War in Asia Shuts Two Universities in Nanking, Shantung

Two of the six Chinese Universities which are part of the Harvard-Yenching Institute have closed their doors because of war-conditions, according to an article in the Christian Science Monitor. They are the University of Nanking and Shantung Christian University.

The University of Nanking had 908 students enrolled at the beginning of its academic year, but was soon forced to suspend work and disband when Japanese troops surrounded the city and commenced bombardment.

When this happened plans for archaeological excavation had to be abandoned and the Institute of Chinese Cultural Studies, subsidized by the Harvard-Yenching Institute, moved into the Interior to some unknown place in Anwhol Province. This Nanking Institute had done work in Chinese history and archaeology and had published books in the Chinese language.

Shantung Christian Closed

The Chinese department of Shantung Institute, is inactive now since the closing of the University in October. Although many of the teachers left Tsinan at this time it has been announced that the Institute's support will be available for the University when it reopens.

Fukien University in Foochow, whose Chinese department is also Institute-subsidized, has been so harried by Japanese bombers that it has been proposed to move it further into the interior. This province is famous in China for the number and quality of its poets and scholars, and the work being carried on in the university by the Chinese scholars has dealt with local history and the ancient civilization of that region. It began the academic year with 169 students.

Yenching Open at Pieping

The main Chinese university which receives support from the Institute is Yenching University in Peiping which is considered the outstanding Chinese university. Many of its graduates come here to get their doctorate degrees, it turning afterwards to teach in China Besides its work in history and archaeology important work has been done in compiling indices to ancient Chinese books, 28 volumes of which have already been published.

Despite adverse conditions last fall the University decided to continue its work as usual and help was given to students to return to Peiping after the summer vacation. 807 were registered at the beginning of the academic year, but two well-known scholars, Professor Ku Chieh-kang and Professor Juan Kang were not able to return.

Universities which have carried on their work this year besides Yenching and Fukien, are Lingan University and West China Union University.

The Harvard-Yenching Institute was incorporated as a department of this university in 1928.