New Historian Qian Bozan: China Academic Masters Series

Author: Zhang Chuanxi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Mr. Qian Bozan, a Uyghur, was born on April 14, 1898 (March 24, 1928 in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty) in Qianqiying, Fengshugang, Taoyuan, Hunan. The publication of The New Historian Qian Bozan serves as both a tribute to Mr. Qian Bozan and an introduction to the academic master's extraordinary life to the academic community and the general public. It primarily focuses on his great aspirations to save the nation and its people, his unwavering will to pursue truth, his persistent dedication to academic exploration, and his noble integrity of never surrendering even to death. Mr. Qian Bozan's patriotic spirit was nurtured from a young age. During his primary school years, he wrote an essay describing the new scenery in his hometown after rain, which included the lines "distant mountains are bright and moist, and rivers begin to flow gently," vividly expressing his love for his homeland. From his youth, he studied commerce and industry to "save the nation through industrialization" and joined the May Fourth Movement to oppose imperialism and feudalism. Afterward, he took up arms in the Northern Expedition, used his pen to advocate for resistance against Japan, and fought for democracy and against civil war—all with unwavering resolve. He pursued truth with courage. To study ancient Chinese culture, he read extensively; to learn from the West, he studied in the United States. However, it was only after he encountered Marxism that he realized the true scientific view of history is the materialist conception of history. From then on, guided by the materialist conception of history, he researched cultural history and actively participated in revolutionary struggles. In 1938, during the height of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, he published A Course in Historical Philosophy, marking his emergence as the "leading figure of the new school of history." After the founding of the People's Republic, the materialist conception of history flourished in academia, but individual interpretations varied, which was normal. Overall, progress in theory and perspective was the main trend. However, from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, the extreme-leftist trend caused severe harm to academia, culture and education, and political and economic systems. At that time, Mr. Qian Bozan bravely defied the wind to uphold the purity of Marxism and the principle of "seeking truth from facts," engaging in fierce struggles against the extreme-leftist trend. On April 14 of this year, The China National News published a full-page commemorative interview titled Qian Bozan: Let Marxism Shine in the Skies of History, which was truly apt and accurate. As for Mr. Qian Bozan's death, it was his final struggle to uphold the principle of "seeking truth from facts." When the Central "Cult of Revolution" group, which held absolute power, forced Mr. Qian Bozan to write "black materials" about Liu Shaoqi's 1936 Nanjing peace negotiations according to their wishes, he resolutely refused and ultimately fought to the death. The ancient philosopher Zhuangzi discussed courage in the Chapter on Autumn Waters: "When white swords cross in front, viewing death as life—this is the courage of a loyalist. Facing great adversity without fear—this is the courage of a sage." Mr. Qian Bozan truly embodied these qualities.
I would also like to clarify the relationship between this book and The Biography of Qian Bozan, which I published in 1998 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mr. Qian Bozan's birth. It was also published by Peking University Press. Due to positive feedback, I did not feel the need to revise it. This spring, Mr. Wang Weiyè, the planner of Peking University Press's Series of Academic Masters of China, informed me that Mr. Qian Bozan had been selected for the series and invited me to contribute. At the time, I suggested including the original biography without writing a new one, as I believe "one cannot write two 'Qian' characters with a single stroke." However, the series is a collection with unified requirements. In this dilemma, after, we reached a consensus: to write a new book based on the original but utilize certain chapters from it. The principles for writing the new book are as follows:
1. Simplify and streamline,
2. Update content,
3. Make it illustrated.
This The New Historian Qian Bozan largely follows these three principles:
1. Simplify and streamline. All supplementary elements from the original biography, such as the three prefaces, self-introduction, and three postscripts, as well as the chronology of major events, bibliography, and afterword, have been removed. Additionally, specific descriptions of Mr. Qian Bozan's works were deleted, and the chapter structure was significantly altered.
2. Update content. Mainly new content was added. For example, the first half of the biography supplements information about the marriage relationships between the Qian family and the imperial family during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as well as their promotions in office after becoming commoners. The second half adds details about the struggles between the forces of "attacking Qian" and "protecting Qian" at Peking University, followed by the posthumous vindication of Mr. Qian Bozan. Other revised and added content also exists.
3. Make it illustrated. Over 80 illustrations are included, such as photographs, autographs, artifacts, maps, former residences, historical sites, and archival documents, all of which hold considerable academic value, with some being published for the first time.
In September 1956, I left my position as head of the teaching department at a middle school in Qingdao and enrolled in the History Department of Peking University, studying under Mr. Qian Bozan as a candidate for a (equivalent to a Ph.D.) in the Qin and Han period. From then on, I embarked on the irreversible path of historical research. Time flies, and before I knew it, it had been 50 years. Over these long years, there have been both gentle rains and thunderous storms. Reflecting on the past and present, I am filled with emotions—both mourning Mr. Qian Bozan's noble character and academic achievements and expressing my boundless sorrow.