In China's modern history, there is such an old man, who has witnessed the vicissitudes of a country in a hundred years, and used the strength of his life to try to awaken the sleeping dragon. He is Ma Xiangbo, a legendary figure who has left a strong mark in the history of Chinese education.
In 1840, Ma Xiangbo was born into a Catholic family in Dantu, Jiangsu. Brilliant since childhood, at the age of 11, he embarked on a journey to study in Shanghai. His life began here and began an unusual journey.
At first, Ma Xiangbo devoted himself to the Westernization Movement led by Li Hongzhang, hoping to achieve the country's prosperity and strength by introducing advanced technology and management experience from the West. However, the wheels of history do not always turn according to people's wishes. During a fundraising operation for the Beiyang Naval Division, Ma Xiangbo suffered a setback. Although he succeeded in raising a huge amount of money from the United States, for various reasons, the money did not work as expected.
This experience made Ma Xiangbo begin to reflect. He realized that the strength of a country depends not only on material strength, but also on the awakening of the people and the popularization of education. So he resolutely gave up his political career and devoted himself to education.
In 1900, Ma Xiangbo made a shocking decision: he donated more than 3,000 acres of land in Songjiang, Qingpu and other places to establish the "Chinese and Western University Hall". This school later developed into Aurora College, the first private university in modern China. However, due to differences with the Jesuit philosophy, Ma Xiangbo decided to leave Aurora and start anew.
In 1905, Ma Xiangbo founded Fudan Public School in Wusong, Shanghai. The name of this school is taken from the ancient poem "The sun and the moon are bright, and the sun and the moon are bright, and the sun is full of joy", which means hope and new life. This school was later the world-renowned Fudan University. Ma Xiangbo not only devoted himself to the establishment of this school, but also injected innovative ideas into education, advocating academic freedom and encouraging students to think independently.
Ma Xiangbo's life is a life of struggle and dedication. After the "September 18 Incident" in 1931, he actively participated in the anti-Japanese war activities and became a leader of national salvation in the eyes of the people. He frequently appeared in various public places, giving speeches, calling on the people to wake up and jointly resist foreign aggression.
However, at the end of his life, the centenarian left a thought-provoking sentence: "I am a dog, I can only bark, bark for a hundred years, and I have not woken up China." This sentence is not only a summary of his life, but also an expectation for China's future. With his actions, he explained what patriotism is and what dedication is.
Ma Xiangbo's granddaughter recalled that when the old man died, in addition to giving an explanation to his children's descendants, he also left this sentence. This is not only a review of his own life, but also a spur to future generations. He hoped that his life would inspire more people to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
On November 4, 1939, Ma Xiangbo completed his legendary life. His life is a witness to history and a hymn to the times. His name will forever be engraved on the monument of China's education history, inspiring generation after generation of Chinese to make unremitting efforts for the country's prosperity and national rejuvenation.
The story of Ma Xiangbo is a microcosm of an era and the embodiment of the Chinese nation's spirit of unremitting self-improvement. With his own life, he told us that no matter how the times change, education and awakening are always the foundation of a strong country. His spirit will always inspire us to never forget our original intention and forge ahead.
Text/Compendium