North University and Tsinghua University

Author: Liu Kexuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Don't think that only those who are good at "yuezi" can become eccentric. Professor Feng Zuxun (Hanshu) of the Department of Science and Mathematics at Peking University has quite a few interesting stories. This gentleman graduated from the Science Department of the Imperial University of Tokyo in Japan and is proficient in mathematics. He joined Peking University even before Cai Yuanpei and is a true "old Peking University" graduate. Perhaps due to his return from studying abroad, being ahead of the times, and doing well at Peking University, Feng Hanshu lived a fashionable and comfortable life in the early years of the Republic of China. At that time, he used his own bicycle, which was not only newly decorated but also equipped with four bright headlights. When all of them were lit, they shone brilliantly, dazzling the people in the opposite direction. At the same time, the bicycle was equipped with a bell, and the person on the bicycle would step on it, producing a tinkling sound as the car sped forward, causing passersby to pause and watch. It is said that at that time, there were no other such bicycles in Beijing. If you encountered this four-light bicycle on the road, it was likely that Feng Hanshu was heading to the "Eight Great Halls" for tea.
Feng Hanshu liked to drink and was quite skilled at it; even the hotel owners couldn't fool him. After drinking, he didn't act like Huang Kan or Lin Sun, who would curse others under the influence of alcohol. It is said that even when teaching after drinking, he never lost his composure. However, there were still small instances where he was a bit clueless. Lu Xun once told a story about Feng Hanshu from the early years of the Republic of China. One day, the two met on the road and were about to nod their caps and pass each other when Feng Hanshu suddenly stopped them, got off the bicycle, took out 20 yuan in cash from his wallet, and handed it to Lu Xun, saying, "This is to pay back the debt I owed you the other day." Lu Xun was bewildered and said, "I didn't play cards with you that day, nor did I lose money to you." He then said, "Oh, oh, that's you?" and left after making his point.
Another time was during the May Fourth Movement period when colleagues from Peking University gathered in the second courtyard to discuss retaining President Cai. Of course, none of the speakers opposed it, but one person's stance was not straightforward. Feng Hanshu didn't quite catch what he said and immediately stood up angrily, asking, "Who is it? Saying they don't support it?" Others quickly tried to persuade him, saying, "No one is against it; you must have misheard." He then said, "Oh, oh," and sat down again.
① Feng Hanshu might be one of the most admirable and likable among the alcoholic scholars at Peking University. Feng Hanshu stayed at Peking University for a long time. After Peking University moved south in 1937, he and Zhou Zuoren, Ma Yuzao, and Meng Sen were recognized by the university as professors staying in Beijing to protect the school's assets. However, it was difficult to achieve anything when scholars met soldiers, and it is likely that he passed away not long after.
After Cai Yuanpei joined Peking University, the group of master-level figures he accommodated and included, such as Huang Kan, can be seen as representatives of Peking University's transition from a traditional university to a modern one. They were mostly people who had been nurtured by traditional studies, and in terms of their behavior, academic pursuits, and education, they were still fundamentally traditional. Some of their eccentricities were intentional, but most were due to their sincere personalities. It is particularly noteworthy that this generation might be the last to write poetry and prose in classical Chinese. They were "strange" because they exhibited a strong nostalgia for the old times in the new era and acted upon it. To simply view this behavior as a conservative habit or stubbornness would be biased. In reality, their actions were a manifestation of their unwillingness to change their attitude toward national culture and the inner pain brought by the times. They can be considered the generation of famous professors at Peking University.