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Li Siguang, born on October 26th, 1889, was a paleontologist, stratigraphy scientist, geotectonist, Quaternary glaciologist and geologist. Mongolian. Huanggang, Hubei. In 1919 and 1927, he received a master’s degree and a doctor’s degree from Birmingham University, England. I have studied in Japan and England. Joined the League in his early years and participated in the Revolution of 1911. He used to be a professor in the Department of Geology of Peking University and director of the Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica. On October 19th, 1949, when he was still wandering abroad, he was appointed as the vice president of China Academy of Sciences. After returning to China, he served as Minister of Geology of the government and Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology for a long time. Li Siguang has served as Vice Chairman of the Second, Third and Fourth Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Minister of Geology, Vice President of China Academy of Sciences, Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology and Vice Chairman of World Association of Scientists.
He was one of the pioneers of geology in China, founded geomechanics, and made important contributions to the development of petroleum industry in China. In his early years, he had a superb study on Odonata fossils and their stratigraphic stratification significance. The existence of Quaternary glaciers in eastern China is proposed. This paper studies the crustal movement and its relationship with mineral distribution from the mechanical point of view, and establishes new concepts of geomechanics and tectonic system. All his life, he advocated studying the occurrence, development and combination of geological structures from the mechanical point of view, and believed that various structural features were the result of in-situ stress activities, and established the concept of "structural system" and the geomechanics school. It is pointed out that the three subsidence of the Neocathaysian structural system has broad oil exploration prospects, which is confirmed by the discovery of Daqing and Shengli oilfields. It creates a way to predict earthquakes by combining active structure research with in-situ stress observation. The "astronomical, geological and paleontological data" published in his later years had a profound impact on the advocacy of interdisciplinary in China. It has made great contributions to the development of geological education, geological science and geological undertakings in China. In 1955, he was selected as a member of China Academy of Sciences. He is the author of The Main Causes of the Image Change of the Earth’s Surface, The Subject of China’s Northern Training, Geology of China, Lushan Mountain in the Ice Age, Introduction to Geomechanics and the collection of Astronomy, Geology and Paleontology. On April 29th, 1971, Li Siguang died of illness at the age of 82.
Li Siguang was born in a rural teacher’s family in Xiazhangjiawan Village, huilong town, Huanggang County, Hubei Province. When I was a child, I went to the village school with my father to read the "Four Books" and "Five Classics" and learn to write poetry. He is diligent and studious, and loves to work. Because he often listened to his father’s stories about the Sino-Japanese naval battle in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, China’s fiasco, the decadent and incompetent Qing government, and the loss of power and humiliation of the country, he was full of patriotic enthusiasm since he was a child. He made up his mind that when he grew up, he must live up to expectations for China, learn to build ships and defeat imperialist aggression. In 1902, a new school was set up in the two lakes. Li Siguang left his home and went to Wuchang, the provincial capital, and was admitted to the West Road Higher Primary School. Because he was among the best in every exam, he studied for less than two years and was sent by Hubei Province to stay in Japan for further study without graduation. In July 1904, he arrived in Tokyo and studied Japanese at Hongwen College.
In August, 1905, Dr. Sun Yat-sen personally led the League to join the China League, becoming the youngest member among the first members. Seeing that he was young, Sun Yat-sen encouraged him to "learn from him and make him useful to the country". Since then, Li Siguang has strengthened her determination to study hard and serve China. In July, 1907, he was admitted to the Department of Marine Organs of Osaka Higher Institute of Technology to study shipbuilding machinery. Initially realized his wish to learn shipbuilding for the motherland. In July 1910, he graduated and returned to China as a teacher and factory director of Wuchang Hubei Secondary Technical School. At the turn of autumn and summer in the following year, I took part in the sixth court examination for overseas students returning to China held by the Qing court, and got the title of "Engineering Scholar" with excellent results. On October 10th of the same year, Wuchang Uprising succeeded and overthrew the Qing government. Wuchang established the Hubei Army Dudufu, and Li Siguang was first appointed as the financial advisor of the Dudufu, and was later elected as the Minister of Industry of Hubei Province. In 1912, he was changed to the Director of Industry Department. Soon, Yuan Shikai stole power and usurped the fruits of the revolution, and the Revolution of 1911 failed. Li Siguang, with a depressed mood, angrily resigned as the director of the industrial department. I’m not too old to calculate my age. It’s better to study for another 10 years and prepare for my strength. In July, 1913, he was informed by the Provisional Memorial Bureau that the official fee was guaranteed to study in Britain and enter Birmingham University. Considering that shipbuilding for the motherland can’t be done without steel, if steel is to be made, it must be smelted first. Therefore, I studied mining for one year and felt that mining can’t be separated from geology. Then I decided to transfer to the Department of Science Geology and began to specialize in geology. Embarked on the road of "saving the country through science".
During his study in England, Li Siguang, under the guidance of his tutor Professor W.S. Boulton, read extensively and made on-the-spot investigations, which not only deepened his academic attainments, but also improved his written language rapidly. English, Japanese, German and French languages can be used. He has a broad vision, agile information and profound basic knowledge. In June, 1918, he passed the defense of his graduation thesis "Geology of China" at Birmingham University, and obtained a master’s degree in natural science.
After graduation, he declined the well-paid employment abroad. After inspecting the geology in Europe in 1919, he accepted the letter of appointment from Mr. Cai Yuanpei, president of the National Peking University. In May 1920, he returned to Beijing and became a professor of geology in Peking University. While cultivating talents for the motherland, he actively participated in some important school activities in Peking University. Creative achievements have been made in many important scientific research work. His reputation grew, and he soon became one of the famous professors in Peking University at that time. In the winter of 1927, at the invitation of Cai Yuanpei, he went south to Shanghai to participate in the preparatory work for the Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica. In January 1928, the Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica was established, with Li Siguang as its director, until the establishment of People’s Republic of China (PRC). Before the outbreak of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, he was still the head and professor of Peking University Geology Department.
From 1934 to 1936, according to the agreement of exchanging professors between China and Britain, he was invited to give lectures in Britain and taught China geology in eight universities including London, Cambridge, Oxford, Dublin and Birmingham. After finishing the lecture notes, Geology of China was officially published in London. In addition to the English version, this book also has Russian translation and Chinese abstract. Academic circles give high evaluation. Dr Joseph Neebham of Britain called the author "one of the most outstanding geologists". On his way back to China in 1936, he visited the United States, and with the assistance of his student Zhu Sen, he made a field trip to American geology from east to west. After returning to China, I lived in Lushan Mountain to do research on Quaternary glaciers. In the second year of the July 7th Incident, the whole country ignited an anti-Japanese bonfire. Li Siguang led colleagues from the Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica, and moved inward.
In the summer of 1938-1944, based on Liangfeng, Guilin, relying on the support of local authorities in Guangxi, the geological survey and study of Guangxi were carried out and the geological map of Guangxi was drawn up. He has traveled long distances for many times to investigate the geology of the eastern part of Nanling, and to investigate the Quaternary glacial remains in eastern Sichuan, western Hubei, western Hunan, northern Guangxi and Guizhou Plateau. Wrote a large number of academic papers. In the meantime, the Guilin Science Experimental Museum was established as the curator, and the necessary research and experimental equipment and instruments were developed for wartime. In November 1944, the Japanese army invaded, and the Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica moved to Chongqing again. Li Siguang fell ill in Shapingba due to the fatigue of the journey. Fortunately, medical treatment was timely, and his health was significantly weakened after his recovery. In April and May, 1945, at the joint invitation of Chongqing University and Central University, he gave an academic report on "Fundamentals and Methods of Geomechanics" to the teachers and students of the geology departments of the two universities. This is the first summary of his research on geomechanics for more than 20 years. On August 15, 1945, the Japanese army announced its surrender, and people all over the country rejoiced. However, the haze of civil war soon appeared, and Li Siguang was worried and anxious about it.
In the autumn of 1946, he left Chongqing and went straight to Shanghai for illness, but did not go to Nanjing. At this time, he felt that his motherland was big and it seemed difficult to find a place to live. Until February, 1948, when attending the 18th International Geological Society in London, Mrs. Xu Shubin went to England by boat again, and was awarded a doctorate of philosophy by the University of Oslo in Norway. On October 1st, 1949, Li Siguang was very excited to learn the good news of the founding of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the coast of the English Channel. Immediately ready to leave for home, in order to get rid of the obstruction of the Kuomintang embassy in Britain, I went first under a pseudonym alone, went to Basel via Paris, waited for my wife to board the ship in Italy, and drifted at sea for several months. On April 6, 1950, I sent someone to meet me, arrived in Guangzhou from Hong Kong, and finally returned to my motherland. On May 6th, I arrived in Beijing, and met with Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu and other central leaders in time, and had a long talk.
After Li Siguang returned to New China, he served as the vice president of China Academy of Sciences and a member of the First National Committee of China People’s Political Consultative Conference. At the first national congress of natural science workers in China, he was elected as the chairman of the All-China Federation of Natural Science Specialized Societies. In September, China Geological Work Plan Steering Committee was established, with Li Siguang as the chairman. In September 1952, the Geological Department of People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established, with Li Siguang as the minister. It was not until 1970 that the Geological Department was changed to the Geological Bureau of the Planning Commission that he left his post. In September 1958, the China Association for Science and Technology was established, and Li Siguang was elected as its chairman. In December of the same year, he joined the Communist Party of China (CPC). In April 1969, he attended the Ninth National Congress in communist party, China and was elected as a member of the Ninth Central Committee. In August 1970, he served as the first deputy head of the Party’s core group of China Academy of Sciences and the head of the the State Council Science and Education Group. He died on April 29th, 1971 at the age of 82.
Li Siguang experienced several great social changes in his motherland in his life. From a simple patriot, he took part in the democratic revolution, embarked on the road of "saving the country by science" and eventually became a communist fighter. Throughout his life, he has made brilliant achievements in prospering China’s modern science, improving the level of geological science and developing geological work. He left behind millions of scientific works and fruitful scientific research achievements, as well as his creative spirit, methods and dedication, which are all important treasures in the scientific and cultural treasure house of the motherland, and future generations should continue to carry them forward.
Li Siguang wrote this poem in memory of a good student in his early years, which is also a brilliant portrayal of his life-long geological science research.
On the rugged Wuling road, you swim from me.
The peaks and peaks are hidden again, surrounding Xiangshuitou.
The wind and cloud suddenly changed color, and it was covered with gold.
Where is the mountain, and the stone traces are eternal.
Attached is Li Siguang’s resume
Born on October 26th, 1889 in Xiazhangjiawan Village, huilong town, Huanggang County, Hubei Province.
From 1904 to 1907, he studied in Japan and entered the general department of Hongwen College in Tokyo.
In August 1905, he joined the China League in Tokyo.
From 1907 to July 1910, he studied shipbuilding machinery in the department of marine organs of Osaka Higher Institute of Technology. After graduation, he served as a teacher of Hubei secondary technical school.
From October, 1911 to August, 1912, he successively served as the counselor of the financial department of Hubei military government, the director of the industrial department of Hubei military government, and the secretary of the branch of Hubei League.
From October 1913 to June 1918, he entered the University of Birmingham, England, where he studied mining first and then geology. Graduated with a master’s degree in natural science.
In 1920, he returned to China and became a professor in the Department of Geology of Peking University.
In January 1928, he served as director of the Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica.
In 1931, the University of Birmingham awarded a doctorate in natural science.
From 1934 to April 1936, he gave lectures in Britain and received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oslo, Norway.
In November 1937, he led the Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica to move to Guilin, Guangxi.
In August 1948, he went to England to attend the 18th International Geological Congress held in London.
Returned to Beijing in May 1950. Attended the second session of the First National Committee of China People’s Political Consultative Conference. Vice President of China Academy of Sciences, Director of China Geological Work Plan Instructor Association, and Chairman of the All-China Federation of Natural Science Specialized Societies.
In April 1951, he was elected as the vice chairman of the Executive Committee of the World Association of Scientists.
In September 1952, he served as Minister of Geology of People’s Republic of China (PRC).
In February 1956, the geomechanics laboratory was established, and it was also the director of the laboratory. In 1958, the laboratory was changed into a research institute and served as the director.
In June 1958, he was awarded a foreign academician by the Soviet Academy of Sciences. In August, he served as director of the Atomic Energy Commission of China Academy of Sciences. In September, he served as chairman of China Association for Science and Technology. Joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December.
In April 1969, he was elected as a member of the Ninth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
In August, 1970, he served as the head of the State Council Science and Education Group.
He died in Beijing on April 29th, 1971.
(Source: China Association for Science and Technology)
Editor: Xu Guimei
