grassroots" university, and in addition to the donations of Chinese businessmen such as Chen Liujiao, it has also been built by thousands of people with every penny.
There was a dancer named "Bai Xiao", who had a 5-year-old son, who participated in the "righteous dance" at that time, and she said: "In the future, Nanyang University will be established, and I hope that he (referring to his son) will be able to be admitted to Nanyang University." In the book "My House and Two Gates", the writer Han Suyin recorded the grand occasion of 270 Chinese groups and clubs in Malaysia at that time to prepare for the "one-day donation" of Nanyang University, "All the people donated money, millionaires donated millions of dollars, and the hawkers in Singapore donated a week's income; How many omelets, crab meat, and various noodles have been given to Nanyang University...
In March 1956, Chen Liuzhi presided over the flag-raising ceremony of Nanyang University (1955-1980).
When Lim Yutang, the first president of Nanyang University in 1955 (1954-1955), left Singapore on 17 April 1955, Lim Yutang said: "NTU can do without Lim Yutang, but it cannot do without Chen Liujiao. ”
Lin Yutang served as the president of Nanyang University for only half a year, and from 1955 to 1960, he was managed by the Nanyang University Administrative Committee, and then Zhuang Zhulin and others served as president. In 1980, Nanyang University was merged into the University of Singapore, and in 1981, the Singapore Polytechnic was established on the original site. In 1996, the alumni directory of Nanyang University was transferred to Nanyang Technological University, and in 2006, Nanyang Technological University became autonomous, and the National University of Singapore became the two largest public universities in Singapore.
In 1980, the Nanyang University Council also accepted Lee Kuan Yew's so-called "proposal" and merged into the National University of Singapore.
In March 1956, when presiding over the flag-raising ceremony of Nanyang University, Chen Liuenvoy said: "As the saying goes: everything is difficult to start. Trying to look through the history of universities in the world, how many of them have been produced than our NTU and encountered more obstacles and difficulties? And how many beginnings have been more stable and developed faster than our NTU? ”
Chen Liuzhi is a legend of the Nanyang overseas Chinese community, and Nanyang University is a mythical story of the struggle of overseas Chinese, although Nanyang University was only 25 years old before it was merged into the University of Singapore, but it is full of talents. The first class of 437 students graduated in 1959, and by 1963, the number of students enrolled at NTU had reached 2,324. In 1998, the former Nanyang University Administration Building, when Chen Liuenvoy presided over the flag-raising ceremony of Nanyang University, was listed as a national monument in Singapore and is now renamed the Chinese Heritage Hall.
At that time, Chen Liu made a person to play with Singapore, the gains and losses, right and wrong, how to evaluate fairly, and not to elaborate on the argument, but the Nanyang University Monument and the Nanyang University Archway were also listed as national monuments by Singapore in 1998, which is undoubtedly regarded as a rich national cultural heritage by Singapore.
Chen Liuzhi. Nanyang University is the highest symbol of overseas Chinese education and culture, and it is also the spiritual home of Nanyang Chinese. Like Tan Kah Kee, Tan Liuen is also a benchmark figure in the era of Singapore and Malaysia, and is regarded as the "spiritual navigator of NTU".
Nanyang University is the sustenance and dawn for overseas Chinese to take root in Singapore and Malaysia, and it is also the fortress of Chinese society to protect mother tongue education.
In the early 50s of the last century, there was only one University of Malaya in Malaysia and Singapore, and the establishment of a Chinese university became a practical need. In 1953, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hokkien Huay Kuan Chen Liu-envoy made an astonishing proposal for the establishment of Nanyang University at a joint meeting of the Executive Supervisory Committee of the Association, saying, "It is necessary for us to establish a university in order to safeguard the longevity of Chinese culture. As we stand, there is nowhere for our secondary school students to go on to higher education, which has forced us to establish a university. ”
Chen Liuenvoy is "the last decent Chinese in Southeast Asia", he held high the banner of national education, did not hesitate to fight for righteousness and money, and even did not hesitate to confront **, and also lost his citizenship rights for this. At that time, Chen Liu's envoy said generously: ".China is our root, culture is our tendons, breaking bones and connecting tendons. If we can't even speak Chinese, then we really become rootless people.
Regard Chen Kah Kee as his father and a loyal practitioner of the "Kah Kee spirit".
Tan Liuzhi (left) and Tan Kah Kee (right).
Chen Liuenvoy and Tan Kah Kee are 23 years apart, but he has a close relationship with Tan Kah Kee, and Tan Kah Kee has had a profound influence on him throughout his life. Whether it is Tan Kah Kee's way of life, entrepreneurship, investment in running a school, and then to being a "bridge" to unite the Chinese people, serving the country and the people, etc., Chen Liu, who regards Tan Kah Kee as his father's successor, has been cited as a model for himself to learn, and he is a loyal practitioner of the "Kah Kee spirit".
Chen Liu, who is a fellow villager with Chen Jiageng, his father Chen Yingkan was a fisherman in his early years, and his family was poor when he was young, and among the seven brothers in the family, Chen Liuzhi ranked sixth; The seven brothers of the Chen family are Chen Wenyi, Chen Wenyu, Chen Wenqing, Chen Wendou, Chen Wenzhi, Chen Liuzhi, and Chen Wenwen. In 1902, when Chen Liuzhi was 5 years old, his parents died of the plague, and the family's life was even more difficult. After discussion, the Chen family, who made a living from fishing, decided to let the third Chen Wenqing go to Nanyang to work in the factory of his brother Tan Kah Kee in Singapore.
In fact, the relationship between Tan Liuzhi and his brother Tan Kah Kee began with the Jimei Primary School founded by Tan Kah Kee, and in 1913, Tan Kah Kee, who was just starting out in the Nanyang business circles, returned to his hometown to found Jimei Primary School, and Chen Liuzhi was one of the beneficiaries. In 1916, at the age of 17, Chen Liuzhi followed in the footsteps of his brother to make a living, and his first job in Nanyang was to work on Tan Kah Kee's rubber plantation. Due to his good performance, Chen Liuzhi was later promoted to the position of manager step by step, and served in Tan Kah Kee's Qianyi Company for 9 years, laying a solid foundation for Chen Liuzhi to start his own business later.
In the early 20s of the last century, Chen Wenqo and Chen Liu made Kunzhong "stand on their own", and later became business giants in Singapore and Malaysia. In 1923, Chen Wenqo and Chen Liuzhi Kunzhong founded Lianhe Rubber, and later Chen Liuzhi made his own Yiyi and served as the general manager. Since then, Chen Liuzhi has successively founded Concord Gum Asia United Enterprise Company, Malaya Paper Products Factory, Hezhong Paper Mill, Asia Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Dashi Cement, etc. By 1938, Tan Liu's rubber company, Aik Hoe, was the largest rubber exporter in Singapore and Malaysia, and exported directly to the US and European markets. In the 50s of the last century, the rubber industry controlled by Chen Liu, a giant in the gum industry in Singapore and Malaysia, had a decisive impact on the global rubber trend, just like Li Guangqian, Chen Jiageng's son-in-law and one of the world's top ten Chinese businessmen before his death.
After participating in the founding ceremony in 1949, seeing that the great motherland had stood up from then on, Tan Kah Kee was determined to settle in the motherland and serve the construction of the motherland. At that time, it was Chen Liuenvoy who took over the responsibility of Tan Kah Kee's "overseas Chinese leader", and he successfully became the leader of overseas Chinese associations such as Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Incidentally, in 1937, after the development of Chen Wenqo, Chen Liuzhi Kunzhong, in addition to following the steps of his brother Chen Jiageng to build a rich Sangzi, but also in today's Xiamen Jimei Xunjiang Road No. 115 to build the "Wenqu Building", that is, today's Chen Wenqu Chen Liu's life exhibition hall.
Statue of Chen Liu.
Chen Liu, who regarded Tan Kah Kee as his father's successor, in addition to respecting his brother Tan Kah Kee and citing him as a model, was the same as Tan Kah Kee's beloved son-in-law Lee Kong Chian, Chen Wenqo and Chen Liu's envoy Kun Zhong were supporters and helpers of Tan Kah Kee's education.
In 1933, due to the global economic crisis, Tan Kah Kee's company was also forced to reduce its operations due to financial difficulties, which also affected his long-funded Jimei School and Xiamen University. At that time, Chen Liu's envoy came to the aid and leased Tan Kah Kee's Muar Gum Factory in the name of his own "Yihe Gum" company, and reached an unwritten "gentleman's agreement" with Tan Kah Kee, and the factory profits were fully used as the operating expenses of Jimei School and Xiamen University in the form of "monthly donations".
In order to support Tan Kah Kee's good deeds of learning and solve problems for his brother Tan Kah Kee, someone once said that Chen Liu's envoy "lost almost half of his family assets". Mr. Tan Kah Kee wrote his memoirs "Memoirs of Nanqiao" when he fled the Japanese invaders and took refuge in Indonesia from 1943 to 1945The generosity of the six envoys is more than 10,000 admiration, and there is no sense of responsibility!
Like the descendants of Chen Jiageng and Li Kong Qian's son-in-law, the descendants of Chen Wenqu and Chen Liu's family have also inherited the concept of creating wealth and serving the motherland, and their family descendants have successively set up six public welfare charities in their hometown Jimei, and also funded the construction of the Overseas Chinese Museum, Jimei University's "Chen Wenqo Chen Liuzhi Library", "Yonghe Building", "Jialin Building", as well as Jimei Second Primary School "Yongjin Building", "Suxiang Building", and Jimei Society Nursery School.
In 2018, during the centennial celebration of Jimei University, Tan Kah Kee's eldest grandson, Sun Liren, took off the script during his speech, proposing that everyone thank Chen Wenqo and Chen Liu's envoy Kunzhong for their assistance to Tan Kah Kee during the construction of Jimei Village and Jimei University, and invite the descendants of his family to the rostrum.
Copyright Notice: The copyright of the articles and ** published by "Yibo Shuo" belongs to the author himself and the relevant right holders, and without the sole authorization of the author and the relevant right holders, any ** and flat ** shall not be given**.