The Birth of a Vision: Yan Xiu and the Foundations of Nankai

In 1904, at the crossroads of China’s late imperial decline and the turbulent push toward modernization, a 44-year-old scholar-official named Yan Xiu (style name Fan Sun) embarked on an ambitious project. A former Hanlin Academy member and progressive educator, Yan had just returned from Japan deeply impressed by its modern schooling system. His conviction crystallized: China needed institutions that blended Eastern ethics with Western practical learning.

On October 17, 1904, Yan established the “Private Secondary School” in his Tianjin residence. After relocating to a donated plot in the marshy “Nankai Lowlands,” the school adopted its enduring name: Nankai Middle School. But Yan knew success hinged on leadership. His choice was unconventional—a 28-year-old former naval officer named Zhang Boling.

From Naval Officer to Educator: Zhang Boling’s Awakening

Born in 1876 to a modest Tianjin family, Zhang Boling excelled at the Beiyang Naval Academy, graduating top of his class in 1895—the year China’s humiliating defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War left its fleet in ruins. A pivotal moment came in 1898 during the British lease of Weihaiwei. Witnessing the ceremonial flag exchange—Japanese to Qing to British—Zhang noted the stark contrast between disheveled Qing soldiers and disciplined British troops. His conclusion was radical for the era: National strength began not with warships but with education.

Resigning his commission, Zhang joined Yan Xiu’s fledgling academy in 1904. His innovative curriculum—mixing Western sciences, English, and even China’s first school sports programs—was revolutionary. Students practiced high jumps over chairs, calisthenics with handmade dumbbells, and team sports, challenging Confucian norms that prized bookishness over physical vigor.

The Rise of Nankai: Middle School to University

By 1917, Nankai Middle School had 1,000 students and a reputation for excellence. Alumni like Mei Yiqi (future Tsinghua University president) and Tao Menghe (founding sociologist) exemplified its impact. Yet Zhang dreamed bigger: a world-class university for Tianjin. At 41, he enrolled at Columbia University’s Teachers College, studying under John Dewey and Paul Monroe.

Returning in 1918, Zhang and Yan secured donations (even from warlords) to launch Nankai University in 1919. Despite meager funds, Zhang attracted stellar faculty—chemist Yang Shixian, economist He Lian, and polymath Jiang Tingfu—by fostering a culture of academic freedom and integrity. Faculty salaries were publicly posted; Zhang took a symbolic wage one-third of his professors’.

“Gong Neng” and Innovation: The Nankai Ethos

Nankai’s motto, “允公允能，日新月异” (“Dedication to Public Service, Commitment to Innovation”), reflected Zhang’s philosophy. Students were taught to prioritize collective good over self-interest and adapt to global changes. This ethos bore fruit: By the 1940s, Nankai had produced 57 CAS/CAE academicians and luminaries like Premier Zhou Enlai and playwright Cao Yu.

Zhang’s emphasis on holistic education was groundbreaking. Nankai’s campuses boasted 15 basketball courts, Olympic-standard tracks, and mandatory PE classes—unheard of in early 20th-century China. His advocacy even birthed China’s Olympic ambitions: In 1908, Nankai students posed the legendary “Three Olympic Questions,” and Zhang later facilitated athlete Liu Changchun’s historic 1932 Olympic debut.

War and Resilience: The Destruction of Nankai

The Japanese invasion targeted Nankai as a symbol of Chinese intellectual resistance. In 1937, bombers leveled its campuses. Undeterred, Zhang relocated programs to Chongqing, declaring, “Nankai’s spirit cannot be destroyed.” Post-war, he proposed China’s first Olympic bid for 1952—a vision deferred but not forgotten.

A Complicated Legacy: Zhang Boling’s Final Years

After 1949, Zhang’s association with the Nationalist government (as former Examination Yuan head) marginalized him. Denied entry to Nankai’s 1950 anniversary, he died heartbroken in 1951. Yet his students—including Zhou Enlai—ensured his rehabilitation. Today, his statue overlooks Nankai University, where his ashes rest.

Conclusion: Why Nankai Still Matters

Nankai’s legacy lies in its fusion of tradition and modernity, proving education could be both patriotic and progressive. From pioneering STEM education to advocating gender-inclusive sports, Zhang Boling’s vision shaped generations. As China’s “Ivy League” (北清复交) dominates rankings, Nankai remains a testament to how one school’s ideals can outlast wars, ideologies, and time itself.

“To know China is to know Nankai”—not as propaganda, but as history.