INFLUENCE OF NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS ON ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND STUDENT ACTIVISM AT XIAMEN AND SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITIES: 1919-1937

Abstract

The study of modern Chinese nationalism, particularly through the lens of student activism in universities, provides a nuanced understanding of the broader sociopolitical transformations in early 20th-century China. This analysis focuses on Xiamen University and Sun Yat-sen University between 1919 and 1937—a period marked by significant geopolitical upheaval and the rise of national consciousness among Chinese intellectuals. These institutions were not only academic centers but also hubs for athletic development and political activism, reflecting the intertwining of physical education and national identity. As Western ideologies and practices penetrated Chinese society, they brought with them a new paradigm of physical culture, which became a symbol of national strength and modernity. Student activists played a pivotal role in this transition, utilizing sports and physical activities as platforms for political expression and tools for building communal ties among students. This era witnessed the growth of organized sports at these universities, which were used to foster a sense of national pride and resistance against colonial and imperialist influences. The influence of nationalism on university campuses was twofold. Firstly, it propelled the development of structured athletic programs that aimed to improve physical health standards as a means of constructing a stronger nation capable of standing against foreign domination. Secondly, it catalyzed student movements that linked physical fitness with moral and civic duty, thus embedding physical education within the larger framework of nationalist discourse. The cases of Xiamen and Sun Yat-sen universities illustrate the dynamic interaction between state formation and university student bodies, highlighting how sports became a vehicle for both personal empowerment and collective nationalist efforts. This study underscores the importance of examining physical education and student activism to understand their lasting impact on the trajectory of Chinese nationalism and the modernization of its educational institutions.