Hunan Normal University Faces Backlash for Quoting Hu Shi’s Famous Saying, Sparking Controversy Online

During the escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the late former Ambassador of the Republic of China to the United States and scholar Hu Shi has unexpectedly been embroiled in a new dispute in mainland China. Hunan Normal University quoted a famous saying by Hu Shi on Weibo, triggering attacks from mainland leftist netizens, while others criticized this assault. The incident has also sparked heated discussions among overseas netizens, who believe that “the Red Guards from the Cultural Revolution have never disappeared.”

On the evening of March 12, Hunan Normal University posted a Weibo quoting a famous saying by Hu Shi: “Education is like putting a pair of bright glasses on people to help them see clearly, not like dressing them in fancy clothes to show off in front of others – Hu Shi.” This post unexpectedly led to netizens “attacking.” Some accused Hu Shi of being a “reactionary war criminal” and a “traitor,” and questioned whether the university had a Communist Party committee.

Hunan Normal University later removed the author’s name “Hu Shi” from the post.

Among those who criticized Hunan Normal University’s remarks were Weibo account “Yang Hua with Heroic and Tender Feelings,” whose real identity is the Director of the Legal Promotion and Education Division of the Minhang District Judicial Bureau in Shanghai. The official Communist Party media “Democracy and Legal System Times” had previously written in March 2014 that Yang Hua is a relatively well-known Weibo “opinion leader” in the political and legal system, who “always upholds the principles of the Party and the government,” thus setting himself in opposition to some “public intellectuals” who post “inappropriate” content on Weibo.

Another leftist who publicly attacked Hunan Normal University was Weibo account “Mao Xinghuo Speaking the Truth” (real name Wu Wanzheng). On February 27, 2024, “Mao Xinghuo Speaking the Truth” filed a lawsuit against Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan’s novel for allegedly violating the PRC’s Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law and “glorifying” Japanese soldiers. The incident also stirred controversy.

However, many netizens supported Hunan Normal University:

“Weilin Firefly” expressed on Weibo, “I fully support Hunan Normal University, which is unfortunately under attack. There is nothing wrong with the university’s post! @Hunan Normal University, it is 2025, don’t be afraid, stick to your principles, and know that you have countless online friends who can distinguish right from wrong and support you!”

Dr. Liu Yun said, “This Weibo post is completely fine. Those bunch of leftists are just stirring up trouble for no reason!”

Some netizens also commented, “The leftists are acting arrogantly,” and “Oh, this group of people has made the Internet chaotic!”

A commentary from the self-media “Xingkongrusishuo” stated regarding this inexplicable public opinion storm, it could be seen as a typical example of “low-level red” and “high-level black.”

This incident also sparked discussions on an overseas platform:

“Let’s see what happened to our swimming team’s Lao She, why is there no more air bubbles?”

“The Cultural Revolution only paused, it didn’t end.”

“Education is like putting a pair of bright glasses on people.”

“They are scared of this and that, like a frightened bird.”

“Before the reform and opening-up, Hu Shi was considered a master in the common people’s eyes, with not much negative feedback. The current public opinion about him stems mainly from the glorification of the founding of the Communist Party in the 2021 TV series ‘The Awakening Era,’ which led to a large number of online derogatory comments about Hu Shi in the drama and real history. Even radical Pink supporters refer to conservative Hu Xijin as the contemporary Hu Shi, also influenced by this TV drama.”

“The Red Guards from the Cultural Revolution have never disappeared, and those currently in power are nurturing a new generation. From Tiebu Forum, Utopia Community, to the current Red Culture Network, Kunlun Strategy, Observer Network, these are all central places where these modern Boxers concentrate.”

“An education system that does not cultivate people’s critical thinking abilities will result in this kind of situation, where even those with high education levels will only become mouthpieces for others. Ironically, Hu Shi’s saying describes this phenomenon perfectly.”

Public records show that by the end of 1948, the Chinese Communist Party had gained the upper hand in the civil war with the Kuomintang, and victory was almost certain. Chiang Kai-shek planned to transfer top scholars from the mainland to Taiwan, with the top name on the rescue list being then Beijing University President Hu Shi. Mao Zedong had someone pass on a message to Hu Shi, saying that as long as Hu Shi did not leave Beiping (Beijing), the Communist Party would ensure that he continued to serve as the director of the Beijing Library. Hu Shi coldly replied, “Don’t believe the Communist Party’s tricks!” On December 15, 1948, Hu Shi and others left Beiping on two separate planes. After the Communist Party came to power, from 1951 to 1957, Mao Zedong launched two massive criticisms against Hu Shi.