China News Service, Shanghai, December 16 (Reporter Chen Jing) 2022 is the 120th anniversary of the birth of Su Buqing, an outstanding mathematician, educator and social activist.
The reporter learned on the 16th that "A Centuries of Masters Shining Stars - A Special Exhibition Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Su Buqing's Birth" is being held in Songjiang, the "Root of Shanghai".
More than 420 pictures, objects, and video exhibits comprehensively display Su Buqing's life and academic achievements, and promote the spirit of scientists by paying homage to the master.
The exhibition consists of three units: "Dedicate all your life to learning, climb to the top when you are young", "The most unforgettable place in your life, the edge of the Yangtze River, Meitan, and Zhejiang", "Add three thousand children to the spring house, and enjoy the seven or eight springs of China". And three special topics: "The No. 1 Geometer in the East", "Su Buqing and Middle School Education" and "Su Buqing's Art of Life".
The exhibits fully display Su Buqing's life and academic achievements, and promote the spirit of scientists by paying homage to the master.
Photo courtesy of Fudan University
On September 23, 1902, Su Buqing was born in a peasant family in Pingyang County, Zhejiang Province.
From a cowherd baby in the mountains of Pingyang, he has grown into an outstanding mathematician, educator and social activist.
This exhibition is based on the rich collections of Fudan University Archives, including Su Buqing's papers, translations, poems, inscriptions, letters, and related photos.
Hua Bei, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference and vice-chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Democratic League, said that as a mathematician, educator and social activist, Mr. Su has made outstanding contributions in every aspect.
The education issue mentioned by Mr. Su has been the focus of the NLD until today.
Entering the exhibition hall, the first thing that catches the eye are three precious materials of Su Buqing's student days.
They reflect how Su Buqing overcame difficulties and obstacles during his stay in Japan, persevered in studying academics, and cared about the original intention of the motherland's educational cause.
In 1923, "Shenbao" reported the suffering of students studying in Japan after the Great Kanto Earthquake. It showed that Su Buqing's disaster was "completely burned", that is, all his study materials were destroyed in the fire after the earthquake.
This disaster became a turning point for Su Buqing on his way to school.
After graduating from the Electrical Engineering Department of Tokyo Higher Technical School, Su Buqing applied for the Mathematics Department of Tohoku Imperial University and changed to Mathematics.
In 1927, Chen Jiangong (first from left), Su Buqing (second from right) and others took a group photo in Sendai, Japan.
Photo courtesy of Fudan University
The study book during his study abroad at Northeast Imperial University recorded information such as Su Buqing's elective courses and teachers during his undergraduate period.
The record of course selection reflects Su Buqing's experience of studying hard and concentrating on learning during his stay in Japan.
Another material exhibited for the first time is a group photo of Su Buqing, Chen Jiangong and others in Sendai, Japan in 1927. This precious photo was donated by Chen Jiangong's family a few years ago.
It is understood that Chen Jiangong and Su Buqing are both from Zhejiang. When they were in Japan, they made an appointment: to return to their hometown and build a first-class mathematics department together.
After graduating with a Ph.D. in 1931, Su Buqing resolutely went to teach in the Department of Mathematics of Zhejiang University to train talents for the motherland.
The autograph letters written by Zhu Kezhen, the president of Zhejiang University at that time, to Yan Rengeng and Su Buqing were also exhibited together.
This letter has three pages, written by Zhu Kezhen himself with a brush, and signed on April 29, 1949.
The exhibition also exhibits the letters and photos of Su Buqing with his family and students, as well as various instructions from his tenure as the provost and president of Fudan University.
These materials vividly display the details of Su Buqing's work and life, highlighting Su Buqing's indelible contributions to Chinese education, especially mathematics education.
It is reported that under Su Buqing's proposal, in 1977, the Ministry of Education issued a special document to recruit graduate students.
On December 17, 1977, Su Buqing wrote in a letter to his daughter Su Dejing: "The Institute of Mathematics of Fudan University has started to recruit graduate students with the permission of the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Education and Health Office." Among the first batch of 18 doctoral graduates in the country in 1983, there were Four of them were trained by the Mathematics Department of Fudan University.
In the exhibition, Su Buqing's poems attracted a lot of attention.
Many people know that Su Buqing is an outstanding mathematician, but they don't know that he is also an excellent poet.
This exhibition presents Su Buqing's poems written in different periods in various ways such as Su Buqing's handwriting, art words, and screens. Most of the titles of each section are directly taken from Su Buqing's own poems.
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