哈佛三百周年石碑

历史

这座狭长的大理石石碑是哈佛大学的中国校友于1936年在三百年校庆之际捐赠予母校的。其碑文纪念了哈佛学院于1636年建立的历史,并强调文化与学术在中美两国的重要意义。碑文全长370字,录于碑前所附的信息牌,并配有英文译文。著名的学者外交官胡适先生以楷书题写了碑文原文。他代表北京大学出席了哈佛三百年校庆仪式,并被授予哈佛荣誉博士学位。

这张照片摄于石碑新立之际。此碑位于怀德纳(Widener)图书馆西侧,靠近Boylston Hall,也就是当您面对石碑时位于您右侧气派的花岗石建筑。此建筑曾是1928年成立的哈佛燕京学社以及1937年成立的远东语言和文明系旧址。燕京学社和远东系(今东亚语言和文明系)已于1957年迁至2 Divinity Avenue,但这座石碑至今仍然矗立于哈佛园中。全碑连同雕刻精致的赑屃碑座共重达约二十吨。它的存在见证了哈佛对国际化教育的追求,以及长期致力于研究更广阔世界的探索。

立碑纪事在中国已有两千多年的传统,碑座多为被称为“赑屃”的瑞兽造型。此碑原石是大清嘉庆皇帝在1810年松筠(1752-1835)上任两江总督之际敕赐,奉旨立于南京总督府后花园内。原碑文中嘉许了松筠清廉不阿的品行及其对清朝政府的效忠。虽然这段碑文仍被保留于地方历史文献,原始刻字却已不复存在,被如今眼前的新碑文所取代。

石碑从南京搬运到剑桥,其中还有一段传奇的故事。1930年代上海哈佛大学校友会主席和银行家施君先生最早动念捐赠石碑。在得知哈佛即将举行三百年庆典后,施君联系当时哈佛大学南京校友会的刘瑞恒主席共同商榷此事。刘瑞恒是哈佛最为杰出的中国校友之一。他不仅是哈佛本科生学院的第一位中国学生,也是哈佛医学院的首位中国学生。他领导北京协和医学院多年,并在此期间为孙中山和梁启超等风云人物做过手术。他也是中国现代公共医疗系统的创始人。

为了能够将原石碑作为礼物赠与母校,施刘二先生找到当时中华民国的总统蒋介石,向其征求意见。因为昔日的总督府正是当时的总统府,所以此事必先征得蒋总统的同意。共计一千余名中国校友为石碑的购置、雕刻和运输捐款,使得这座石碑能于1936年之秋运抵哈佛园,由施君及刘瑞恒在三百年校庆典礼上代表哈佛中国校友正式赠与母校。

光阴荏苒,石碑上的刻字已有多处淡去,碑体也受到了一定程度的酸雨侵蚀。为了保护石碑,学校决定在每年冬季到来之际将石碑以坚固的保护罩包裹。此外,本校Peabody博物馆的文物专家也于2012年对石碑整体进行了3D扫描,其成像可在官方网站上观赏

哈佛三百周年石碑

美國哈佛大學三百年紀念記

文化為國家之命脈。國家之所以興也繇於文化。而文化之所以盛也實繇於學。深識遠//見之士。知立國之本必亟以興學為先。創始也艱自是光大而擴充之。而其文化之宏。往//往收效於數百年間。而勿替是說也徵之於美國哈佛大學滋益信矣。哈佛約翰先生於//三百年前由英之美講學於波士頓市。嗣在劍橋建設大學即以哈佛名之。規制崇閎學//科美備因而人才輩出為世界有名之學府。與美國之國運爭榮。哈佛先生之深識遠見//其有造於國家之文化也大矣。我國為東方文化古國。然世運推移日新月異。志學之士//復負笈海外以求深造。近三十年來就學於哈佛大學學成歸國服務於國家社會者先//後幾達千人。可云極盛。今届母校成立三百年紀念之期。同人等感念沾溉啟迪之功。不//能無所表獻。自茲以往當見兩國文化愈益溝通必更光大擴充之使國家之興盛得随//學問之進境以增隆。斯則同人等之所馨香以祝。而永永紀念不忘者爾//

西曆一九三六年九月哈佛大學中國留學生全體同人敬立

Harvard’s Tercentenary Stele, located outside Widener Library

300th Anniversary Stele Inscription

Culture is the lifeblood of a nation. It is by virtue of its culture that a nation arises, but truly it is due to learning that a culture flourishes. Intellectuals with deep knowledge and far-sighted vision understand that in establishing a solid foundation for their nation, the utmost priority must be given to the enhancement of learning. In the beginning, learning is an arduous undertaking, yet once it has grown and expanded, it can contribute to the enhancement of culture for centuries. That this is indeed the case is amply confirmed by the example of Harvard University in the United States of America.

Three hundred years ago, Mr. John Harvard left England for America to teach in Boston. The college that was established in Cambridge was later named after him. Resplendent in its conception and with a full array of subjects of study, the university fostered generations of talented individuals and thus became a world-renowned center of learning. Its glorious history even rivals that of the United States. Mr. Harvard’s contribution of deep knowledge and far-sighted vision to the nation’s culture is truly great.

Our nation symbolizes an ancient culture of the East, but time irrevocably moves forward and the world evolves, constantly undergoing renewal and change. Those committed to learning once again have studied overseas to deepen their knowledge and self-understanding. During the past thirty years, nearly one thousand of our countrymen have returned home upon completion of their studies at Harvard University to serve the nation and society. This is truly marvelous!

On this, the occasion of the tercentenary of the founding of our alma mater, we show our gratitude for the nurturing and inspiration we received here. Henceforth, we hope to witness the further enlargement and expansion of an ever-increasing cultural interchange between our two countries, enabling the prosperity of the nation to follow the path of advanced learning. Of this ideal we shall remain ever mindful.

Erected respectfully by all the Chinese alumni of Harvard University, September 1936

Original translation by Ruiheng Liu 1909, MD 1913
Revised translation by Weiming Tu and Mark Elliott