Tan Kah Kee’s Enduring Educational Legacy

Today, we’ll delve further into Tan Kah Kee’s philanthropic legacy, which resonates most profoundly through his generous donations to education. By establishing schools, funding scholarships, and supporting infrastructure development, he sought to lift Chinese communities out of poverty and backwardness.

Transcript

Empowering Generations: Tan Kah Kee’s Enduring Educational Legacy

Today, we’ll delve further into Tan Kah Kee’s philanthropic legacy, which resonates most profoundly through his generous donations to education. By establishing schools, funding scholarships, and supporting infrastructure development, he sought to lift Chinese communities out of poverty and backwardness.

Looking back on the life of Tan Kah Kee, his most widely recognized philanthropic acts include his contributions to education. Both Xiamen University and Jimei School Village were established with his donations. Additionally, he undertook numerous similar philanthropic endeavors in the Nanyang region, making significant contributions to education in southern Fujian and among overseas Chinese communities.

Tan Kah Kee placed a significant emphasis on education throughout his life, beginning his philanthropic efforts in his youth. In 1894, while residing in his hometown of Jimei, he donated 2,000 silver coins to establish the Ti Zhai School, marking the start of his commitment to education at the young age of 21. 

Subsequently, in Singapore, he supported Tao Nan School and served as its director. In 1919, together with local overseas Chinese leaders such as Zheng Jiangshui and Lin Yishun, Tan Kah Kee initiated the founding of the Chinese High School, now Hwa Chong Institution, in Singapore. They raised a total of SGD 50,000 for the school’s establishment, with Tan contributing SGD 13,000 himself – the largest single donation. 

In March of the following year, the school officially opened its doors with Tan Kah Kee as its first chairman. At the time, overseas Chinese in Nanyang came from various regions of China, belonging to different associations like the Fujian and Guangdong clans, each with their own schools of varying standards and separated affiliations, which made it difficult to meet the educational needs of overseas Chinese youths. 

The Chinese High School became the first formal Chinese secondary school in Nanyang to transcend clan affiliations, serving as the premier educational institution for the local overseas Chinese community and significantly elevating the standard of education in the region.

During his extensive career in education, Tan formulated a comprehensive philosophy centered on several key principles. He championed gender equality by advocating for women’s education and opposing gender bias, establishing girls’ schools despite historical challenges. 

He prioritized aiding underprivileged students and incentivizing teacher training, rejecting educational elitism based on wealth. Tan Kah Kee emphasized holistic development through his “morality, intellect, and physical education” approach from the outset, stressing the pivotal role of teachers in school excellence. Additionally, he promoted vocational education to foster industrial growth. Tan’s lifelong dedication to education left a lasting legacy, shaping educational practices in Singapore and China with a focus on equality, quality, and teacher leadership.

Tan Kah Kee’s greatest contributions to education were the founding of Jimei Schools, and Xiamen University. Let’s start with Jimei Schools. In the autumn of 1912, Tan and overseas Chinese Lin Wenqing returned to their hometown together. During their voyage, they discussed current affairs and were deeply concerned about the backwardness of education and the lack of enlightenment in their hometown. They resolved to promote education and enlightenment there. 

At that time, most areas in southern Fujian had various private schools established by local communities to educate their own children. Tan Kah Kee made significant efforts to gather leaders from these communities, persuading them to close their private schools and unite to establish a primary school. He generously financed the project and hired workers to fill in a large fishpond covering dozens of acres in the village. Afterward, they built school buildings, a playground, seven classrooms, and other necessary facilities. The school initially enrolled 180 local children, marking the establishment of Jimei Advanced Elementary School.

Today, primary education seems commonplace, but in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period over a century ago, having formal primary education was considered a significant step toward literacy and cultural enlightenment.

Shortly thereafter, Tan continued his efforts with great dedication, seizing the momentum to establish several more schools in Jimei. By the late 1920s, he had successfully founded a comprehensive educational complex known as Jimei Schools, which included Jimei Girls’ Primary School, Jimei Normal School, and Jimei High School, among others. 

In total, there were nine institutions: boys’ and girls’ primary schools, boys’ and girls’ secondary schools, a normal school for teachers, a school for fisheries and maritime navigation, a commercial school, an agricultural and forestry school, and a traditional Chinese studies school. Additionally, he established libraries, scientific institutions, hospitals, and kindergartens, all collectively known as Jimei Schools.

Dong Ligong, Vice Professor at Marxism College of Jimei University and Director of the Tan Kah Kee Research Committee of Jimei Alumni Association, said that “Jimei School of Fisheries, the first vocational education institution founded by Tan Kah Kee, is closely tied to his upbringing and maritime experiences. Tan Kah Kee once pointed out, ‘The world attaches great importance to the maritime industry, and every country does so. Its technological significance, vast prospects, and stability in life make it a leading industry.’” Dong Ligong added that, “In cultivating maritime talents and enhancing maritime influence, Tan Kah Kee spared no effort.”

At that time, domestic maritime education was quite backward. During the establishment of the school, Tan Kah Kee meticulously sought advice from various sources. He believed that a crucial condition for running a successful school was to “select excellent teachers rigorously.”

And what makes an excellent teacher? Tan Kah Kee believed, “Teachers must possess considerable knowledge and experience.” He emphasized, “Having everything ready is useless if they can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk.” Therefore, excellent teachers must not only be knowledgeable but also experienced. Dong Ligong said, “This aligns with his insistence on the teaching philosophy of ‘unity of knowledge and action.’”

In 1917, Tan wrote to the Shanghai Wu Song Fisheries School, requesting to hire maritime teachers and sponsoring three outstanding students to study in Japan. After their studies, they returned to Jimei to teach as planned. Two years later, one of the students, Feng Limin, returned after completing his studies and participated in the establishment of the Jimei School of Fisheries.

In February 1920, the Industrial Department of Jimei School officially opened its Fisheries Department, focusing on both fishing and navigation industries. Despite undergoing a series of reforms, the school remained committed to Tan Kah Kee’s vision of educating practical maritime talents. When the full-scale resistance against Japanese aggression erupted, most fisheries and maritime schools nationwide closed down. Only Jimei School of Fisheries continued to operate by relocating to Anxi, Datian, and other places, persisting to educate students under difficult conditions. These students, shaped during wartime, later became the backbone of China’s shipping industry.

Building upon the foundation of Jimei Schools, Tan Kah Kee spearheaded the establishment of Xiamen University. In June 1919, upon his return from Singapore to Jimei, he immediately began to survey and select a site, deciding to establish the university in the area near Yanwu Field, or martial arts performance field, at the foot of Wulao Peak on Xiamen Island. Yanwu Field had historically been associated with Zheng Chenggong, a national hero who expelled Dutch colonists in 1662 and recovered Taiwan. Zheng had initially used the field for military drills, and it later served as a parade ground during the Qing Dynasty, China’s last dynasty, eventually becoming a golf course in modern times. Tan applied to the government to allocate a quarter of this land for the university campus, which was approved. He then hired an American architect from Shanghai to design the blueprints for the university buildings.

On April 6, 1921, Xiamen University officially opened its doors, initially using the existing Wen Building of Jimei Schools as its campus. By February of the following year, the new campus of Xiamen University was completed, and the university relocated from Jimei to its new site.

Xiamen University’s first president, Deng Cuiying, was originally from Fuzhou, Fujian Province. He had studied abroad in Japan and the United States and served as a consultant to the Ministry of Education of the Beiyang Government, temporarily acting as the Deputy Minister of Education. Unwilling to remain in Xiamen for long after the university’s establishment, Deng returned to Beijing shortly after the school’s opening, leaving the administration to others. Tan Kah Kee was dissatisfied with this arrangement and promptly replaced Deng with his close friend, the renowned Singaporean physician, Lin Wenqing, as the second president of Xiamen University.

Lin Wenqing was highly esteemed in Singapore for his exceptional medical skills, earning him the title of “Medical Saint” among the local populace. Born in Singapore with ancestral roots in Haicang County, Fujian Province, Lin had studied medicine in England before returning to Singapore to practice. He later ventured into the rubber industry, introducing rubber cultivation in Singapore with remarkable success, becoming a prominent overseas Chinese leader.

Lin Wenqing made significant contributions to Xiamen University, serving as its president for 17 years. Particularly after 1929, when Tan Kah Kee’s business suffered severe setbacks due to the Great Depression, the university suffered financial strain, but Lin Wenqing persevered. He made multiple trips back to Singapore to raise funds among the overseas Chinese community, working tirelessly alongside Tan Kah Kee to sustain the university. Their efforts continued until 1937, when Xiamen University came under the administration of the Nationalist Government.

Since Tan Kah Kee founded Xiamen University in 1921, his emphasis on marine-related disciplines has been sustained. Over time, these disciplines have grown significantly, and Xiamen University’s marine sciences have witnessed a glorious journey in the development of marine science in China, earning the university the title of “cradle of China’s marine science and education.” In the autumn of 1946, Xiamen University established China’s first Department of Oceanography.

Some fifty years later, on May 8, 2016, the “Jiageng” research vessel, China’s first oceanographic comprehensive survey vessel was officially launched. The Jiageng was designed with a foreign scheme and domestically converted detailed design, and fully owned intellectual property by Xiamen University. The name “Jiageng”, which you may recall is Tan Kah Kee’s given name in Chinese, was chosen through voting by Xiamen University’s faculty, students, and alumni both at home and abroad, as well as various sectors of society. In 2017, the “Jiageng” vessel was put into service.

Tan Kah Kee’s total investment in Jimei Schools and Xiamen University amounted to 8 million yuan, a staggering sum considering the circumstances of that time, showcasing his tremendous commitment and financial support.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Tan Kah Kee held various important positions, including member of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, member of the Standing Committee of the 1st and 2nd National People’s Congress, and Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Apart from his involvement in national political affairs, he devoted most of his time and energy to the continued development of Jimei Schools and Xiamen University, making outstanding contributions to the educational development of Fujian Province and the country.

On August 12, 1961, Tan Kah Kee passed away in Beijing and was buried at Aoyuan in Jimei, Xiamen. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to humanity, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid number 2963 “Tan Kah Kee Star” on March 31, 1990.

The Tan Kah Kee Memorial Hall, which opened in 2008 in Jimei, covers a total area of 104,484 square meters. It serves as the primary institution for collecting Tan Kah Kee’s cultural relics and functions as a facility for education, scientific research, and to promote a spirit of patriotism. 

Well, that’s the end of our podcast. Our theme music is by the famous film score composer Roc Chen. We want to thank our writer Lü Weitao, translator Du Guodong and copy editor Pu Ren. And thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please tell a friend so they, too, can understand The Context.