1.Jin Zengcheng was appointed as Acting President of National Sun Yat-sen University

In May 1942, the Ministry of Education appointed Jin Zengcheng to replace Zhang Yun as Acting President of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU). Jin Zengcheng previously served as President of National Advanced Normal University, Director of Teaching Affairs of National Guangdong University, Director of Guangzhou Education Bureau, and President of Guangzhou University. On June 22, 1942, Jin Zengcheng, the new Acting President, assumed office and appointed Deng Zhiyi as Director of Teaching Affairs, He Chunfan as Director in Charge of General Affairs, and Chen Shaonan as Director of Student Guidance. In January 1945, following the fall of northern Guangdong, Jin Zengcheng presided over the relocation of the University to Meixian, Meizhou. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, NSYSU resumed its operation in the Shipai campus of Guangzhou, and Jin Zengcheng resigned his post due to illness.

Photo 1: Jin Zengcheng

Photo 2: Notice on the appointment of Jin Zengcheng as Acting President

2. The Research Institutes established a branch of Medical Institute

In 1942, the Research Institute established a branch of Medical Institute upon the approval of the Ministry of Education. The Medical Institute, the fourth institute of the NSYSU Research Institute, included the Department of Pathology. Liang Boqiang was appointed as Director of Medical Institute and Head of the Department of Pathology.

Photo 1: Liang Boqiang

Photo 2: Instruction of the Ministry of Education on establishing the Department of Pathology in the Medical Institute, NSYSU and granting subsidies (from Sun Yat-sen University Archives)

3.The Research Institutes appointed Chen Yinque as Distinguished Professor

In 1942, the Research Institute of NSYSU appointed Chen Yinque as Distinguished Professor. In July 1943, Chen Yinque went from Guilin to Pingshi to give lectures.

Photo 1: Chen Yinque

Photo 2: Document of the Research Institute of NSYSU on the appointment of Chen Yinque and others as Distinguished Professors (from Sun Yat-sen University Archives)

4.Yang Chengzhi conducted an archaeological study in Haifeng County

In February 1942, Yang Chengzhi, Director of the Institute of Arts, led a team to conduct an archaeological study in Haifeng County. The team collected more than 1,000 pieces of stone tools and pottery shreds, which confirmed the existence of prehistoric residents in the east coast of Guangdong, rebutting the old prejudice that “Guangdong was a place without civilization and the native people were barbarians”.

Photo 1: Yang Chengzhi

Photo 2: Report on the return of the archaeological team of the Institute of Arts from Haifeng to the University (National Sun Yat-sen University Daily, 1942-6-11)

Photo 3: Distribution map of pre-historical sites in Haifeng (Gu Tiefu, Exploration Record of Pre-historical Sites in Haifeng, Guangdong, Literature (Guangzhou), 1947 (2))

5.Students asked for allowances for “food and light”

In December 1941, the outbreak of the Pacific War cut off some students’ access to overseas remittances, and the lives of those who relied on financial allowances were seriously threatened due to the soaring prices of commodities. In this context, the allowances for “food and light” became a common call for the students. In the spring of 1942, it was revealed that the Director in Charge of General Affairs had been using students’ allowances for personal purposes, causing protests and indignation among students. They asked for an increase in allowances and punishment of those who embezzled the money. For this reason, the underground CPC organizations launched a campaign for allowances for “food and light”. In the end, 50% of the students received allowances for living and lamp-oil or had them increased.

Photo 1: Telegram from the Ministry of Education on the approval of distributing lamp-oil fees and allowances to NSYSU students (from Sun Yat-sen University Archives)

Photo 2: Notice of NSYSU on increasing students’ allowances and subsidizing lamp-oil fees (from Sun Yat-sen University Archives)

6.The establishment of the Track of Social Studies of Borderland Compatriots

In April 1942, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the Department of Sociology, the College of Law, set up the Track of Social Studies of Borderland Compatriots, which would cooperated with the Group of Studies of Folklore of the Institute of Arts to study the social and folk custom life of the compatriots in the southwest borderland.

Photo 1: Approval from the Ministry of Education on the establishment of the Track of Social Studies of Borderland Compatriots in NSYSU

Photo 2: 1942 Plan of the Track of Social Studies of Borderland Compatriots, the Department of Sociology, the College of Law, NSYSU (from Sun Yat-sen University Archives)