A long-standing argument between Oxford and Cambridge
"Oxford of art, Cambridge of science"-one is a humanities scientist and the other is a natural scientist, which seems to be a fixed formula in many people's minds. Similar to Tsinghua University in China, Cambridge University is famous for its science and engineering, and has trained more than 70 Nobel Prize winners. Like Peking University in China, Oxford University is famous for its liberal arts.
The dispute between Oxford and Cambridge has a long history, but competition is not necessarily a trade-off relationship, and it can also create a win-win situation. Life needs opponents, and it is impossible to grow without them. Perhaps it is the indomitable competition over the past few hundred years that has promoted the continuous development of these two world famous schools.
Romeo and Juliet on the Thames
One Sunday evening at the end of March, I received an email from a classmate, which contained only one word: Long live! After reading it, I realized that in the 150 Oxford-Cambridge rowing competition, the Cambridge team took the lead in reaching the finish line with the advantage of six hulls, which shattered Oxford's dream of winning three consecutive championships. "You really should come and see such an exciting scene. It's really exciting! " The students sighed with regret. At that time, I was busy doing my thesis, so I could only watch the live broadcast on the Internet.
For British people who love sports, the boat race between Niu Jian and Niu Jian has brought passion and vitality to the residents of this island country, and it can be called a grand sports carnival in China. Every spring at this time, Niu Jian and Niu Jian's sports elites compete on the banks of the blue Thames. Oxford players wear dark blue uniforms, while Cambridge players wear light blue uniforms. "One hundred and fifty times, all the paddles rowed at the same frequency, disturbing the tranquility of the Thames; The same number of eyes are staring at the same front, the same number of arms are waving rapidly, and the same number of lungs are breathing at the same frequency ... "The scene described by Chabad McClaren reappears on the blue Thames. The British media compared it to "Romeo and Juliet on the Thames". Deep blue and light blue were not a simple game for a long time, but settled into the collective memory of Oxford and Cambridge people.
Some people say that Cambridge University and Oxford University are the two most unusual places in the British Isles.
From London, the car can reach Cambridge in an hour and a half to the north and Oxford in an hour to the west. The distance between these two towns is about 150 kilometers, but people often mention them at the same time, so there is a collective vocabulary like "Oxford and Cambridge" in English. On the spiritual map of English-speaking people, they are outstanding and popular at the same time. "Niu Jian" is like the brothers Caster and Polox, who became Gemini in Greek mythology, and will never be separated. They are incomparable stars in British universities. For hundreds of years, their brilliant and charming light has been dazzling.
Oxford is the mother of Cambridge, and Cambridge is the mother of Harvard.
The history of Cambridge University is 60 years later than that of Oxford University. Oxford University was founded in 1 168. 1209, a student in Oxford accidentally killed a woman in the town while practicing archery, which intensified the contradiction between Oxford citizens, students and scholars, and two scholars were hanged in public. The whole of Oxford was in a panic, schools were closed, and some teachers and students fled Oxford in the form of individuals or groups. They came to Cambridge and found this quiet town very suitable for study and research. With the help of the local church, they camped on the bank of Jian River and devoted themselves to cultural exchange and academic research, thus creating a new academic world. Interestingly, the famous Harvard University in America turned out to be a derivative of Cambridge.
65438-0637, john harvard, a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, immigrated to the United States. Before his death, he donated half of his industry and library and established Harvard College, which was completely modeled after Emanuel College. Later it developed into Harvard University. The town where Harvard is located is also named Cambridge. In order to distinguish it from Cambridge in England, the Chinese translation is called "Cambridge". In this regard, someone joked: "A kind old English bird hatched an American giant eagle." Every year, many undergraduates who graduated from Harvard apply to Cambridge for postgraduate study, in order to realize a root-seeking dream. Some people describe the origin of three famous universities in the world: Oxford is the mother of Cambridge and Cambridge is the mother of Harvard.
Oxford of art, Cambridge of science
Oxford and Cambridge, both world-class universities, always seem to be antagonistic. All sides are unwilling to admit that their commonness is actually greater than their differences.
"Oxford of art, Cambridge of science"-one is a humanities scientist and the other is a natural scientist, which seems to be a fixed formula in many people's minds. Similar to Tsinghua University in China, Cambridge University is famous for its science and engineering, and has trained more than 70 Nobel Prize winners. Oxford University is as famous for its liberal arts as Peking University in China.
British prime ministers who have studied at Oxford University can almost line up. Canning, Attlee, Aidan, Macmillan, Douglas Home, Wilson, Heath, Thatcher, Blair-10 Downing Street is simply a branch of Oxford University! There are also many influential politicians, such as Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, former US President Bill Clinton, former Hong Kong Governor Patten, and a large number of movie stars, famous writers and producers, all of whom graduated from Oxford University.
The same long history and excellent position have created the same arrogant Oxford and Cambridge people.
It is said that Oxford people believe that they rule the world, while Cambridge people will curl their lips: We don't care who rules the world at all! Both Oxford and Cambridge like to call each other "another place", as if this is the greatest depravity. Richard von weizsacker, former president of the Federal Republic of Germany, is an honorary doctor of Oxford University, and Cambridge University also decided to award him the title of honorary doctor in 1994. As for the fact that he once accepted the honorary title of Oxford, people at Cambridge University downplayed it in one sentence: "Never mind, there is always a chance to correct mistakes in life."
In recent years, Oxford has been ranked behind Cambridge in the ranking of comprehensive universities in Britain, which makes Oxford people feel a little aggrieved, so let's start with the differences between the school emblems of the two universities. There is a book on the school badges of Cambridge University and Oxford University, except that the book in Cambridge is closed and the book in Oxford is open. Oxford people laugh at Cambridge people who don't study hard and only decorate their faces with books. I didn't expect Cambridge people to fight back without hesitation: "No, you study too slowly. We have all finished learning, and you are still learning. "
The origin of "the dispute between the ox and the knife"
As the troika of British national intellectuals, Oxford and Cambridge have long been dissatisfied with each other.
191920s, two friends between two famous schools thought of it. Since Niu Jian is indomitable in academic education, it is better to hold a boat race to compete. It turns out that these two universities are located by the river, next to the He Kanghe River and the Chawell River respectively. Rowing is very popular in both schools. The only difference is the way of rowing: in Cambridge, the bow is forward and the rower stands at the stern; However, in Oxford, the stern is forward and the rower stands at the bow. The two founders of the boat race happened to be named Charles. Charles Moore of Cambridge was born into a noble family; Charles Wordsworth of Oxford University is more famous. His uncle is william wordsworth, a famous English lake poet laureate. Wordsworth Sr is also a student at Cambridge University.
On March 1829 and 12, Cambridge issued a gauntlet to Oxford: "Cambridge University challenges Oxford University here to hold a boat race for eight people on the Thames in London or near London, and the time is set at Easter." On June 10 of the same year, a boat race was held in the Henry section of the Thames in Oxford, London. Oxford University won the first competition, which started a century-long feud between the two universities. The loser of the previous year became the challenger of the next year. In the past 15 1 competition, Cambridge won 78 times and Oxford won 72 times. In the match of 1877, two teams arrived at the same time, and because there was no terminal camera equipment at that time, it was ruled as a draw. At present, Cambridge University holds the longest winning streak-1924 to 1936 13, while Oxford has only one winning streak (1976 to 1985).
"Niu Jian" grows in the competition.
For hundreds of years, Niu Jian and these two schools have been in fierce competition, but they also respect each other and are unwilling to give up.
Javier Marías's observation is very incisive: "Oxford people who involuntarily show contempt for any other university graduates in the world will only show special respect for Cambridge people. That kind of respect seems to mean that only people as unique as them can make them feel comfortable. " In fact, Oxford and Cambridge have cooperated very well in academic exchanges, talent flow and many other aspects, and they have worked together to maintain the top level of higher education. Professor Sen of Cambridge, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics from 65438 to 0998, once taught at Oxford University. Peter Roland, the head of our department, once taught these two universities.
Competition is not necessarily a trade-off relationship, but also can create a win-win situation. Life needs opponents, and it is impossible to grow without them. Perhaps it is the indomitable competition over the past few hundred years that has promoted the continuous development of these two world famous schools.
Peng Ji, the author of The Decline of Rome, once told a friend that his three years in Oxford were the laziest and most unproductive years in his life. Darwin, the author of evolution, also said that Cambridge did nothing. In the memoirs of Indian Prime Minister Nehru, during his three years in Cambridge, his interest in cycling, tennis and gambling far exceeded politics. He described his college life like this: three years were calm and time passed slowly, just like the lazy He Kanghe. What is the charm of such a "inaction" school that makes thousands of students come to Wan Li? The answer lies in this environment, this atmosphere and this tradition. Everything around you is infiltrating you, influencing you imperceptibly, urging you and making you forge ahead. Both Oxford and Cambridge have the power of assimilation and alienation.
After receiving the letter of acceptance from Cambridge last year, I participated in the scholarship interview of the Cultural Office of the British Foreign Office. After the interview, the British interviewer finally couldn't help but ask me curiously, "Why don't you choose Oxford?" It is also one of the best universities. "It turns out that he is a graduate of Oxford.