Yung Wing (1828–1912) was a transformative figure in China’s modernization. Often hailed as the first Chinese graduate of an American university, his life and work transcended this singular achievement.
While Yung Wing is rightfully recognized as the “Father of Chinese Students Studying Abroad,” his impact extended far beyond education. China’s modern history was a period of intense social and political upheaval. While other prominent figures dominated specific eras, Yung Wing’s influence spanned the entire period. His contributions were multifaceted, shaping not just educational reform but also China’s broader development.
To mark the 170th anniversary of Yung Wing’s graduation from Yale University, the Renwen Society presents a special lecture by Prof. Lei Yi, a leading Yung Wing scholar. Prof. Lei will delve into Yung Wing’s historical context, the qualities that made him a pioneer and driving force for modernization, his evolving views on reform within the Qing Dynasty, and his intellectual characteristics – rationality, independence, and a forward-looking vision.
提起容闳，人们自然会想起“留学生之父”这个名称。这个名称，容闳确实当之无愧。但是，这个冠名却掩盖了他在其他方面的重要意义。
一部风起云涌的中国近代史，几乎就是一幕幕你死我活的民族、阶级间的生死大搏斗，刀光剑影，险象环生。在这充满血与火的历史舞台上，无论“进步”还是“反动”、肯定还是否定、赞扬还是批判，人们的目光自然容易长期“聚焦”于林则徐、洪秀全、杨秀清、曾国藩、左宗棠、李鸿章、张之洞、康有为、梁启超、谭嗣同、慈禧、袁世凯、孙中山、黄兴……这些叱咤风云的人物。不过，他们都是某一历史阶段的“主角”，而未能参与近代史的“全程”。而远非风云人物的容闳，却是唯一“全程”参与近代史的幸运者。容闳被称为中国近代“留学之父”或“新式教育”的催生者，其实，他的贡献远不止于教育领域。而他的一生，不仅像镜子一样映照了近代中国的历史走向，且有迥异他人的独特意义。深刻了解容闳，对近中国的历史和命运的理解就更加深刻。
容闳1854年从耶鲁大学毕业，至此170周年。为纪念中国留学史上的这个重要日子，并进一步了解容闳在中国现代史上扮演的角色，华美人文学会特邀容闳研究专家雷颐教授于美东时间6月8日晚8时至9时半（北京时间6月9日早8时至9时半做《容闳：中国现代知识分子第一人》专题讲座。雷教授在讲座中将探讨容闳出现的历史背景、他成为中国现代化当之无愧的先驱人物和重要推动者所具备的条件、容闳从寄希望于清王朝逐步走向革命的过程，以及他的理性、独立性和超越性。
China Institute’s cultural programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Professor Lei Yi is a distinguished scholar of modern Chinese political and intellectual history. He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1982 and his master's degree in modern Chinese history in 1985, both from Jilin University. Currently a researcher at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Lei has authored numerous publications exploring various aspects of modern Chinese history, including the intellectual landscape and political movements of the era.
雷颐， 1978年考入吉林大学历史系，1982年毕业，获学士学位；同年考入吉林大学研究生院历史系中国近代史专业，1985 年毕业，获硕士学位。1985年到中国社会科学院近代史研究所工作，曾任《近代史研究》副主编，现为研究员。研究方向为中国近代政治史、思想史、知识分子史。著有《时空游走：历史与现实的对话》《雷颐自选集》《被延误的现代化》《萨特》《历史的进退》《历史的裂缝》《李鸿章与晚清四十年》《精神的年轮》《走向革命》《孤寂百年：中国现代知识分子十二论》《中国的现实与超现实》《中国切片：1900》《帝国的覆没》《不让岁月空流逝》等，译有《中国现代思潮中的唯科学主义》《在传统与现代性之间》《胡适与中国现代知识分子的选择》等。
