A Critical Biography of the Academic Thought of Chen Yuan

Author: Niu Runzhen
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Publish Date: 1999-05-01
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Fragment: The renowned Chinese historian and educator Chen Yuan, celebrated both domestically and internationally for his outstanding academic achievements, was hailed by academia as the "master of modern Chinese historiography."① His contributions to religious history, Chinese historical documentology, and Yuan Dynasty studies were unique in 20th-century Chinese academia, forming a distinct school and pioneering a distinctive historical writing style known as the "Yuan'an Style," setting a new trend in the field. He inherited the Qianlong and Jiaqing textual research tradition of the Qing Dynasty, creating a new era for traditional Chinese historiography and ranking as one of the top figures in the study of traditional Chinese history in the 20th century. Chen Yuan, styled Yuan'an, was formerly known as Xingfan in his childhood and used various names such as Qian, Qianying, Qianyi, Qian, Yan, Wei, Zong, and Yi during his youth. After settling in Beijing, he once used the name Yuanuo and was also styled Yuan'an, with the sobriquet Yuan'an Jushi. Born on the 10th day of the 10th month of the 6th year of the Guangxu reign (November 12, 1880) in Fugangli, Shitou Village, Tangxia Township, Xinhui County, Guangdong Province (now Fugangli, Shitou Village, Tangxia Township, Xinhui City, Guangdong), he passed away in Beijing on June 21, 1971, at the age of 91. His 91-year life span included 33 years living in his hometown of Xinhui and Guangzhou, with the remaining time spent in Beijing.
Xinhui, the hometown of Chen Yuan's family, is located in the western part of the Pearl River Delta, 110 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital of Guangzhou. It borders Shunde, Jiangmen, Kaiping, Zhongshan, and Nanhai counties to the east, west, south, and north, respectively. "The land is crisscrossed by mountains and rivers, and in ancient times, it was a strategically important region."① Although not a famous city, it possesses distinctive local characteristics. In the Ming Wanli era, Huang Chun compiled the Xinhui County Gazetteer and wrote its preface, stating: "What Xinhui holds most dear in the world is the Jiangmen School of Learning and the loyalty of the Yashan Martyr." The preface to the Xinhui County Gazetteer from the Daoguang era, written by Huang Peifang, also noted: "The loyalty of the Yashan Martyr concerns the survival of an entire generation, while the philosophy of Bai Sha relates to the eternal lineage of the Dao, something no other city possesses." The Yashan Mountain is located south of the Xinhui County seat. In the second year of the Xiangxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1279), the Prime Minister Lu Xiufu was defeated here and refused to surrender to the Yuan forces, carrying the Emperor Bing to his death by drowning in the sea. Local elders of the Ming and Qing dynasties passed down the legend that Lu Xiufu's tomb was located in Ercheng Village, which was later known as Zhongchen Mountain. The Jiangmen School of Learning and the Bai Sha School of Learning both refer to the famous Ming Dynasty philosopher Chen Xianzhang. Chen Xianzhang was from Bai Sha (now Bai Sha Township, Xinhui City) and was appointed as a Hanlin Academician in 1482 after being recommended as a scholar from the Jinshi examination. Bai Sha is also located northeast of Xinhui County seat, only about 10 miles away from Shitou Village. Both the Yashan Martyr and the Bai Sha School of Learning had a profound influence on Chen Yuan. On April 25, 1948, Chen Yuan and others visited the Summer Palace and took a group photo by the Kunming Lake, where he inscribed on the photo: "Standing on the shores of Yashan, yet the heart does not stand on the shores of Yashan." This demonstrated his patriotic spirit and national integrity. He also collected and treasured the works of Chen Xianzhang, preserving them in the Lvyun Book Collection. Shi Shuqing once recalled: "(Chen Yuan) collected numerous calligraphy, painting, and manuscripts of Qing Dynasty scholars, which he exhibited at Fu Ren University and published a catalog. Among them were works by famous Lingnan scholars, such as Chen Bai Sha (Xianzhang) from the Ming Dynasty and Chen Lanfu (Li) from the late Qing Dynasty. I remember a handwritten scroll titled Xinhe by Chen Bai Sha, with a postscript by Shen Yinmo titled Jianzi Mulan, which reads: 'The wind and moon of Yashan connect with the eternal sincerity across the ages. The grandeur of the scroll shines like sunlight and moonlight. The flying heart of the crane, whether moving or still, is all learning. The vigor of life, this joy is passed down by the brush today.' Mr. Chen Yuan and Chen Bai Sha were both from Xinhui, and Yashan is 80 miles south of Xinhui in the sea, hence the mention in Mr. Shen Yinmo's poem."② In addition to Chen Bai Sha, there was also the famous Qing Dynasty scholar Hu Jinzhu. Hu Jinzhu, named Fang, styled Daling, and styled Xintianweng, was from Jinzhu Mountain in Xinhui. Scholars referred to him as Mr. Jinzhu. Chen Dongshu wrote in the preface to Hu Jinzhu's Hongjie Tangji: "Since the Bai Sha Master, over a hundred years later, there was Mr. Jinzhu, and the people of Guangdong compared him to Bai Sha."
Postscript: Throughout my life, I have admired the academic achievements of Mr. Yuan'an. As early as 1978 to 1982, while studying at the History Department of Beijing Normal University, I made a vow to write a biography of Mr. Yuan'an. Nearly two decades later, this wish has finally been fulfilled, and I owe this to the guidance and instructions of Mr. Chen Qitai and Mr. Fang Delin, who gave me the opportunity to accomplish this task. The writing of this manuscript began in August 1997 and took shape in early 1998. After another ten months of diligent effort and three revisions, the work was finally completed. After the detailed outline of the manuscript was finalized, I visited Mr. Liu Naihe at Beijing Normal University on February 5, 1998. At that time, Mr. Liu was already bedridden, but she was delighted to hear of my writing plan and urged me to write the book well. She even offered to share the materials and unfinished drafts in her possession for my reference, as she had been invited by Jiangxi Education Press to write a Biography of Chen Yuan, but due to health reasons, she was unable to finish it. Seeing her frail condition, I hesitated to trouble her and persuaded her to wait until she recovered before providing the materials. Unexpectedly, a few days later, she was admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Medical Sciences and never returned to her study. The Renmin University of China is not far from the hospital, and I often visited her during her hospitalization. At that time, she could no longer speak but would open her eyes to acknowledge me. I understood her meaning and resolved to complete this unfinished work for her. Therefore, upon the completion of this manuscript, I especially miss my teacher, Mr. Liu Naihe.
Furthermore, Mr. Yuan'an's academic achievements are vast and profound, like a towering mountain that one looks up to in admiration. With my limited understanding, studying Mr. Yuan'an's scholarship feels like looking at the sky from a well, inevitably leaving out many details. Additionally, due to time constraints, many issues were not thoroughly considered, and the manuscript may appear as a "work in progress." All errors and shortcomings in this book are sincerely awaiting the corrections of learned and knowledgeable readers for future revision and improvement.
Mr. Wang Han, the Executive Deputy Editor of the Beijing Library Journal, reviewed this manuscript and offered many valuable suggestions for improvement. Mr. Liu Zhuoying and Mr. Xiong Ying of the Beijing Library Press devoted hard work to the publication of this book, for which I am deeply grateful.
Students from the 1996 Historical Studies, Literature, Philosophy, and Experimental Class of the History Department at Renmin University of China—Liu Jing, Gu Chao, Bai Xiaoming, Cai Qiang, Yin Sen, Qing, Zhao Chenling, Wang Peng, Zhao Ping, Liang Min, Qiu Zhirong, and Li Li—have meticulously typed this manuscript, and I extend my sincere thanks to them as well!
Niu Runzhen
October 25, 1998
Department of History, Renmin University of China