"Backstage Series - The Splendor of Guangdan"

Author: Wang Yanni
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Pan Guangdan, styled Zhongang, was born on August 13, 1899, in Luodian Town, Baoshan County, Jiangsu, and passed away on June 10, 1967, in Beijing. From 1913 to 1922, he studied at Tsinghua School in Beijing. From 1922 to 1926, he studied abroad in the United States, majoring in biology and specializing in genetics and eugenics, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees. Upon returning to China in 1926, he taught at universities such as Guanghua and Fudan in Shanghai from 1926 to 1934. Between 1934 and 1952, he served as the Academic Dean of Tsinghua University, the Head of the Sociology Department at Southwest Associated University in Kunming, and the Librarian of Tsinghua University. In 1952, he was transferred to the Central Institute for Nationalities as a professor. This book presents a multi-faceted and comprehensive portrayal of a scholar who excelled in both Chinese and Western languages, as well as in traditional Chinese and Western studies, possessing unique insights, a noble personality, and a deep humanistic spirit. He lost his right leg while in college and walked with crutches. At the age of 58, he was mistakenly labeled as a rightist and suffered a heavy blow. Despite national hardships, he remained optimistic, humorous, and open-minded. He diligently absorbed the essence of traditional Chinese culture and the core of modern Western natural sciences. His profound expertise in biology and eugenics, combined with his pioneering approach to sociological research, made relentless efforts and contributions to exploring the path to the prosperity and strength of the Chinese nation. His academic methodology, educational philosophy, eugenic concepts, and sociological research strategies still hold enduring appeal half a century later. His biological perspective on human society and his pursuit of practical solutions to enrich the nation and strengthen its people can also inspire reflection and enlightenment for us today. The book is concise yet rich in illustrations, vividly projecting the long shadows of Pan Guangdan and his generation onto today's readers.