The first sports course in China’s modern higher education appeared in the planning book drafted by Charles Daniel Tenney (Ding Jiali as his Chinese name), an American and the first president of Peiyang University. In the planning book, this course was called Physical Training that included both gymnastics and military drill and was a daily compulsory course. This was largely due to Charles own background. He graduated from Dartmouth University which is well-known for its outdoor sports, therefore it was likely to influence him in his school administration practice.
For students of Peiyang University, western sports were not only a novelty, but also mandatory. One of the university’s alumni, Wang Zhengting who was a famous statesman, diplomat and China’s first International Olympic Committee member, once recalled how he was attracted to sports while at Peiyang University: My body was not very strong then, but I wasn’t the only one because most of students in the university were just like me. However, our headmaster, Mr. Ding, had a long-term vision of putting sports and military training into our curriculum. Like other subjects, students were not able to get into a higher grade unless they passed the physical exam. Consequently, in a very short time, Peiyang students were bold enough to take off their robes and pare their nails so as to do exercises. “As far as I can recall, I grew more than one foot and put on almost half my weight in that short two-year period. Although I was in the growth stage of my body at that time, I was absolutely convinced that if I had not been exposed to physical training then, it would have been a problem for me to live as long as I have.” said Wang Zhengting at a very old age.
The physical training of Peiyang University not only promoted students’ physical and mental growth, but also helped students to develop a strong and determined mind. What’s more, through holding various sports events, it gradually aroused Chinese people’s awareness of the importance of physical training, thus leading to the spread of physical exercise from Tianjin literati circles to the common working class. On November 27, 1987, Peiyang University held a running sports meeting which included twelve events according to the record of Guowen Daily. Among all the competition’s events, the most interesting one was bag running which required the athletes to run with their body wrapped up with a bag. This is China’s earliest report about modern sports that can be found in newspapers. This sports meeting offered young students the chance to know about western sports competitions. It also provided the citizens in Tianjin with a vision about how the western sports games were like at that time. It has caused a great sensation in the press.
By the 1930s, the sports curriculum of Peiyang University diversified. Students were offered multiple choices, such as Chinese martial arts, field events, track events, tennis, volleyball, softball, football, basketball, skating, swimming, hiking, rowing, handball and so on. The university had set up a sports department with instructors and directors.
The Peiyang University physical training program has developed many leading figures of sports in modern China and left valuable traditions that have had profound influence on Tianjin University throughout the years.
From the first sports meeting held on Nov. 27, 1897, 120 years have passed. Peiyang University changed its name to Tianjin University in the 1950s, however, the love of sportsmanship has continued. At present, there are 44 sports clubs, and 15 student sports teams which have more than 440 members. Various sports competitions are held, such as physical fitness tests, winter race relays and the university sports meeting. More than 20,000 people attend these games each year.
By Chang Xinyuan
Editors: Yinwei & Doris Harrington
