On the morning of April 4, 2024, the eve of the 148th anniversary of the birth of the patriotic educator Zhang Boling, the School of Foreign Studies held a donation ceremony for the collection of “Yu Youren’s Gift to Zhang Boling’s Calligraphy” by the painting and calligraphy connoisseur and collector, He Chun, in front of the statue of Mr. Zhang Boling in the central garden of Baliutai Campus of Nankai University.
The descendants of Zhang Boling, the founding president of Nankai University, Zhang Yuanlong, the former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress, Zhang Jianyuan, the chairman of Tianjin Yungong Education Group, Yuan Wei, the director of the Nankai University Archives, Cui Guoliang, an expert in Nankai University history research, Chen Xin, the director of the School History Research Office of the Propaganda Department of Nankai University, Yang Yidong, secretary-general of the Nankai Tianjin Alumni Association, and Fan Xiuhe, secretary-general of the Nankai Foreign Languages Alumni Association, along with other students, faculty members of Nankai University, and alumni, were present at the donation ceremony. Professor Ma Hongqi, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Nankai University, presided over the donation ceremony.
He Chun recounted the discovery and collection process of the calligraphy work, expressed special admiration for Nankai University and the former president of Nankai Series Schools, Zhang Boling, for his great demeanor, and is willing to donate the precious collection to Nankai University free of charge. He also expressed his heartfelt thanks and respect for the support and assistance provided by the Nankai University Educational Foundation, Nankai Alumni General Association, Nankai University Archives, Nankai University Museum, Yanxiu Research Association, Zhang Boling Research Association, and other supporting units.
Yuan Wei, the director of the Nankai University Archives, accepted He Chun’s collection donation and issued a certificate of donation. Director Chen Xin and Zhang Yuanlong spoke successively, expressing gratitude for He Chun’s donation. The donated collection is of great significance for enriching Nankai University’s collection, promoting research on Zhang Boling, compiling the school’s history, and researching missionary work.
He Chun’s collection of calligraphy works with the sentence “With the clear air in mountains and waters, the great view of Heaven and Earth can be observed” (得山水清气，极天地大观), is written by China’s famous calligrapher Yu Youren, known as the contemporary “The Sage of Cursive Calligraphy.” In September 1949, it was given to Zhang Boling as a present.
The content of the calligraphy is a couplet by Wu Qing, a renowned scholar of the Qing Dynasty, inscribed at the Zhi De Temple in Huishan, Wuxi. It depicts the spirit of landscape contained in the creation of all things. The meaning is to obtain the spirit of the landscape, enjoy the scenery of heaven and earth, and realize the harmony and unity of man and nature.
