Since modern times, European style and beautiful rain have surged from the east, and those who are at home often want to integrate Chinese and western cultures and create a new culture for China in the new era. Tsinghua's founding of research institutes is the embodiment of the inherent requirements of the development of China's academic thoughts in modern times and the objective needs of social development. Specifically, there are the following reasons:

First, at a time when a group of people of insight are calling for "revitalizing domestic higher education", Tsinghua is preparing to transform itself into a university to improve its running level. It is one of the contents of running a university to establish a research institute in Tsinghua, recruit graduates from various universities, engage in specialized research and realize academic independence.

Second, during the New Culture Movement, Hu Shi and others launched a movement to sort out the national heritage. 192 1 year, Peking University established the institute of Chinese studies as a specific institution to promote this movement. Southeast University and Xiamen University also set up institutions to study Chinese studies in 1923 and 1926 respectively. In order to expand the influence and strength of the movement, Hu Shi repeatedly suggested that his alma mater, Tsinghua, set up similar institutions. The establishment of Tsinghua Institute of Sinology and Peking University Institute of Sinology became two major events about Sinology in the 1920s.

Thirdly, since its establishment, Tsinghua has been accused by the society for many times that the "foreign slaves" neglected the study of China's culture and national conditions. Liang Qichao once said: "In addition to learning Western learning, Tsinghua students should also learn Chinese studies, build Chinese studies as the foundation of the country and make achievements, especially if they are not Chinese studies." At the same time, many students in the school also called on the school to attach importance to Chinese studies. Shi, a student of 1924, pointed out: "Tsinghua was originally a school preparing to study in the United States, so the consistent policy seems to be only to train talents who are prepared to study in the United States-talents who can enter American universities and cope with the American environment. This is a mistake that regards means as an end. " It is suggested that the school attach importance to Chinese studies and "draw up the necessary degree of Chinese studies before going abroad"

At that time, these public opinions inside and outside the school influenced the idea of "changing the university". From the perspective of changing the image of the school led by the United States, we should attach importance to Chinese studies; From the perspective of promoting the independence of national education, we should also strengthen Chinese studies; Starting from the improvement and development of Chinese studies, we should also strengthen the study of Chinese studies. After many discussions, the school decided to build a research institute and set up a department of Chinese studies.