Archives of Peking University News - PKU English - 北京大学

北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
students are skillful at calligraphy; and as such, a widely spread rumor goes that
applicants of Professor Yuan‘s graduate programs must first meet the requisite of
fine calligraphy. Last year, Professor actually received a letter from an applicant
making such specific inquiry.
After 22 years as an assistant lecturer, Professor Yuan became a lecturer in 1979
because of his outstanding teaching and research. The following year, he was
promoted again, as an exception, to an associate professor. Then in 1984, he
obtained the qualification as an advisor for doctoral students. He joked mildly that
―I‘m probably in the rank of assistant lecturer for the longest period.‖ But don‘t forget
to recognize that he‘s probably in the rank of a lecturer for the shortest period. In
1989, for his remarkable dedication to education, Professor Yuan was awarded the
National Merit for Teaching at the first nation-wide university recognition. In 1991, he
received the Medal of People‘s Educator rewarded by the State Education
Commission and the Ministry of Personnel. In 1993, he was voted by the public as
one of the Ten Best Teachers of the Beijing Municipality, an award given by the
Beijing Municipality Government. In 1995, he was the Model Worker of Beijing
Municipality.
Professor Yuan maintained his teaching load notwithstanding his numerous posts in
the society. He often says that ―My profession ultimately is teaching.‖ He has a
profound understanding of the Chinese ancient wisdom that teaching and learning
are complementary of each other. He remarks that an educator‘s cultivation is of
course indispensable for producing good students, yet, good teachers are also made
possible by those they‘ve taught. Professor Yuan is deeply passionate of his
profession, and has said many times that ―if there were another life, I still would want
to teach.‖
THE TAOS IN TEACHING
Professor Yuan‘s choice of an academic career was influenced a great deal by the
cultural exposure of his childhood. Born to a well-educated family, he still hangs in
his study the paintings drawn by his great grandmother and grandmother. His father
passed the Imperial Examination, skillful in poems, essays and calligraphy; and
when his hands were too unsteady to hold a pen, his son became his secretary. The
family atmosphere influenced Professor Yuan‘s love for classical literature and
cultivated his appreciation of it.
He was admitted to Peking University in 1953, which marked the beginning of his
stringent academic trainings. Graduated in 1957, he was asked to stay as an
assistant to Professor Lin Geng. From 1960 through 1964, together with Professor
Chen Yixin, they complied with their mentor Professor Lin the Reference Materials
for Literary History of Dynasties of Wei, Jin, South and North. He also participated in
compiling the Selections of Poems of All Dynasties of China, chief-edited by Lin
759