Former Site of Qufu Normal School

Former Site of Qufu Normal School

The former site of Qufu Normal School is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The former site of Qufu Normal School includes the Qilu Auditorium, the H-shaped teaching building, and the Qing Dynasty Examination Hall for Provincial Education Commissioners (commonly known as the Examination Shed), among others. Among them, the Qilu Auditorium was built in 1922 by Fan Mingshu, the first of the Four Great Educators of Shandong, a renowned democrat, and then-principal of the school. It is an arched, tiled-roof structure that served as the main venue for students and teachers to hold events such as — and lectures. In June 1929, teachers and students of the school staged the nationally sensational anti-feudal historical drama *Zi Jiannanzi* here. Figures such as Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Cai Yuanpei, and Ding Ling once gave lectures here, and it also served as the main venue for the mobilization meeting of the Huaihai Campaign. The H-shaped teaching building was constructed in 1931 when Zhang Yuguang, a famous anti-Japanese martyr from Shandong, served as principal. It is a two-story German-style brick-and-wood structure. Because its floor plan resembles a “工” (work) character rotated 90 degrees, it is also called the “Gongzi Building.” It was the school’s primary teaching facility at the time. Former National People’s Congress Chairman Wan Li studied and engaged in revolutionary activities here, while former Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Chu Tunan taught and was involved in revolutionary efforts here. The Examination Hall for Provincial Education Commissioners, also known as the Eastern Examination Shed of Yanzhou Prefecture, was built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a typical three-courtyard government office-style building, with the existing ceremonial gate consisting of three bays, and the main and secondary halls each having five bays. In 1926, the first Communist Party branch in southwestern Shandong was established in the main hall of the Examination Shed.

The “Former Site of Qufu Normal School” has been designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The entire school community, especially the veteran alumni, are filled with joy and pride. Going forward, our school will further implement the guiding principles of “protection first, rescue foremost, rational utilization, and strengthened management.” We will not only focus on effective preservation and solid foundational work but also pay attention to rational use and maximizing benefits, achieving inheritance and development through preservation and utilization. We will conscientiously carry out the protection, management, and utilization of key cultural relics, further strengthen cultural confidence, promote outstanding traditional culture, pass on the red gene, and make due contributions to the development of Jining University into a distinctive applied undergraduate institution.

On October 7, 2019, the former site of Qufu Normal School was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units