Hu Shih (pp. 3-24) Philosophy East & West Vol. 3, No. 1 (April 1953)

Hu Shih (1891-1962)

D.T. Suzuki (pp. 25-46) Philosophy East & West Vol. 3, No. 1 (April 1953)

Memories of Hu Shih When the telegram came to the dorm at Columbia, my roommate thought it was his, but it was for me— accepted to Cornell Grad School Teaching Assistantship despite my poor grades— thought those recommendation letters from chemistry professors helped. Now I'm wondering— 70 years ago in 1951, Dad took me to visit Hu Shih in Manhattan. Never have I seen so many books lining anyone's apartment. Hu Shih called me "Little Professor" and Dad told me to say "Pu Kan Tang"— ("Thank you for your generous flatter"). Didn't know he was a great Ch'an scholar. No one could challenge D.T. Suzuki, the foremost expert in Zen— but he did in Philosophy East & West— like rams locking horns in battle! When his canoe capsized in Cornell's Beebe Lake, he had an epiphany in founding Chinese vernacular language and revolutionized the ease of reading. Hu Shih loved Cornell, and Ithaca appeared often in his dreams— my seven years there were the happiest of my life— I thank Hu Shih for his kind blessings.       — Peter Y. Chou           Mountain View, 6-12-2021

Baker Lab, Cornell University Postcard circa 1950 Hu Shih's canoe capsized in Cornell's Beebe Lake (1915) Hu Shih & D.T. Suzki Suzuki's visit to China, 1934 China 4319: Hu Shih (issued 9-28-2016)