Chen Weiji Of Qingyang: The Founder Of New China'S Textile Industry

Speaking of the textile industry, it is one of China's pillar industries in the early days of new China. But do you know how a series of important decisions were made in China's textile industry at that time? How did the textile industry's national standards come into being? These are all related to a person born in Qingyang, our province.

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Engaged in revolutionary work in Teaching

In October 1902, Chen Weiji was born in an official family in Mei Xi village, Yang Tian Township, Qingyang County, Hunan Province. According to the records of Qingyang county records, because of the good family environment, young Chen Weiji was able to enter private schools, and he was diligent and studious, thus laying a solid foundation for Sinology.

In the autumn of 1918, Chen Weiji was admitted to the middle school attached to Fudan University in Shanghai from his hometown. After graduation, he went to the Chemistry Department of Fudan University and went to Britain to study for dyeing and chemical engineering in 1925. In 1929, when Chen Weiji returned from England, he taught in Shanghai Jinan University, Fudan University, Beiping University, Nantong Institute and so on. "Chen teaches in a simple way, combines theory with practice, pays attention to inspiration and guidance, and is well received by students." According to his students later, when Chen Weiji taught at the Nantong college, he gave the new English version of "dyeing integration" to the whole class, and then gave specific instructions, so that students could not only expand their professional knowledge, but also improve their English level.

As we all know, during the period of Chen Weiji's teaching, China's national calamity is becoming more and more serious. While teaching, Chen Weiji also threw herself into the campaign of resisting Japan and saving the nation, and returned home from Hongkong in March 1938 to serve as deputy director of the Qingyang people's Mobilization Committee of Qingyang province. In 1946, after the victory of the war of resistance against Japan, Chen Weiji was the chief engineer of China textile construction company. During this period, he continued to engage in revolutionary activities and initiated the establishment of the China Textile Business Association. Not only did he unite many factory directors, engineers and technical personnel on the eve of the liberation of Shanghai, he actively participated in the struggle of workers as the main body, and often held secret meetings in the name of dinner, providing shelter and workplaces for the underground workers of the party, and assisting the guerrilla forces in southern Anhui to purchase materials such as radio stations in Shanghai.

Two China's textile industry leader of a series of important decisions

After the founding of new China, Chen Weiji was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of textile industry. As one of the founders of textile industry in New China, he led a series of important decisions in China's textile industry. If the textile industry is a processing industry, we must pay full attention to the development of raw materials; while developing textile production, we should pay attention to the development of textile machinery and equipment industry; develop natural fibers, and also develop chemical fibers gradually. At the same time, he also proposed that we should do a solid job in basic technical work of textile production. "With the organization and promotion of China, the Chinese textile industry formulated unified technical standards and technical and economic indicators in 50s, and summarized and popularized various working methods and carried out technological research. Most of them were first created at that time, and both achieved good economic benefits. This is what we say about historical data.

As early as the 50s of last century, Chen Weiji proposed to explore new textile technology and technology, and strive to catch up with the world's advanced level, and stressed that we should go our own way. According to China's large population and relatively low labor costs, Chen Weiji believes that the cotton textile industry should not only increase labor productivity, but also improve yarn quality and reduce the breakage rate of spinning. He creatively advocated the use of medium speed and medium roll in spinning. "This unique and far sighted scientific view is of great significance for overcoming and correcting the prevailing erroneous views that emphasize the speed at the time and guiding the development of textile science and technology correctly." Qingyang County related local chronicles researchers said. Of course, the effect is obvious. According to historical records of Qingyang County chronicles, under the leadership of China, the science and technology of China's textile industry developed rapidly. By the 60s of last century, the gap with the international level has been narrowed gradually, and new major spinning and weaving technologies such as rotor spinning machines, electrostatic spinning and other major scientific and technological projects have been developed.

We know that inspection of textile raw materials and fibers is a necessary condition for the survival and development of the textile industry. Therefore, Chen Weiji has always attached importance to and support the development of textile raw materials such as cotton and fiber inspection.

In the early 80s of last century, the agricultural sector nurtured and promoted a number of early mature and high-yield cotton such as Lu Mian 1, China cotton market No. 7 and No. 10, which greatly increased cotton production in China. However, these varieties have fatal weakness, such as low strength, poor maturity and fine irregularity, which cause difficulties in textile processing and increase in spinning cost. After knowing the situation, Chen Weiji immediately reflected to the leaders concerned, and promptly convened a symposium on domestic fine varieties of raw cotton and spinning performance, thereby communicating the ideas of scientific and technological personnel in agriculture and textile industry, and reached a consensus on Cotton Cultivar cultivation. "Don't underestimate this meeting, it will play an important guiding role in the future cotton breeding. Shortly after the meeting, the agricultural sector developed new cotton varieties suitable for the textile industry to replace the "cotton 1" and "China cotton market No. 10". Qingyang County Local Chronicles researchers told us.

Cotton inspection is an important link to ensure cotton quality. In April 1950, the Ministry of textile industry established a fiber inspection institute to manage cotton inspection work. With the establishment of fiber inspection organization, Chen Weiji organized the strength to set up the fiber standard, and formulated the standards of fine cotton, coarse cotton and cream yellow cotton. In 1972, with the promotion of Chen Weiji, China issued a pilot scheme for cotton (fine cotton) GB1103-72 national standard, and the first cotton national standard was born. This standard is still in operation. In the following years, with the concern and organization of Chen Weiji, China has formulated national standards for wool, hemp and silk.

Three the work of foreign aid was praised by Premier Zhou.

In addition to actively promoting the development of the domestic textile industry, Chen Weiji, who has long been involved in the aid work of the textile industry, has also carried forward the spirit of internationalism and has sincerely helped the recipient countries to develop the national economy, which has had a very good impact internationally.

According to historical records, the direct textile mill which China built in 1956 in Burma is the first foreign aid project undertaken by the Ministry of textile industry, and is also the first foreign aid project of China's industrial sector. During his presiding over the project, Chen Weiji questioned and studied the technical problems in person. When it was learned that only locally produced staple cotton in Burma was produced locally, Chen Weiji decided to transfer the Burmese cotton to the domestic equipment for trial spinning, so as to formulate reasonable technological conditions and equipment matching plan. After many improvements to equipment parts and processes, good results have been achieved at last. The Burma Zhi Mai cotton mill, built in China, has only been built in two years.

The most interesting thing is that the factory built by China is adjacent to the cotton textile factory originally built by the United States. Imported raw cotton is expensive in the United States, and because of improper technology, the yarn quality is poor, and output is low. China's aid plant has the advantages of reasonable technology, low cost, good yarn quality and short supply. According to historical records, the success of the factory has won international fame for China, and has been praised by Premier Zhou Enlai and vice premier Chen Yi.

In addition, Chen Weiji has been able to draw up the aid plan according to the actual situation of various countries in China to help Nam Dinh Vietnam cotton mill to resume production and help Kampuchea build cotton textile factories. It not only greatly increased the revenue of the governments of Vietnam and Kampuchea, but also made the urban and rural weaving industry of these countries alive and prospered the local economy.

Since he took office as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of textile industry of People's Republic of China in November 1949 and has left office in April 1982, Chen Wei Ji has also set up a record of 33 years as a leader. As the founder of new China's textile industry, the "old minister" who has stepped out of Qingyang province is worthy of admiration for the economic development of new China.