Nanjing University

Nanjing University (NJU or NU, sometimes Nanking University, simplified Chinese: 南京大学; traditional Chinese: 南京大學; pinyin: Nánjīng Dàxué, Nánkīng Tàhsüéh), known as Nanda (南大; Nándà), is a major public university, the oldest institution of higher learning in Nanjing, Jiangsu, and a member of the elite C9 League of Chinese universities.

For the private university sponsored by American churches, see University of Nanking.

Nanjing University

南京大学 (南京大學)
logo in English
Former name	Sanjiang or Liangjiang Normal College (1902–1914) Nanking Higher Normal School (1915–1923) National Southeastern University (1921–1927) National Central University (1928–1949)
Motto	诚朴雄伟励学敦行 (誠樸雄偉勵學敦行)[1]
Motto in English	Sincerity with Aspiration, Perseverance and Integrity (Official)[2] or Sincerity, Simplicity, Sturdiness, Greatness, Endeavor to Learn, Urge to Act (Literal)
Type	Public
Established	1902[Note 1]
President	Lü Jian (吕建)
Academic staff	2,135
Undergraduates	13,865
Postgraduates	12,793
Location	Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
Campus	Urban: Gulou campus Suburban: Xianlin campus, Pukou campus (Jinling College, Nanjing University), Suzhou campus (Under construction)
Colors
Affiliations	APRU, AEARU, WUN, C9, Service-Learning Asia Network
Website	www.nju.edu.cn
[3][4][5]

Established in 1902 as Sanjiang Normal School, it underwent a number of name changes until it was renamed Nanjing University in 1950. It merged with the University of Nanking in 1952.[6]

In addition to its membership in the C9 League, Nanjing University has been designated a Class A institution in the Double First Class University plan, a government initiative to cultivate an elite group of Chinese universities into "world-class" institutions.[7] The university is perennially ranked one of the best research universities in China,[8][9] and one of China's most selective universities.[10] It is ranked among the top universities worldwide in major global university rankings.[10][11][12] Regarding research output, the Nature Index 2017 ranks Nanjing University number 2 in China, number 3 in Asia Pacific and number 12 in the world.[13]

NJU has two main campuses: the Xianlin campus in the northeast of Nanjing, and the Gulou campus in the city center of Nanjing.

History

History

南雍祭酒 湛若水 (Zhan Ruoshui, former 'president')

Nanjing, situated in the lower part of the Yangtze, has historically been the capital of various kingdoms and dynasties, with the reputation as the center of education. In 258 CE, the Kingdom of Wu under the reign of Emperor Jing of Wu, founded a Confucian learning institute for the purpose of learning Six Arts. In the first year of Jianwu reign (317), Taihsueh (太學) campus was built in today's Fuzimiao (夫子廟) area on the banks of Qinhuai River, and Nanking Imperial University began recruiting students from common families instead of only from noble families.[14] Like its forerunner Chengjun (成均) and succeeding Shang Hsiang (上庠) founded by Yu (禹, 21st century BCE) in Chungyuan, the earliest recorded imperial higher learning institutions and their successors, it was the Kingdom's central university, which after Han dynasty excellent students from local schools could be selected to attend to pursue further education.

In 470 during the Former Song dynasty, the Imperial Central University (Zongmingguan) became a comprehensive institution combining higher education and research, with five divisions: Literature, History, Confucian Study, Xuan Study and Yin Yang Study. The campus of School of Literature and School of History were located in today's Nanjing University Gulou campus, west to Gulou (鼓樓) mountain, and the campus was moved to today's Chaotian Palace (朝天宮) area at the time when Wang Jian (王儉) was university president and the areas of study were narrowed, with a heavy focus on Confucian classics. In the period the faculty members included such scholars and scientists as Zu Chongzhi (祖沖之), Ge Hong (葛洪), Wang Xizhi (王羲之), and students included such figures as Xiao Daocheng, Emperor Gao of Southern Qi who studied at School of Confucian Studies, and Zhong Rong, a founding scholar of poetics who graduated from division of literature. After the fall of Chen dynasty, the school was closed and later replaced by Nanking Academy (or Jiangzhou Academy, Jiangzhou Zhouxue) in Sui dynasty.

In 937 when campus of the imperial national university was again in Fuzimiao area, Li Shandao, a scholar of the university, established another national school Lushan National Academy outside the capital city Nanking which is called Bailudong Shuyuan (White Deer Grotto Academy), a famous academy that hosted many renowned scholars including Zhu Xi, Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Yangming.

In 1382 the Imperial University (國子監 Kuotzuchien or Guozijian) moved campus from Nanking Fuzimiao area to south of Qintian Mountain (欽天山) and Xuanwu Lake (the area around Nanjing University campus before 1952. In 1952 Nanjing University moved to Gulou and its engineering school was split and formed several independent colleges including Nanjing Institute of Technology, which at its peak spanning 10 Li and hosting near 10,000 students, and around there were institutes including Qintian Jian (Imperial Astronomy Institute) and Taiyi Yuan (Imperial Medical Institute). In 1403 Peking Guozijian (Beijing Guozijian, Imperial University of Peking) was established. The Imperial University of Nanking (南京國子監) developed and flourished in the period, consisting of six schools: three basic level colleges (Chengyi, ChongChih, Guangye), two middle level schools (Hsiudao, Chenghsin) and one advanced level school (Shuaihsing), altogether 4 years to complete according to the system, one and a half years for both of the former two levels and one year for the latter level, to achieve 8 credit points a year and then upon graduation Chushen (qualification, diploma) would be awarded, with subjects including Confucian classics, history, literature, mathematics, law, calligraphy, equestrianism and archery, etc.[15] Yongle Encyclopedia was completed at Imperial Nanking University in 1408 after five years compilation, 9169 scholars selected from nationwide took part in it, thereinto 2180 were student scholars of the university. The publishing house of the imperial university of Nanking had been a publishing centre for several hundred years. Wu Cheng'en, Tang Hsiantzu and Zheng Chenggong studied there during the Ming dynasty.

Each time when Nanking became a non-capital city, the Nanking Imperial University was changed to be regional Nanking Academy. The Imperial Nanking University was changed to Nanking Academy (江寧府學, Jiangning Fuxue) in 1650 after Qing dynasty replaced Ming dynasty, and in 1865 after Taiping Rebellion the academy was relocated to Chaotian Palace. The ancient school history was recognized during ROC. In 1954 the school authority controlled by CPC decided to set the year starting to establish the modern new type school Sanjiang Normal College as the school's new founding year.[Note 2]

Late Qing and Republic of China

Paifang of "Tao is Universal Through All Times" (道貫古今), at the former campus site Chaotian Palace

In 1902, Sanjiang Normal College (三江師範學堂) under the new educational system, using Japanese modern higher institutions of learning as references, was beginning to be established to replace the traditional Chinese school Nanking Academy, and was opened in the next year, with campus constructed south to Qintian Mountain. The name was changed to Liangjiang Normal College (兩江師範學堂) in 1906, and the new president Li Ruiqing (李瑞清) established the first faculty of modern art in China.

In 1915 after the Republic of China replaced Qing dynasty, the Nanking Higher Normal School (南京高等師範學校) was founded to replace Liangjiang Higher Normal School which was closed three years before due to Xinhai Revolution, Jiang Qian (江謙) was appointed as the president.[16] The school established the China's first faculty of modern gymnastics (physical education) in 1916. In 1920 the school consisted of five colleges: Liberal Arts, Agriculture, Engineering, Commerce and Education.

The "China Science Society" (中國科學社), a major science organization in the modern history of China, founded its headquarter in the school in 1918. Its members established "Academia Sinica" (中央研究院) which was later moved to Taiwan and known as the "Chinese Academy of Sciences" (中國科學院) in mainland China. Numerous Chinese modern science pioneers, most of whom studied in America and some European countries such as Britain, France, and Germany, converged there to found many fields of science in China. It became the Chinese cradle of modern science. Among 81 academicians of "Academia Sinica" elected for the first time in 1948, five entered or graduated from the university in 1920. More than half of the leading Chinese scientists whose works were published in scientific journals in the early period of Chinese modern science were graduates or academics of Nanjing University.

Kuo Ping-wen (Guo Bingwen, 郭秉文), an influential university president, was appointed in 1919 after Jiang Qian. The school meeting passed The Audit Law for Women Students (《規定女子旁聽法案》) on December 7, 1919, as result of efforts of the educationist T'ao Hsing-chih (Tao Xingzhi, 陶行知), as well as the president Guo Bingwen, and the professors including Liu Boming (劉伯明), Luh Chih-wei (Lu Zhiwei, 陸志偉), Yang Hsingfo (Yang Xingfo, 楊杏佛), etc., and then decided to formally recruit female students. The school became the first higher learning institution in China to recruit coeducational students. It enrolled eight women students in the first year 1920, and in addition, more than 50 female auditing students were admitted.

In 1921 the National Southeastern University (國立東南大學) was founded, and in 1923 Nanking Higher Normal School was merged into it. In the autumn of 1921, the Faculty of Business established in 1917 was moved to Shanghai to establish the first business school conferring degrees in China. The university consisted of five colleges (or schools) at the time: Liberal Arts (including departments of Chinese literature, foreign literature, history, philosophy, psychology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geoscience, and the Department of Politics, Law and Economics), Education, Agriculture, Engineering, and Commerce (or Business, including departments of general commerce, business administration, accounting, finance, economics, international trade, etc.), and soon later the College of Liberal Arts was divided to be College of Humanities and College of Sciences. The earliest modern scientific research laboratories and groups in China were established at the university. It integrated teaching and research, with status of university's independence and academic freedom, and was regarded as the earliest Chinese modern university. The university along with its affiliated primary school and middle school served as a pioneer and model which laid the foundations for the establishment of modern educational system (壬戌學制, Renhsü Hsüehchih, 1922) in China, and in addition, its experimental kindergarten (Gulou Kindergarten) founded in 1923 was later also adopted as the model for Chinese kindergartens (Kindergarten Courses Standards by Ministration of Education, 1932), including its teaching system, teaching materials, teaching methods and teaching tools. In October 1921, "Hsuehheng Society" (or Xueheng Society, 學衡社) was founded in the university which was the focus of the "Hsuehheng School" included the scholars Liu Yizheng (柳詒徵), Liu Boming (劉伯明), Mei Guangdi (梅光迪), Wu Mi (吳宓) and Hu Hsien-Hsu (Hu Xiansu, 胡先驌). They reinvigorated Confucian culture and humanism and published the monthly "Critical Review" (Xueheng, 學衡 in Chinese) in January 1922. It enabled Nanjing University to become a center of Confucian thought and humanistic scholarship. During this period, Nanjing University was known as the foremost "Oriental Education Centre" and recognized as an academic and cultural exchange centre for east and west. Many scholars visited and instructed there, including the American educationist Paul Monroe, W. H. Kilpatrick, E. L. Thorndike, philosopher John Dewey, British philosopher Bertrand Russell, German philosopher Hans Driesch and the Indian (also Bengali) poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The university became the capital national university after Nanking was made the capital by Nationalist Government, initially renamed National Dyisyi Chungshan University (or called National Nanking Chungshan University) in June 1927 when National Southeastern University merged eight public schools in Jiangsu province, and was renamed Jiangsu University in February 1928, and in May 1928, it was renamed National Central University (國立中央大學).[17] At the time there were eight colleges (or schools): Humanity, Social Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Education, Commerce, Agriculture, and Medicine. The College of Commerce moved to Shanghai in 1921 and College of Medicine established in Shanghai in 1927 were split from the university in 1932.[18] In 1935 College of Medicine was again established, in Nanjing. During the Anti-Japanese War between 1937 and 1945, the university moved to Chongqing, while the College of Medicine and Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine of College of Agriculture moved to Chengdu. The Chinese Association of Natural Science (中華自然科學社) was originated at the university in 1927 and adopted the name next year, which was the second largest scientific organization in China in 1949, after China Science Society. China Association of Scientific Workers (中國科學工作者協會) was founded in the university in 1944.[19] China Science Society and the associations were merged to be the China Association for Science and Technology (中國科學技術協會) in 1958 in Beijing. The Natural Science Forum was initiated by the university faculties in 1939, which was later renamed Jiusan Forum (Sept. 3rd Forum) and became Jiusan Society in 1945, an organization for intellectual groups in China. In the united college entrance examinations beginning in 1937, about two-thirds of students put the university as the first choice. It became the first Chinese university enrolling blind college student, when enrolled Luo Fuxin (羅福鑫) in 1942.

People's Republic of China

In 1949, during the late time of Chinese Civil War, the central government of the Republic of China retreated from Nanking and the National Central University was renamed National Nanking University (National Nanjing University, 國立南京大學) after Nanking was controlled by CPC army, before the establishment of People's Republic of China. In 1952, many colleges and departments, mainly colleges of education (or teacher, normal, including art and physical education departments), engineering, agriculture, and medicine, were split from Nanjing University, and many new independent schools were formed, including Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing Institute of Technology which was located at former Nanjing University site and later renamed Southeast University, etc.[20] At the same time, University of Nanking (金陵大學), a private university established in 1888 and sponsored by American churches, was merged into Nanjing University (南京大學), which lost its "national" appellation in 1950 to reflect the reality that all universities in the PRC would be public, and Nanjing University moved campus to the site of University of Nanking where was west to Gulou Mountain and was also once the site of imperial Nanjing University in ancient times. A separate National Central University was reinstated in Taiwan by its old alumni association in 1962.

Nanjing University Student Activities Center, Xianlin Campus

During the period of communist society including the period of Proletarian Cultural Revolution, the school suffered heavily. In 1976, Nanjing University faculty members and students launched Anti Cultural Revolution Force Movement which was called "Nanjing Incident" by the authorities of the time, spreading countrywide. In 1978, Hu Fuming, a faculty member of Nanjing University in philosophy, wrote the historic article entitled "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth", and after being published it led to the nationwide "Debate on Standards for Judging the Truth", and thus in certain degree liberated thought and promoted the ending of Cultural Revolution and the coming of reform era.

After the Reform and new development

Many faculties have been reestablished or newly founded since the Reform after 1978, e.g., law reestablished in 1981, medical school in 1987, environmental department newly founded in 1984. Some departments were divided into two or more departments, e.g., the Chinese language and literature department divided into departments of language & linguistics, literature, philology and drama arts, or some new faculties came out of older faculties, e.g., computer came out of mathematics, urban planning came out of geography, in many case formed integratively, i.e., formed based on parts of two or more faculties, e.g., parts of faculties of physics and chemistry integratively formed material faculty. In around 1990 the university consisted of schools (colleges) of Humanities, Sciences, Technological Sciences, Medicine, Business, etc.. Then many departments became schools, e.g., mathematics, physics, chemistry, or grouped into new schools, e.g., architecture and urban planning. The size of university significantly expanded during the years.

In 2009, Xianlin Campus opened to undergraduates, replacing Pukou Campus which was in use since 1993, and Pukou Campus became the campus of NJU Jinling College, an independent private college directed by NJU. The Xianlin campus now is a main campus along with Gulou campus.

Faculties

Old Great Hall (大禮堂)

More than 1500 years ago, ancient University of Nanjing founded the earliest faculties of literature, history, etc.. In modern times, Nanjing University established Chinese first faculties of art, gymnastics, biology, psychology, business management, etc.. Its faculties, departments and schools have been changed and evolved timely. For example, in 1921, the university consisted of 5 schools: liberal arts, education, agriculture, engineering and business, in 1928 the school of liberal arts had become three schools, and the university consisted of 8 schools: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, education, agriculture, engineering, business and medicine, and now, many former departments of humanities, natural sciences and social sciences have become schools.

The system of academic degree or diploma has also been changed. In the early years of ROC the university adopted the system similar to western especially American universities and began to award bachelor's degree. The university founded China's first modern laboratories in physics, chemistry, etc.. In 1922, the university professors founded The Biology Research Institute of Science Society of China, the first modern scientific research institute in China, integrated with the university's biology department. With the aid of Rockefeller Foundation, Science Centre was constructed in 1924 and completed three years later. In 1926 the university passed The General Regulation of Graduate Institute. China's first doctor's degree was awarded by the school of medicine of the university in 1931. Soon the educational system was changed. In the early 1980s after a period of transformation, universities in mainland China resumed to award doctor's degrees, and graduate and undergraduate education were integrated into departments and schools. Nanjing University is the first in mainland China to award doctor's degrees in such fields as Chinese studies, world history, computer science.

It is distinguished in many fields including Chinese Language and Literature,[21][22] and natural sciences.[13] Its faculty, including part-time faculty, includes more than twenty Nobel Laureates engaged in teaching.[23] The university is a Double First Class University Plan university in 15 academic disciplines.[24]

Schools and departments

Main Entrance of the Gulou Campus

Nanjing University

Current schools and departments

• School of Liberal Arts (School of Literature, or College of Literature)
  • Chinese Language and Linguistics; Literature; Philology; Drama Arts
• School of History
  • Chinese History; World History; Archaeology
• Department of Philosophy; Religion
• School of Foreign Studies
  • English; Russian; Japanese; French; German; Spanish; Korean; International Business
• School of Government
  • Politics; Government Administration; Labor, Personnel and Social Security; Diplomacy and International Affairs
• School of Law
• School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Sociology; Social Work and Social Policy; Psychology; Anthropology (institute)
• School of Business (NUBS)
  • School of Management: Business Administration; Human Resource; Accounting; Marketing & Electronic Commerce
  • School of Economics: Economics; Industrial Economics; International Economics & Trading; Finance
• Department of Information Management
• School of Journalism and Communication
• Department of Mathematics
• School of Physics
  • Physics; Modern Physics; Photoelectricity Science; Acoustic Science and Engineering
• School of Astronomy and Space Science
  • Astronomy; Space Science
• School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Polymer
• School of Geoscience
  • School of Atmosphere Science: Meteorology; Atmosphere Physics
  • School of Earth Science and Engineering: Earth Science; Water Science; Geology Engineering and Information Technology
  • School of Geography and Ocean Science: Natural Geography; Land, Resources and Tourism; Earth Information Science; Coast and Ocean Science
• School of Life Sciences
  • Biology; Biochemistry
• School of Medicine
  • Clinical Medicine; Dentistry; Basic Medical Science; Laboratory Medicine; Public Health and Medicine (institute)
• School of Environment
• School of Architecture and Planning
  • Architecture; Urban Planning and Design
• School of Electronics Science and Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering; Micro-electronics and Optoelectronics; Informational Electronics; Communication Engineering
• Department of Computer Science and Technology; Software Institute
• College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • Materials; Energy; Quantum Electronics and Optical Engineering; Biomedical Engineering

Overlooking Xianlin campus from a nearby metro station

• Institute of Education (Graduate School of Education)
• Institute for Gymnastics
• Institute of Arts
• Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Science
• School for Basic Sciences Education
• International School
• School for Overseas Students Education
• Jinling College(First-class applied college)
• Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (Hopkins-Nanjing Center)
• Other research and education institutes in areas such as African Studies, Judaic Studies, Agriculture, Engineering Management, etc.

Campus

The Gulou campus in autumn

Duxia Library in Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, built in 2007

Nanjing University has three main campuses: Gulou, Xianlin and Pukou campus. The distance between Gulou and Xianlin campus is about 18 kilometers.

Gulou Campus is located in Gulou District, at the center of Nanjing City. The main campus itself is divided into two sections by Hankou Road: North Garden, Bei Yuan, is where teaching and research take place; and South Garden, Nan Yuan, serves as the living area for both students and academic staff.

Pukou Campus is situated in the suburban Pukou District, by the northern side of Nanjing New & High-Tech Industry Development Zone, and became part of Nanjing University in 1993. Once Pukou campus hosted undergraduate freshmen, sophomore and junior students. In 2009, the Pukou campus became the campus hosted the undergraduate students in Nanjing University Jinling College, which was founded by Nanjing University in 1998. Nanjing University Biomedical Research Institute is also located in Pukou.

Xianlin Campus is located in the northeast of Nanjing, in the Xianlin Universities Town, south of Yangtse River and Qixia Mountain, east of Purple Mountain, and west of Baohua Mountain. The campus is home to undergraduate students and parts of graduate students. It was opened in September 2009. There is the stop of Nanjing University Xianlin Campus on Line 2 of Nanjing Subway, which enables Xianlin and Gulou campus to be connected through subway.

In Gulou campus, there are several museums including Nanjing University Museum, Museum of Art and Archaeology, Museum of Earth Science. There is Sun Yat-sen House. It's said that Sun Yat-sen, the first president (provisional president) of the Republic of China, lived there. There are also Pearl Buck House, John Rabe House, etc.. Gulou campus is now becoming mainly for professional graduate campus.

The location of Nanjing University has changed for several times, with historical campuses mainly in Fuzimiao (on the bank of Qinhuai River), Gulou, Chaotiangong and Sipailou (south of Qintian Mountain) areas. In addition, during Anti-Japanese War, its main campus moved to Shapingba, Chungking, with two auxiliary campuses, one in Bohsi, Chungking, and one in Hwahsiba, Chengdu, in some sense combined with Chongqing University and Western China University (now medical school of Sichuan University) respectively. It also deserves to mention that before the war, with the rapid development of the university, a new campus planned to cover an area of 8000 mu (about 5.3 km² or 2.0 sq mi) south to Niushou Mountain in the southern suburb area of Nanjing had been built for near a year. After the war, it moved back to Nanjing, making former campus Sipailou as main campus, and the new campus Dingjiaqiao was built for agriculture and medical schools. Nanjing University relocated in Gulou six years after moving back, and then near sixty years later Xianlin campus emerged. Today's Nanjing University Gulou campus is the location of Imperial University of Nanjing during Former Song dynasty in more than 1500 years ago when it was in the west of the city, and now it's in the centre of the city.

Culture

Motto

Officially translated into English as "Sincerity with Aspiration, Perseverance and Integrity". Another version is "Be Honest and Intelligent, Study Hard and Act Sincerely."(simplified Chinese: 诚朴雄伟 励学敦行; traditional Chinese: 誠樸雄偉 勵學敦行; pinyin: chéng pǔ xióng wěi lì xué dūn xíng)

The first half of this motto was the motto during the National Central University time, and the last half was quoted from the classic literature work Book of Rites. It was voted to be the motto by university students in 2002, and the then university president supported it and wrote an article to interpret it.[25]

The translation does not fully express the meaning of the Chinese words of the motto. Motto counterparts between Chinese and English literally: Cheng (诚, Sincerity, Honesty, Integrity), Pu (樸, Simplicity, Austerity, naturally being oneself), Xiong (雄, Sturdiness, Majesty, being vigorous and keeping ideal and ambition, being firm and persistent with fortitude), Wei (偉, Greatness, having great ideal and ambition, with great mind comprehending, containing and improving world), Li Xue (勵學, Endeavor to Learn), Dun Xing (敦行, Urge to Act, Act Sincerely). The term Dun Xing comes from the context in Book of Rites: Having broad knowledge and strong learning ability and being modest, acting in sincerity and benignity and not slack, that is a gentleman (gentleperson) (博聞強識而讓 敦善行而不怠 謂之君子).

Song

The university song, recovered in 2002, was created in 1916. It is the first school song in the modern history of Nanjing University, with the lyrics written by Jiang Qian and melody composed by Li Shutong (李叔同).[26]

Anniversary

The present school anniversary is on May 20 every year, which was set by the school authority in 1954 in some sense due to some ideological reasons of the time, with the starting year being 1902 when relaunching the school as a modern higher learning institution, and the day May 20 in memory of the movement of anti-hunger and anti-war initiated by the university in that day of 1947. In recent years, the date May 20 has another new meaning: in Chinese Nanjing pronunciation, 5.20, sounds like I Love You (Wu Ai Ni). It shows students' love for their Alma Mater.

Recent status

Recent developments and present status

The School of Modern Engineering and Applied Sciences was established in 2009, replacing former School of Technological Sciences. NU received a RMB 400 million endowment gift from enterpriser Yang Xiu on the anniversary day in 2012, 300 million was designated for the establishment of engineering school and the rest for history study development fund. The Engineering Building covering floor space of 6000 sqm was started to construct in Xianlin campus in 2014.

Rankings

University rankings
Global – Overall
THE World[27]	169 (2018)
QS World[28]	122 (2018)
National – Overall
BCUR National[29]	7 (2018)

According to Nature Index released in January 2018, the ranking of high-quality natural sciences research by Nature Publishing Group, Nanjing University is ranked No.3 in China, No.4 in Asia Pacific, No.14 in the world among all institutions (including CAS in China, CNRS in France and other national organizations), and ranked No.2 in China, No.3 in Asia Pacific, and No.10 in the world among universities.[30]

Nanjing University was ranked 91-100 for World Reputation Ranking in 2017 by Times Higher Education World University Rankings,[31] and 114 by 2015 QS World University Rankings.[32]

It's ranked 7th in China by ShanghaiRanking in 2018.[33]

Reviewing rankings, domestically, according to university rankings in China, Nanjing University was generally ranked among the top 3 universities before the university merger tide occurred in the several years about after 2000, and then ranking down, even falling to No.7. Chinese university ranking by Chinese Academy of Management Science since 1995 ranked Nanjing University between 1st and 3rd before 2000 and since then between 3rd and 6th.[34][35] Chinese university ranking since 1999 by the higher education publisher Netbig consistently ranked the university among the top 3 before 2005, and in the most recent ranking among the top 5.[35] Academic Ranking of World Universities since 2003 by Shanghai Jiaotong University (ShanghaiRanking) suggested a domestic rank of number 2 to number 7.[36][35] The first-time integrative ranking of universities in China, in 1989, ranked Nanda as the No.1 comprehensive university.[37]

Admissions

Most selective university status

Known for its stringent admission criteria, Nanjing University was reported by national media to be the No. 1 most selective university ("the university that is the hardest to get in") in mainland China.[38][39]

Overseas students

In 2012, 667 new students from abroad attended Nanking University, among them about 20% from USA, 22% from Britain, France, Germany and Italy and the rest from other countries. In 2013 Nanda recruited 761 overseas students from 61 countries. In 2014, there were about 3600 overseas students, about 40% from Asia, 40% from Europe and North America, and 20% from other regions.

Academics

The northwestern corner of Nanjing University's Gulou campus houses most of the university's foreign students: Center for Chinese and American Studies (front left), Zeng Xianzi building (back center), Xiyuan (right).

Chinese language and literature

Nanjing University has a long history in the field of Chinese language and literature. The School of Literature founded by Hsieh Yuan in the 15th year of Yuanjia reign (CE 438) was the oldest literature school in ancient China. In modern times, it was the first in mainland China to have granted a doctoral degree in Chinese Language and Literature. In addition, Nanjing University is in close cooperation with the United Nations to offer a Chinese language programme.[40][41] Widely recognized as one of the most eminently prestigious Schools of Chinese in the world, it was ranked with Peking University as Joint No. 1 in Chinese Language and Literature.[21] Peking University and Nanjing University are widely recognized in the academic community as the two top universities in the field of Chinese Language and Literature in the world, with both consistently taking the two top places in rankings on the subject. [Nanjing University] had produced modern China's first PhD in Chinese Language and Literature, Dr. Mo Lifeng (莫砺锋),[42] who is still serving as its Professor of Chinese.

Western literature

Nanjing University established the first department of Western literature among Chinese universities, in 1921. Two years later the department was merged with English department and other faculties including French and German and renamed department of foreign languages and literature, later known as school of foreign studies. China Association for the Study of American Literature (CASAL) is located in the school.

Other university-affiliated institutions

Herbarium

Nanjing University Herbarium (N) was founded in the 4th year of ROC, although there were herbarium specimens in the school before. It's the first modern herbarium in China. It is located in the Tianjiabing Building.

Notable alumni and people

Alumni and students

• Among the winners of the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars from 1994 to 2008, 108 are graduates of Nanda, ranking No. 1, 96 are of Beida, 76 are of University of Science and Technology of China, and 64 are of Tsinghua University which is listed in top 4.
• Among 78 winners of Prizes for Young Scientists of China since 1992, 5 are Nanda graduates, both Beida and Tsinghua graduates are 4, consisting of top 3 rankings.
• A statistic in 2006 indicated that among about 120 directors (or presidents) of institutes of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 are graduates of Nanjing University, ranking No. 1, while the number of the university (Peking University) ranking No.2 is 10, and a recent statistic in 2010 shows that 14 holds bachelor's from Nanda which is the double of the number of the university (Beida) which ranks No.2.
• Among 25 winners of National Preeminent Science and Technology Award since 2000, 4 are graduates of Nanjing University: Liu Dongsheng (劉東生), Min Enze (閔恩澤), Wu Liangyong (吳良鏞), Zhang Cunhao (張存浩), ranking top 3 along with Tsinghua University and Peking University, and besides, the winner Cheng Kaijia (程開甲) is a faculty member of Nanjing University, and Yuan Longping (袁隆平) is a graduate of the then middle school affiliated to Nanjing University (now the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University).
• Nanjing University ranks No.1 in the number of alumni elected as academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and/or Chinese Academy of Engineering graduated in recent more than 30 years since college admission entrance examination system was recovered in 1977 after Cultural Revolution.[43]
• In the first time Examination for senior civil service post of Republic of China (as recovery of and equivalent to Imperial examination) in 1931, top 100 were selected, all were males, among them 25 are graduates of Nanjing University, including Zhuangyuan (principal graduate) Chow Bangdao, who was later president of China Medical College and Political Deputy Ministry of Examination, ROC, and the school in the second place is Peking University, with 8 graduates. In the second time exam held in 1933, there were females passed, half of whom graduated from Nanjing University, as well as Zhuangyuan Lee Hsuehteng, who graduated from law school and later became Chief Justice of ROC Supreme Court. One-fourth of Chief Justices in the early 60 more years of Republic of China are National Central University (Nanjing University) alumni.[44]
• In sciences, there are 877 leading scientists with major contributions to modern sciences in China, as listed in an article on history of Chinese modern sciences by Li Peishan published on CAS journal, and among them 115 are graduates of Nanjing University during Republic of China in the mainland period (1912–49), ranking No.1.

Some notable alumni:

• Cai Li (蔡力), psychometrician.
• Wang Yifang, physicist.
• Li Lu, student leader of democracy movement, investment banker, investor.
• Chen Deming (陈德铭), President of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, former Minister of Commerce of PRC.
• Li Shengjiao (厲聲教), senior diplomat and jurist who contributed to the creation and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Chen Deliang (陈德亮), climatologist, former Executive Director of International Council for Science (ICSU).
• Li Shengjiao (厉声教), senior Chinese diplomat, scholar, bilingual author.
• Guo Quan (郭泉), human rights activist, founder of the banned China New Democracy Party and political prisoner since 2009.
• Zeng Liansong (曾聊松), the designer of the Flag of the People's Republic of China.
• Kenneth Jinghwa Hsu (許靖華), geologist, paleoclimatologist, oceanographer, author, winner of Wollaston Medal, Penrose Medal and Twenhofel Medal.
• Chang Cheh (Zhang Che, 張徹), "The Father of New Gongfu Film", "Godfather of Hong Kong cinema".
• Zhu Guangya (朱光亞), the first president of Chinese Academy of Engineering.
• Tang I-Fang (Tang Yifang, 唐義方), "Father of Singapore Industry", a founder of Jurong Industrial Park and Singapore Science Park.
• Feng Kang (馮康), mathematician and founder of finite element method.
• Yuan-Cheng Fung (Feng Yuanzhen, 馮元楨), the founder of biomechanics.
• H. T. Loh (Lu Xiaotong, 陸孝同), a leader of American Apollo program and Mars Exploration program.
• Chien-Shiung Wu (Wu Jianxiong, 吳健雄), "First Lady of Physics", the first Wolf Prize winner in physics.
• Kwoh-Ting Li (Li Guoding, 李國鼎), "Father of Taiwan's Economic Miracle".
• Tang Junyi (唐君毅), philosopher and modern Confucian scholar.
• Chen Chung-hwan (Chen Zhonghuan, 陳忠寰), a scholar in ancient Greek philosophy and western philosophy.
• Chiang Yee (Jiang Yi, 蔣彝), litterateur, artist, the "Silent Traveller".
• He Jr-Hau (He Zhihao, 何志浩), eisteddfod, lieutenant general, the author of Army Song of Republic of China.
• Wang Chih-hsin (Wang Zhishen, 王志莘), a founder and the first General Manager of former Shanghai Stock Exchange.
• Hsu Po-Yuan (Xu Boyuan, 徐柏園), the founder of the Chinese central bank system.
• Chung-Yao Chao (Zhao Zhongyao, 趙忠堯), the scientist that captured positron through electron-positron annihilation and tested the existence of antimatter.
• Y. H. Woo (Wu Youxun, 吳有訓), a leader of Chinese modern physical science and the physical scientist who verified Compton effect (X-ray diffraction).
• Slater Rhea (Shuai De, 帅德), American singer and TV personality on CCTV; MA graduate of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.
• Zhenan Bao (Bao Zhenan, 鲍哲南), a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Material Science and Engineering at Stanford University.
• Xiang Zhang (Zhang Xiang, 张翔), Ernest S. Kuh Endowed Chaired Professor at University of California, Berkeley.

For more

• List of Nanjing University people including the university graduates.
• Nanjing University alumni

University faculty and people

• Among 30 First Class Prizes of National Natural Science Awards since 1956, which is the highest level prize in natural science in China, 6 major winners (sole or first listed winner) studied at Nanjing University: Feng Kang, Liu Dongsheng, Wang Debao (王德寶), Qin Renchang, Hou Xianguang (侯先光), Min Naiben; in addition, another 2 were faculty members: Li Siguang, Qian Chongshu (錢崇澍); and Nanda people are in the list of winners of about half of the prizes.
• In recent years after the reform since 1978, Nanjing University is in third place in the number of academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and/or Chinese Academy of Engineering among faculty members, behind Peking University and Tsinghua University.
• Among 1107 members of Chinese Academy of Sciences elected till 2007, 210 are Nanjing University people.
• All four founding scientific leaders (president or vice president in natural science) of Chinese Academy of Sciences once taught or studied at Nanjing University: Zhu Kezhen (faculty member), Wu Youxun (graduate), Yan Jici (graduate), Tong Dizhou (faculty member).
• Of 53 first-time elected academicians of Academia Sinica in natural science including mathematics, 28 were graduates or once faculty members of Nanjing University.[45]
• Nanjing University faculty members also include scholars from abroad such as Matsumoto Kouzirou, Hans Driesch, and Charles W. Woodworth, as well as China native Pearl S. Buck.

See also

• List of Nanjing University people
• Nanjing University faculty
• Nanjing University Presidents

In literature

Nanjing University in literature, media and various related works

• Liao-Fan's Four Lessons, a book, film, drama serials. The book is written by Yuan LiaoFan, a graduate of Imperial University of Nanking in Ming dynasty.
• Chiang Kai-Shek's Face (蔣公的面子), a story about three professors and president Chiang Kai-Shek (president of Republic of China and also president of National Central University).

See also

• Guozijian
• National Central University

Notes

1. According to The History Evolution of National Central University (R.O.C. 26, 1937 CE) (《國立中央大學沿革史》 中華民國二十六年), it was founded in the winter of the first year of Yong'an reign (258 CE) during the era of Three Kingdoms. Since it was founded in CE 258, it had evolved and adopted different names in each dynasty or period in ancient China. It became a modern institution of higher learning in 1902 during Qing dynasty. Liangjiang Higher Normal School was closed in 1911 when the Qing dynasty was overthrown. In 1915 after the Republic of China was founded, Nanking Higher Normal School was established to replace the Liangjing Normal School. In 1949 when the Republic of China was replaced by the People's Republic of China in mainland, its name was changed from National Central University (国立中央大学) to Nanjing University (南京大学).
2. The university since controlled by Conmmuist Party of China (CPC) which established People's Republic of China (PRC) has not officially recognized the ancient history of the university, however, since reform era in many occasions it recognizes, for instance, Nanyong, one of the school names used in Ming dynasty which was also used by the school after the dynasty, is still often used, e.g., Nanjing University history record is often called Nanyong history record, the series of selected academic works in humanity by Nanjing University scholars in Republic of China (ROC) era republished by Nanjing University Publishing House is called Nanyong Academic Classics, the concert performed by Nanjing University Guqin Society is called Nanyong Qin Concert.

References

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14. Nanking Taihsueh campus was initially located in north of Qinhuai River, twenty years later the campus in south of Qinhuai was constructed, and thus the school was on both banks of the river.
15. According to the system, it takes 4 years to complete the three stage study. However, actually many took more years to complete, and some even spent more than ten years, partly due to the substantial subsidies provided to the university including to its students by government, but later with the scale expanding the subsidies were often delayed, as indicated in the Report of Nanking Imperial University by the president Chao Yonghsian (趙用賢：《南京太學條陳疏》).
16. Jiang Qian was appointed as the president of Nanking Higher Normal School in July 1914, to establish the school in the campus of the closed Liangjiang Higher Normal School, and the charger of keeping of Liangjiang Higher Normal School became a member of the preparatory committee of Nanking Higher Normal School. Nanking Higher Normal School opened in September 1915.
17. The university was called the capital national university after Nanking was made the capital city again in 1927, and in the June National Southeastern University merged eight public schools in Jiangsu province: the national Hohai Technology University and Shanghai Commerce University and the provincial Jiangsu Law and Politics University, Jiangsu Medical University, Nanking Agricultural School, Nanking Technical Specialized School, Soochow Technical Specialized School and Shanghai Commercial Specialized School, and was renamed National Dyisyi Chungshan University (Disi Zhongshan University, the Fourth Chungshan University or the Fourth Zhongshan University. Dyisyi or Disi, meaning the fourth, indicates that the city was the fourth major city captured by the Northern Expeditionary Army and with a national university under Nationalist Government. Chungshan of the time, or Zhongshan as the spelling now in mainland China, is another name of Sun Yat-sen.) which was also called National Nanking Chungshan University (or Nanjing Zhongshan University) due to its location. The students movement against the renaming broke out after it was renamed Jiangsu University by the government in February 1928, and the students requested that the school be renamed National Nanking University. Then there emerged the proposal (by Woo Chih-hui, who was soon later selected as the university president and did not take up the post and was appointed the first president of Academia Sinica) to rename National Capital University and the proposal (by Ma Yinbing, who was at the time responsible for Nanking municipal construction) to rename National Central University which gained wide support and was accepted by the university students. And in May 1928, the school was renamed National Central University (National Chungyang University or Zhongyang University, Kuoli Chungyang Tahsueh, 國立中央大學).
18. The university's commerce college became National Shanghai Commerce College and then Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and medical college became National Shanghai Medical College and then Shanghai Medical University which later merged with Fudan University.
19. China Association of Scientific Workers was initiated by China Science Society along with Chinese Association of Natural Science and other specialized associations including Chinese Agricultural Association and China Engineering Society in 1944 in the Republic of China. China Association of Scientific Workers, together with corresponding associations of other states including British Association of Scientific Workers, founded World Federation of Scientific Workers in London in 1946 after World War II.
20. The split schools and departments of Nanjing University formed independent schools in 1952 include today's Nanjing Normal University, Southeast University, Hohai University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Forestry University, etc., and the schools share the source and were independently established after that time include the Fourth Military Medical University, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Technology, Jiangsu University, Jiangnan University, Changzhou University, etc..
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44. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2015-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
45. NU people of first-time (in 1948, and also the only time in mainland China) elected academicians of Academia Sinica in natural science: Wu Youxun, Ye Qisun, Zhao Zhongyao, Yan Jici, Wu Xuezhou, Zhuang Changgong, Zeng Zhaolun, Zhu Jiahua, Li Siguang, Huang Jiqing, Xie Jiarong, Zhu Kezhen, Zhou Ren, Mao Yisheng, Wang Jiayi, Wu Xianwen, Bing Zhi, Chen Zhen, Tong Dizhou, Hu Xiansu, Zhang Jingyue, Qian Chongpeng, Dai Fanglan, Luo Zongluo, Wu Dingliang, Cai Qiao, Li Xianwen, Deng Shuqun.

External links

• Nanjing University (in Chinese)
• General Alumni Association of Nanjing University (in Chinese)
• Nanjing University Alumni Association - US