The birth of Peking University was bloody, and other achievements of the Reform Movement of 1898 were abolished, leaving only imperial academy Hall. Therefore, from the beginning, Peking University seems to have a mission, which is the product of China's modern social pains and a symbol of transformation-from a long feudal society to a modern society. This change is very painful. In Lu Xun's words, moving a table will bleed. The birth of Peking University is closely related to the fate of a nation. In times of national disaster, they will rush to the front line, in times of peace, they will reflect silently, in times of turning, there will be shouts, and when the power of justice is suppressed, people will be angry. For example, the May 4th Movement, on the one hand, is a new culture, on the other hand, is to save the country. Students came first, and the New Culture Movement launched by Chen Duxiu and Hu Shi came last, breaking with the feudal old things. China's painful fate in modern times has much to do with shaping the spirit of Peking University.
Speaking of Peking University, there is a heavy feeling, which is rooted in the spirit of Peking University. Now is the period of spiritual crisis, which is a brand-new problem in China's social transformation in the past century. We have made great progress materially, but our spiritual support is almost gone. Materialism, utilitarianism and the pursuit of superficial articles have become the most serious problems in this society. People are pursuing material things, but ignoring the pursuit of spirit. The spirit of Peking University has its special meaning in this period. Every little thing about Peking University in society will be badly fired. Why? Because Peking University is a mirror. The spirit of Peking University has a calling power, and people who enter Peking University can feel a responsibility. If they inherit this spirit, they will pursue something. There must always be something spiritual in the ivory tower, and young people must always have some passion and dreams, otherwise it will be a loss to society and individuals. There are many vulgar things in society, and so are university campuses, because university campuses are also societies. Moreover, the corrosion ability of modern society is very strong, and it is difficult to keep a complete distance. At this time, we need a kind of spiritual strength, a kind of transcendental strength, a kind of lofty strength, which can make us say "no" and keep us away from vulgar life. Fear of death is human's biological nature, but the power of spirit is to make people give up their lives for righteousness.
Always associate Peking University with the spirit, which is the accumulation of history. In the spirit of Peking University, one is the national spirit, which is the patriotic spirit associated with national suffering; One is the spirit of being a man. It is a loss that a person is not young once in his life, and it is also a loss that a society does not have a group of lovely idealists. Universities don't have to be even with society. We should have a spiritual complex.
In the long run, a nation needs a spiritual pillar. Peking University should provide such spiritual strength. If a nation wants to devote itself to construction, it needs not only engineering talents, but also management talents and people with ideas about society. University is the breeding ground of social ideals, which provides a place to recognize the legitimacy of spiritual freedom. If there is no spirit, Peking University will no longer be Peking University, no different from an ordinary college. It is nothing more than a vocational training institution training a person to find a good job. In fact, you don't have to go to college to find a job. Going to college is to make people's spirit more noble and to have a broader understanding of life and the world. At present, many college students come from poor families. It is understandable that they want to work as soon as possible, but we must remember that we have higher aspirations. If you become a decision-maker in the future, your education in the university will play a decisive role in determining the fate of the country and the nation. For example, are you going to tear down the ancient buildings or restore them to their original appearance? Should we build a straight road or a detour to adapt to the ecological environment? Is it to make the street lamp tall and bright or to pursue a winding and secluded artistic conception? It all depends on the present education. The materialism and impetuous style of today's society is because this generation, as the backbone of society, grew up in Nuo Nuo. When they are alive, they only know how to fill their stomachs first, let the chimneys smoke first, let everyone be screws, and let every factory operate according to the assembly line. Their spirits won't say "no". Constantly setting up a moral model in society just shows that there is no morality. So today we talk about the spirit of Peking University, and our nation is still in danger-spiritual danger. We should not only be noble people ourselves, but also contribute to the revival of the national spirit. This is the spirit of Peking University, which is related to the national spirit of society and the lofty pursuit of individual spirit.