“Inclusiveness” and University as the Modern Academic Center

This chapter focuses on Cai Yuanpei&s;s practice of “inclusiveness” in governing Peking University (1917–1923). He advocated academic freedom, tolerating diverse schools while setting restrictions: Excluding outdated doctrines, requiring reasoned arguments, banning political involvement in classrooms, and forbidding corrupting students. Cai initially relied on Zhejiang natives and Zhang Taiyan&s;s disciples but shifted from geographical to academic ties, diversifying faculty origins by 1923. He also restricted extramural part-time jobs to promote full-time academic devotion, and established research institutes, academic journals (e.g., Peking University Monthly ), and academic societies. These efforts transformed PKU from a bureaucratic training ground to a modern academic center, shifting Chinese scholars from “studying without specific purposes” to pursuing university specialties, laying a foundation for modern Chinese academia.