A teacher, bookworm, historian plus a bit of rabble-rouser rolled into one
By Victoria Fei |
March 30, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WU Qilei, a Chinese teacher at the Cannes Experimental School of Shanghai Normal University and specialist in Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) history, has written a new book about one of the celebrated heroes of that era.
His passion doesn't end with history. Wu is also an ardent supporter of improving education quality and recently became embroiled in an online debate about teachers who don't read and can't write.
But first, let us look at the scholarly side of Wu.
His book, entitled "Yue Fei and Yue's Army," traces the life and times of a famous military general noted for his wisdom and integrity. The book is published by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing House.
It took Wu six years to complete the work.
"Writing about the history of Song Dynasty has been a dream of mine for years," Wu said. "In order to write something different, attract those interested in Yue Fei and open the doors of that period, I had to do extensive research before writing."
In his daytime job, Wu teaches fourth-graders. Song Dynasty history is a passion he pursues in his spare time.
He fell in love with the history of Song Dynasty, he said, as a teenager drawn to larger-than-life historical heroes such as Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and Jin Wushu.
Yue Fei was born into a poor, humble family. He became a celebrated general of the Southern Song Dynasty, said to have defeated one enemy of 500,000 soldiers with only 800 of his own troops. Despite his victories, jealousies at court eventually led to Yue Fei's downfall. He was accused falsely, imprisoned and later executed at age 39. He was posthumously cleared of all charges. A temple was built in his memory on the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou.
Wu is a repository of historical detail. The book was his way of sharing his research and passion with a wider audience. His object was to present Yue Fei as a real person instead of just a remote hero.
"I know the image of Yue Fei in many people's heart is ideal and surreal," Wu said. "I needed to write a book good enough to convey true history."
It took Wu two years of research before he sat down to write. He checked and double-checked facts. His personal library of some 2,000 books was a solid reference point.
"When I had written more than 100,000 words, I suddenly realized that my book was just repeating what others had written," he said. "I wanted a fresh look, so I started all over again and rewrote."
That tome completed, Wu has turned his focus to another legendary hero, Han Shizhong, a Chinese general of the late Northern Song Dynasty and the early Southern Song Dynasty.
"He is a character less known by people today, yet his role was parallel with that of Yue Fei in history," Wu said.
"I wanted more people to know about him. I've finished the main chapters, spanning more than 100,000 words."
Wu pursues his passion for history during lunch breaks at school, evenings and weekends.
Active on the Internet, he likes to share his historical knowledge through social media.
But it's not only history that he engages him online.
Online debate
Wu recently got involved in a social media debate about the quality of schoolteachers. He alienated some of his teaching associates by agreeing with well-known writer Ye Kai's comments panning the quality of essays written by teachers.
"A lot of Chinese teachers make reading lists for students and demand students read, yet they do not read themselves," said Wu, who is a bookworm himself. "Even though some do read now and then, they do not write. I posted my opinion on Weibo only to tell the truth. I'm not afraid of being scolded."
On Weibo, one of China's most popular blogging sites, Wu wrote: "It's necessary for teachers to be able to read books, just like drivers to be able to drive and doctors to be able to diagnose illness. It's a basic professional requirement for us teachers. Pardon me for speaking frankly. Even if the education system changes and teaching pressure decreases, there will be numerous teachers who do not read or learn or make the effort to seek progress."
He noted that many teachers use the excuse that they don't have time for reading. That's rubbish, he said.
"Some people could not be any lazier," Wu said. "It is absolutely not education pressure; it is one's own choice! If they are really so busy, then I wonder how they find time to watch TV?"
A purist with history. A purist in the classroom.
"To me, a class is an idealistic experiment," Wu said. "There's a long way to go to change the situation of the education system in China."
His passion doesn't end with history. Wu is also an ardent supporter of improving education quality and recently became embroiled in an online debate about teachers who don't read and can't write.
But first, let us look at the scholarly side of Wu.
His book, entitled "Yue Fei and Yue's Army," traces the life and times of a famous military general noted for his wisdom and integrity. The book is published by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing House.
It took Wu six years to complete the work.
"Writing about the history of Song Dynasty has been a dream of mine for years," Wu said. "In order to write something different, attract those interested in Yue Fei and open the doors of that period, I had to do extensive research before writing."
In his daytime job, Wu teaches fourth-graders. Song Dynasty history is a passion he pursues in his spare time.
He fell in love with the history of Song Dynasty, he said, as a teenager drawn to larger-than-life historical heroes such as Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and Jin Wushu.
Yue Fei was born into a poor, humble family. He became a celebrated general of the Southern Song Dynasty, said to have defeated one enemy of 500,000 soldiers with only 800 of his own troops. Despite his victories, jealousies at court eventually led to Yue Fei's downfall. He was accused falsely, imprisoned and later executed at age 39. He was posthumously cleared of all charges. A temple was built in his memory on the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou.
Wu is a repository of historical detail. The book was his way of sharing his research and passion with a wider audience. His object was to present Yue Fei as a real person instead of just a remote hero.
"I know the image of Yue Fei in many people's heart is ideal and surreal," Wu said. "I needed to write a book good enough to convey true history."
It took Wu two years of research before he sat down to write. He checked and double-checked facts. His personal library of some 2,000 books was a solid reference point.
"When I had written more than 100,000 words, I suddenly realized that my book was just repeating what others had written," he said. "I wanted a fresh look, so I started all over again and rewrote."
That tome completed, Wu has turned his focus to another legendary hero, Han Shizhong, a Chinese general of the late Northern Song Dynasty and the early Southern Song Dynasty.
"He is a character less known by people today, yet his role was parallel with that of Yue Fei in history," Wu said.
"I wanted more people to know about him. I've finished the main chapters, spanning more than 100,000 words."
Wu pursues his passion for history during lunch breaks at school, evenings and weekends.
Active on the Internet, he likes to share his historical knowledge through social media.
But it's not only history that he engages him online.
Online debate
Wu recently got involved in a social media debate about the quality of schoolteachers. He alienated some of his teaching associates by agreeing with well-known writer Ye Kai's comments panning the quality of essays written by teachers.
"A lot of Chinese teachers make reading lists for students and demand students read, yet they do not read themselves," said Wu, who is a bookworm himself. "Even though some do read now and then, they do not write. I posted my opinion on Weibo only to tell the truth. I'm not afraid of being scolded."
On Weibo, one of China's most popular blogging sites, Wu wrote: "It's necessary for teachers to be able to read books, just like drivers to be able to drive and doctors to be able to diagnose illness. It's a basic professional requirement for us teachers. Pardon me for speaking frankly. Even if the education system changes and teaching pressure decreases, there will be numerous teachers who do not read or learn or make the effort to seek progress."
He noted that many teachers use the excuse that they don't have time for reading. That's rubbish, he said.
"Some people could not be any lazier," Wu said. "It is absolutely not education pressure; it is one's own choice! If they are really so busy, then I wonder how they find time to watch TV?"
A purist with history. A purist in the classroom.
"To me, a class is an idealistic experiment," Wu said. "There's a long way to go to change the situation of the education system in China."
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