Basic Common Sense | Tsinghua University Abandoned “Independent Spirit”, It’s a Pity…

I saw a renaming announcement and couldn’t help but feel sad.

On January 12th, the WeChat public account “Independent Spirit” was renamed “Tsinghua University Journal of Philosophy and Social Sciences”, and it was stated that they would continue to do a good job of publishing articles.

The announcement didn’t say why the name “Independent Spirit”, which has a rich historical accumulation and is very characteristic of Tsinghua, was changed. As outsiders, we don’t know and have no position to comment. I just feel it’s a pity…

The term “Independent Spirit” comes from “Independent spirit, free thought”, which was inscribed by Chen Yinke, a professor at Tsinghua University and a master of both Chinese and Western studies, and has always been regarded as the essence of Tsinghua University’s academic thought.

In 1929, Chen Yinke wrote a commemorative inscription for Wang Guowei, a deceased master of Chinese studies, in which he wrote:

“The future is unknowable, and Mr.’s writings may sometimes be obscure; Mr.’s theories may sometimes be debatable, but this independent spirit and free thought will last for thousands of years, as long as heaven and earth, and shine forever with the sun, moon, and stars.”

Wang Jing’an of Haining, that is, Mr. Wang Guowei, this monument was erected at Tsinghua University.

Independent spirit, free thought, is not only the mutual appreciation between Master Chen Yinke and Master Wang Guowei, but also the expectation and encouragement of the masters to their colleagues at Tsinghua and the academic circles of China.

In the history of Tsinghua University, there are many professors who deserve the title of “Independent spirit, free thought”, including the deceased masters Chen Yinke, Wang Guowei, Zhu Ziqing, and Wen Yiduo, and the living ones include Professor Qin Hui and other respected scholars.

Independent spirit, free thought, is passed down in Tsinghua University, with a long history. Therefore, it is very appropriate and proud for a philosophy and social science journal sponsored by Tsinghua University to name its official account “Independent Spirit”, and it cannot be taken away by any other school (including Peking University).

Taking “Independent Spirit” as the label of an academic journal has a very clear guiding role, and it is also a guide and encouragement to every author who submits articles:

Is your research submitted to the “Tsinghua University Journal” based on the independent spirit of a scholar? Has the research process been influenced by power? Have the conclusions you have drawn from your research succumbed to the temptation of interests?

Has your academic research been unworthy of the teachings of the predecessors of Tsinghua University?

In contrast, “Tsinghua University Journal of Philosophy and Social Sciences” is difficult to see any advocacy of value, and it looks like one of the thousands of unremarkable university journals in China.

Of course, it needs to be emphasized again that it is not the academic journal of Tsinghua University itself that has been renamed, but a WeChat public account certified by Tsinghua University.