Chen Jiageng is a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader, entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist and social activist. Before his death, he was called "the flag of overseas Chinese and the glory of the nation" by Mao Zedong. The following is the story of Chen Jiageng that I shared with you. Welcome to read and learn.
profile of Chen Jiageng
1. A family of overseas Chinese
Chen Jiageng, formerly known as Chen Jiageng, was born on October 21st, 1874 in Jimei Society, Tongan County, Fujian Province (now jimei district, Xiamen). Grandfather Chen Maoju (1795 -1856) didn't go abroad in his life, but he was only "frugal and self-sufficient, diligent in family, in the sea and self-sufficient in farming and fishing" in Jimei Society. Chen Zanju has three sons, the first is Ying Zhong, the second is Ying Zhu (1836 -1876), and the third is Qi Bai (that is, Chen Jiageng's father, the word Ying Ru Song). All three brothers have been to Nanyang Sin Chew for business. When Yingying was young, she opened a rice shop in Lai (Singapore's old abbreviation, the same below). Chen Jiageng's father's date of birth is unknown. It is inferred that he died in Jimei in 199 after the Opium War. It is unknown when Chen Qibai went abroad. His marriage with Mrs. Sun CuO's grandson should be in the early 197s. He was born in Chen Jiageng in 1874 and Chen Jingxian in 1889.
as for how Chen qibai founded shun' an rice shop after crossing the south, it is difficult to know in detail because of the lack of information. according to scholars' inference, Chen qibai came to work in his brother's rice shop in his childhood and accumulated funds from thrift, so he founded shun' an in the 197s. In addition to rice industry, Chen Qibai, who has long sleeves and is good at dancing, also runs real estate, handles Shuo 'e Factory, opens up Huangli Garden for hundreds of hectares, and establishes Huangli Factory to export finished products to European and American countries. In 19, it was the peak of Chen Qibai's industry, with assets of more than 4, yuan. Chen Qibai's industrial success provided an important condition and foundation for Chen Jiageng to start his own business later.
2. Business Story
When Chen Jiageng was 17 years old (1891), he crossed the ocean to make a living in Singapore. At first, he mainly worked in Shun 'an Rice Shop run by his father, and worked for 13 years. Chen Qibai's industry failed in his later years, and Shun 'an closed down in 194, owing creditors more than 2, yuan. After Chen Jiageng took over the declining family business, he founded a pineapple cannery in 194, known as "Xinlichuan Huangli Factory"; Undertaking a Nissin company that also operates a pineapple cannery; Self-operated modest rice shop. That year, Chen Jiageng's younger brother Jingxian came to Singapore to study business, manage the finance of Qianyi Rice Store, and take charge of the business of Xinlichuan Pineapple Factory. In 195, Chen Jiageng founded "Richun Huangli Factory" (also making ice). In 196, Chen Jiageng became a shareholder in Hengmei Cooked Rice Factory and interplanted gum in Fushan Garden. Through the concerted efforts of the two brothers, they have made profits of more than 5, yuan, 4, yuan and 13, yuan respectively in the three years since 195.
At that time, Singapore's law stipulated that "the father's debts are exempt from repayment", but Chen Jiageng, who is credit-oriented, declared that "those who are determined to make it for a long time and can do it will definitely pay it off to avoid regret". In the face of financial decline, Chen Jiageng struggled hard for four years, and finally made some profits. He ignored the opposition of relatives and friends and spent a lot of time and energy to find creditors. By 197, he paid off his father's debts with interest. This incident has become a great story in the history of Chinese business in Singapore. Of course, at that time, some people called him "stupid", but he said: "China people trust the world and must never lose their face in front of foreigners!" "We China people always keep our word and do what we want." Chen Jiageng's reputation of "one promise and ten thousand gold" quickly spread throughout Southeast Asia. Since then, people have great confidence in Chen Jiageng's business ethics and reputation and are willing to do business with him. It can be said that the reason why Chen Jiageng can become a millionaire after 1 years' hard work after the decline of his family business is closely related to his good faith and goodwill.
3. Join the League
In 196, Sun Yat-sen went from France to Japan, stopping in Singapore, and then returned to Singapore after his arrival. In June of the same year, Sun Yat-sen presided over the establishment of the Singapore branch of the League in Sun Yat-sen Garden. During this period, Sun Yat-sen met Chen Jiageng for the first time. After the establishment of the Singapore branch of the League, Singapore became the activity center of revolutionaries in Nanyang. Chen Jiageng met Sun Yat-sen through the introduction of his friend Lin Yishun. Influenced by Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary thought, Chen Jiageng devoted himself enthusiastically to the democratic revolution, and also attended the secret meeting of members of the Singapore League, and worked out the party flag plan with Sun Yat-sen. This gathering inspired him to embark on a revolutionary journey and left an indelible impression on Chen Jiageng all his life.
In the spring of 191, inspired by Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary thought, Chen Jiageng felt deeply about the corruption and incompetence of the Qing government and longed for progress. He and his younger brother Chen Jingxian both cut off their braids, and the same group of people with lofty ideals broke away from the relationship between the Qing court and swore to sign the book of the China League: "Expel the Tatars, restore China, establish the Republic of China, have equal rights, be faithful and loyal, and start and end." If you have this, you will be punished. " Joining the China League has become an important milestone in Chen Jiageng's political career. Since then, he has followed Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary purpose, awakened overseas Chinese, supported democratic revolution and a series of activities to revitalize China.
4. King of Rubber
When rubber was first transplanted from Brazil to Malaysia, he bought seeds with 2, yuan, planted them in pineapple orchards, and then planted them on a large scale. By 1925, he had owned 15, acres of rubber orchards, becoming one of the largest rubber settlers among overseas Chinese, and was called one of the four pioneers of the King of Rubber in Singapore and Malaysia. After that, he started a rubber products factory, producing rubber shoes, tires and daily necessities. More than 1 distribution stores have been set up in domestic cities, Nanyang and big ports around the world. He also operates a rice mill, a timber mill, a crystal sugar factory, a biscuit factory, a leather shoes factory, etc., with more than 3 factories. In its heyday (1925), its business scope was as far as five continents, with more than 3, employees and assets of 12 million yuan (about two million taels of gold).
He initiated the large-scale production of rubber products, which promoted the development of ethnic industries in the places where he lived. He opened up the international market for direct export of rubber products and other products, and was the first overseas Chinese to break the monopoly of British monopoly capital; He has also trained thousands of entrepreneurs and technical talents. Later, due to the dumping of Japanese rubber products in Southeast Asia at reduced prices and the impact of the capitalist world economic crisis, his enterprises, such as rivers, finally ended in 1934.
5. Support the Anti-Japanese War
In October 1937, he initiated the establishment of the "Malayan Singapore Overseas Chinese Conference Committee for Relief of Wounded Refugees in the Motherland" as its chairman. In October 1938, under the advocacy and persuasion of Li Qingquan, a well-known Filipino citizen (he wrote to Chen Jiageng that overseas Chinese in Nanyang should set up a general relief agency in Hong Kong or Singapore to lead fundraising), Indonesian Zhuang Xiyan (he < P > also wrote to Chen Jiageng to entrust him to set up a South Overseas Chinese Association in Singapore, with the same purpose as Li Qingquan), and after the Executive Yuan of the National Government (Zhuang Xiyan wrote to Chen Jiageng, Calling the Executive Yuan to advise Chen Jiageng to lead the overseas Chinese organizations to raise relief funds) called for Chen Jiageng to contact overseas Chinese representatives from all over Nanyang to hold a meeting in Singapore, and set up the "Nanyang Overseas Chinese Relief Headquarters". Chen Jiageng was elected as the chairman (Li Qingquan and Zhuang Xiyan were vice-chairmen). He took the lead in donating money to buy debts and materials, and carefully planned and organized the organization, so that the Nanqiao General Association raised about 4 million yuan for the motherland in just over three years. In addition, he organized local relief organizations to donate cold clothes, medicines, trucks and other materials to the soldiers in front, and invested in setting up pharmaceutical factories in Singapore and Chongqing to directly supply medicines.
in 1939, at the request of China, he recruited more than 3,2 overseas Chinese machinists (car drivers and repairmen) to serve in China, and rushed to transport strategic materials urgently needed by China in the Anti-Japanese War on the newly-opened Yunnan-Myanmar Highway.
in 194, he organized a delegation of overseas Chinese from Nanyang to visit Chongqing and Yan' an. Especially after visiting Yan 'an, Chen Jiageng's orthodoxy has changed a lot. He gave a speech on Yan 'an perception according to the facts and praised the new atmosphere in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region. Through a visit to the jurisdiction of the two parties, Chen Jiageng believes that "the hope of China lies in Yan 'an".
6. Returning to China for service
In 1949, at the invitation of Chairman Mao, he returned to China to attend Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and founding ceremony. Seeing that the great motherland has stood up, he is determined to settle down and serve the motherland's construction. He has been a member of the Central People's Government, chairman of the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and vice chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He is an octogenarian, driving the north and south of the motherland, working hard, and devoted himself to the socialist construction of the motherland, and played a positive role in promoting the patriotic unity of overseas Chinese and encouraging them to support the construction of the motherland and hometown. During his lifetime, he told "run Jimei School and donate 3 million yuan to the country", and repeatedly called for the reunification of the motherland. On his deathbed, he also expressed deep concern about the return of Taiwan Province, which reflected the sincerity of a patriot. The state has also established the Tan Kah Kee Science Award for this purpose.
Education in Chen Jiageng
1. Pay attention to education
Chen Jiageng is not only a great patriot and a famous industrialist, but also an educator who devoted his life to educating Guoxing. When Chen Jiageng's career reached its peak, he only had a capital of about 1-2 million yuan. Among Chinese entrepreneurs at that time, there were many people richer than him, but Chen Jiageng was the only one who consistently donated generously to the country and the nation and lived a very frugal life. Because of this, Mr. Huang Yanpei once said, "The only person who has made a fortune is Mr. Chen." His long running time, large scale and perseverance are rare in China and the world.
Chen Jiageng said: "The people's wisdom cannot be separated, and the people's hearts are divided. It is very clear that enlightening the people's wisdom will help the revolution and save the country. Education is the cause of generations and the fundamental measure to improve the national cultural level, and it is needed at all times. " Based on the above-mentioned aims and motives, he spared no expense in running a school.
2. Motivation to promote learning
After Chen Jiageng became rich, the first thing he thought of was to promote the journal country. He said: "The prosperity of a country lies in its people, and the development of the people lies in education, which is the foundation of the country." As early as the 2th year of Guangxu reign in Qing Dynasty (1894), he donated 2, silver dollars to establish Tizhai School in his hometown. In March of the third year of the Republic of China, Jimei Junior High School was established. Since then, girls' primary schools, teachers' schools, middle schools, kindergartens, aquatic products, business courses, agriculture and forestry, Chinese studies colleges, naive teachers' schools have been established one after another, and gradually developed, with electric light factories, hospitals, science museums, libraries and large stadiums built in the school. The world-famous Jimei School Village was built in a remote fishing village in the past. Chen Jiageng's motivation and patriotic feelings can be reflected in his 1918 "Letters to the Students of Jimei School":
"Without education, the industry will not prosper, and the livelihood of the people will become increasingly scarce. Speaking of this, it is sad. Our country is now under the elbow of a great power, and it is a matter of success or failure. Since we are not eager to catch up, we can't escape the elimination of the natural performance. Therefore, I have been traveling overseas for decades, and my life is at stake, which is not enough for me to think about. I am independent of learning and do it at the expense of money. It is for this reason that those who are diligent only in Japan do not dare to relax. Most of the young people are patriotic men, but they are cautious about my intention to promote learning, like-minded, responsive, and have high hopes for the welfare of the country, and for the sake of creating a mulberry. " (Press: "Letters to the Students of Jimei School", from Mr. Chen Jiageng's Memorial Book)
3. Founding a school
In 1913, Chen Jiageng founded a primary school in Jimei, his hometown, and later set up ten schools in normal schools, middle schools, aquatic products, navigation, commerce, agriculture and forestry. There are also kindergartens, hospitals, libraries, science museums and education promotion departments, collectively referred to as "Jimei School"; In addition, more than 7 primary and secondary schools in all parts of Fujian Province have been funded, and guidance on running schools has been provided. In 1923, Marshal Sun Yat-sen's base camp approved "recognizing Jimei as a permanent peace learning village in China", hence the name "Jimei learning village". There is no second "school" with such a grand scale and such a complete system in the country.
4. Raising school fees
In 1921, Chen Jiageng pledged a start-up fee of 1 million yuan, and the annual fee was * * * 3 million yuan in 12 years. Xiamen University was founded, with 17 departments in five colleges, including arts, science, law, business and education. It was the only university founded by overseas Chinese and the only university wholly-owned in China. In 1921. Later, the world economic recession severely hit overseas Chinese enterprises. Facing the difficult situation, Chen Jiageng still said firmly: "I would rather sell the building than support Xiamen University". He sold his three buildings to support Xiamen University.
Chen Jiageng devoted all his money to education. He hoped that people with lofty ideals would follow suit and inspire China. Therefore, despite the closure of the enterprise, he still raised school fees in various ways, with arduous support and perseverance. It is estimated that the funds he spent on running schools in his life amounted to more than US$ 1 million. Under his advocacy, many overseas Chinese donated money to promote their studies, which became a common practice and had a far-reaching impact.
5. Running a school overseas
In Singapore, Chen Jiageng was also very enthusiastic about the education of the children of overseas Chinese. In 1919, he founded the grand Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School in Singapore, which was the highest institution for overseas Chinese in Nanyang at that time. After War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, he founded Aquatic Navigation School, Nanqiao Demonstration School and Nanqiao Girls' Secondary School. At that time, a church asked Chen Jiageng to donate 1, yuan to set up a university. Chen Jiageng generously agreed, but offered to set up a Chinese course as a condition.
While bearing the huge expenses of Jimei University and Xiamen University, Chen Jiageng also contacted overseas Chinese in Singapore in the 1th year of the Republic of China and organized Tongan Education Association to support the establishment of more than 4 primary schools in Tongan County. In the 13th year of the Republic of China, Chen Jiageng changed Tongan Education Association into Jimei School Education Promotion Department, and in the 24th year of the Republic of China, it successively subsidized 73 primary and secondary schools in 2 counties and cities in the province, with a total subsidy of 193,227 silver dollars, all of which was borne by Chen Jiageng. In his overseas residence, Chen Jiageng tried his best to promote the establishment of Chinese schools, and was once a Singaporean Daonan School. In 4 years, he donated money to establish Chongfu Girls' School in Singapore, and in 8 years, he donated 3, yuan to establish Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School, and later donated more than 4, yuan as the school fund. In March 36, Nanyang Girls' Middle School was founded.
6. Educational thoughts
Chen Jiageng is not only an educator, but also an educator. In the long-term practice of running a school, his educational thoughts have been formed: first, he advocates women's education and opposes son preference. Vigorously advocating the establishment of girls' schools so that women can go to school is commendable under the historical conditions at that time, which opened the atmosphere first; Second, emphasize preferential treatment for poor children and reward normal students. He opposes running a school that divides the rich from the poor and tries his best to help poor children go to school. At the same time, he pays great attention to the cultivation of normal students, strictly selects and looks for teachers, and rewards those who are good; Third, pay attention to teaching quality and all-round development. Chen Jiageng has been paying attention to "paying equal attention to moral, intellectual and physical education" since he started running a school, emphasizing all-round development; Fourth, he advocates that "there is no good school without good teachers" and emphasizes the establishment of teachers' dominant position in schools. He believes that the key to running a good school lies in leaders and teachers. "It is easy to get a thousand troops, but it is hard to find one." To improve the teaching quality, it is very important to choose teachers. Therefore, he attaches great importance to choosing principals and teachers. Fifth, in order to revitalize industry and cultivate production technology.