Lin Guobiao, a professor at the School of Marxism, Hainan University, has spend more than three decades studying traditional Chinese culture and Marxist philosophy. For him, difficult tasks are not burdens to avoid, but challenges to embrace.
His academic career has yielded substantial achievements. He has led one major project and three general projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, as well as more than 20 projects at the provincial and ministerial levels. He has taught more than 20 specialized courses, published eight monographs, edited two textbooks, co-authored more than 10 books, and published over 180 academic papers.
Lin majored in Chinese philosophy as an undergraduate. A course in Marxist philosophy introduced him to what he describes as a “logically rigorous, abstract, mysterious and compelling theoretical world,” sparking a lasting intellectual interest in the field. After earning his doctorate, his experience at a Party school led him to embark on pioneering research into the integration of traditional Chinese culture and Marxism.
Lin believes that the Chinese nation has a deeply rooted historical consciousness. In ancient China, this consciousness was reflected in such ideas as following the example of the sage former kings, examining historical experience, drawing lessons from history, and exploring principles of governance. In his view, adapting to changing times and pursuing innovation have long been important values within China’s fine traditional culture. As practice evolves, he argues, methodology must evolve with it.
Since joining the School of Marxism at Hainan University in 2020, Lin has devoted particular attention to teaching ideological and political theory courses. He emphasizes the importance of confidence in one’s academic discipline, believing that teachers can respond meaningfully to students’ questions only when they themselves possess solid knowledge and a deep scholarly understanding.
Lin sees education as having two closely related dimensions. Knowledge-based education develops students’ ability to understand and solve problems, while character education focuses on moral development and the cultivation of the whole person. Teaching ideological and political theory well, he believes, requires not only teaching techniques and sound scholarship, but also a guiding philosophy. Teachers should have a strong sense of responsibility, a keen awareness of important questions, and a commitment to academic standards. They should respect the principles of their disciplines, foster a positive classroom culture, and help students develop sound worldviews, outlooks on life, and values.
In the classroom, Lin has a gift for turning abstract academic ideas into vivid and accessible examples. He encourages students to develop confidence in their disciplines, avoid superficial pursuits, remain committed to serious scholarship, and build knowledge steadily over time. Through this process, he seeks to cultivate their ability to think independently and critically.
His students describe him as a deeply knowledgeable and rigorous scholar, a modest and tireless teacher, and an approachable, reserved and generous mentor — someone who often feels more like the family elder than a distant academic authority.
Lin has long maintained that progress in both theory and practice depends on a continuous process of moving “from practice to theory, and from theory back to practice.” Through his teaching, he seeks to make ideological and political education part of students’ “lived experience” — grounded in reality, connected to everyday life, and communicated in a natural and engaging way.
Original link:https://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2025-02/24/nw.D110000gmrb_20250224_2-15.htm
Translated by Su Yixiang
Proofread by Wang Kexian
