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[New Yunnan Notes] Exploring National Southwest Associated University: An Enduring Legend of Education (Part 2)
In the previous part of this article, we admired the exterior architecture of the former Southwest Associated University site. Now, we'll move from the outdoors into the interior.
Enter the Southwest Associated University Memorial Hall. The Southwest Associated University Memorial Hall, established in 1985, covers an area of 13,320 square meters, with a building area of 2,332 square meters, an exhibition area of 1,422 square meters, and a collection of 1,218 cultural relics. The museum features two exhibition halls (the National Southwest Associated University Memorial Hall and the "December 1st" Movement Memorial Hall) and one event hall. It also features three permanent exhibitions: the History of Southwest Associated University, the History of the "December 1st" Movement, and the Life and Deeds of Li Gongpu and Wen Yiduo. Utilizing modern audio, visual, and electronic displays, it boasts the largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to Southwest Associated University and the "December 1st" Movement in China. As I slowly stepped through the historic gate, I was instantly enveloped by a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The yellowed photographs before me, like messengers of time, transported me back to that era of war and smoke. The teachers and students in the photos reveal a deep thirst for knowledge. Even in the spartan classrooms, with the constant roar of enemy aircraft overhead, they remained focused on their textbooks and the writing on the blackboard.
Each precious artifact on display seems to whisper a memory of those arduous yet passionate years. The worn desks and chairs still seem to hold the warmth of those students' furious writing; the illegible workbooks bear witness to their unwavering pursuit of truth amidst adversity.
Next, we move on to the Southwest Associated University Museum. Spread across three floors, we can fully appreciate the challenging learning conditions faced by the university's teachers and students, and experience Yunnan's spirit of inheriting the legacy of the university.
Standing at the entrance of the Southwest Associated University Museum, the four large characters "Gan Yi Jian Zhuo" (Fortitude, Resoluteness, and Excellence) catch our eye. It was at that historical moment when the country was in crisis, in an extremely simple and difficult environment, that all the teachers and students of Southwest Associated University worked together in solidarity and upheld the university motto of "Fortitude and Perseverance" throughout. 
Southwest Associated University Emblem
The museum's exhibition focuses on the history of Southwest Associated University, organized chronologically and in sections. It covers the early years of Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University, their joint history during the Anti-Japanese War, and the post-war restoration of the three universities and the legacy of the Normal College remaining independent in Kunming, extending to the present day, spanning a century.
The first floor features introductions to the three universities and a tour of their westward migration. A sand table simulation of the new campus allows visitors to experience the hardships of "running a school with great difficulty" up close, listen to the Southwest Associated University anthem, and see teahouses, teaching institutions, and departments from the time.
Students studied in this teahouse.
At that time when the country was shattered and the nation was in danger, the teachers and students of Southwest Associated University resolutely embarked on a long and arduous migration to protect the flame of education. This journey can be called the Long March of the educational world. They crossed mountains and rivers, slept in the open air, and endured untold hardships, but they never gave up their faith. With their own footsteps, they measured their boundless loyalty to the cause of education; with their own sweat, they nurtured the seeds of knowledge and hope. During their eight years at Kunming, the faculty and students of Southwest Associated University, guided by the university motto of fortitude and perseverance, and filled with the ideal of saving the nation through science, stood together in times of adversity and shared a common hatred of the enemy. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a large number of students joined the army and fought on the battlefield. After the victory of the war, faculty and students actively participated in the anti-civil war and democratic movement, writing a moving chapter of patriotism.
Look at those masters who, in the southwest during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, preserved the seeds of Chinese culture. They transformed suffering into words of light, and with their backs, they portrayed the positive side of the national spirit. They stood there, confident and determined! Mei Yiqi once said, "A university is not a place of buildings, but a place of great masters." How did Southwest Associated University bring together so many exceptional scholars? It is precisely "independent spirit and free thought."
Southwest Associated University has become a monument in the history of Chinese education thanks to the outstanding contributions of many outstanding figures. President Mei Yiqi, with his far-sighted wisdom and unwavering determination, steered the university's stable development; Mr. Wen Yiduo, with his passionate speeches and unwavering integrity, inspired the patriotic enthusiasm of countless young students; scientists like Deng Jiaxian, who worked tirelessly in scientific research, made immortal contributions to the nation's national defense.
This is a graduation photo of over 8,000 graduates from that year. Click on the alumni with the school emblem to view their life stories, and enter their names on the multimedia screens on both sides to learn more about their deeds.
Countless students have become pillars of talent in China and even the world. To date, 173 Southwest Associated University faculty and students are members of China's "Two Academies"; of the 23 recipients of the National "Two Bombs and One Satellite" Medal of Merit, eight are from Southwest Associated University (Zhao Jiuzhang, Guo Yonghuai, Chen Fangyun, Tu Shou'e, Yang Jiachi, Wang Xiji, Zhu Guangya, and Deng Jiaxian); Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao have won the Nobel Prize in Physics, and Huang Kun, Liu Dongsheng, Ye Duzheng, Wu Zhengyi, and Zheng Zhemin have successively received the State's Highest Science and Technology Award. In addition, there are a large number of outstanding talents in the humanities and social sciences, as well as leaders at all levels of the Party and the State, such as Song Ping, Wang Hanbin, Fei Xiaotong, Peng Peiyun, Zhou Peiyuan, Zhu Guangya, Qian Weichang, and Sun Fuling.
Nationwide Southwest Associated University, which existed for only eight years and eight months, produced over 170 academicians, eight pioneers of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" program, and two Nobel Prize winners. Amidst the bombardment of the Anti-Japanese War, it carved a miracle in the history of modern Chinese higher education.
At 10:15, I completed my own circuit and returned to the designated area to wait for the public lecture. At 10:30, I followed the guide for another circuit.
On this campus, which has nurtured countless talented individuals, I seemed to hear their voices and witness their perseverance and pursuit of excellence amidst adversity. Every classroom and every stone tablet carries the weight of dreams and aspirations. Walking through those old buildings, it's like stepping back in time. I can feel the passion for knowledge and the steadfastness of ideals. A strong sense of responsibility wells up in my heart, making me realize that as individuals in this new era, we carry not only our personal ideals but also our responsibility to inherit history and care for the future. Standing on this land steeped in history, my heart remains restless for a long time. The spirit of Southwest Associated University is one of perseverance and unyielding determination, a profound reverence for knowledge, and a deep love for our country and nation. It is like a beacon, illuminating our path; like a banner, inspiring us to forge ahead courageously in the pursuit of our dreams. This journey of exploration is not only a fond reflection on history, but also a profound spiritual cleansing. The legendary story of National Southwest Associated University will be forever etched in my heart, inspiring us to strive and forge ahead on the path of life, and to contribute our own strength to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. May we remember the weight of this history on our future journey, guided by the spirit of Southwest Associated University, and constantly challenge and surpass ourselves.
Though times have changed, does our era no longer need the spirit of Southwest Associated University?
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