In memory of Professor Wang Jiqing

In memory of Professor Wang Jiqing

Gentleman’s demeanor, scholar’s ​​style, elder’s demeanor

1. Classroom Phrases

Professor Wang Jiqing is a master of architectural acoustics and also our architectural acoustics teacher. When he taught architectural acoustics to our 81-5 and 82-4 classes in the Department of Architecture of Tongji University, it was around 1983 or 1984, and the college had not yet been established. At that time, there were several very gentle Shanghai teachers in their early fifties in the Department of Architecture (all of them seemed to have the title of associate professor at that time). They were personable, elegant and gentle, and became a sight in the Department of Architecture. Mr. Yang Gongxia of Architectural Optics is a taciturn man who devotes himself to experiments and writing papers. When others are constantly expressing their opinions, he puts his hands in thought; Mr. Wang Bingquan of foreign architectural history usually wears plaid shirts and jeans. Mr. Wang Jiqing has the style of the three gentlemen. He is active in teaching and research, enthusiastic and cheerful yet slightly reserved.

Professor Wang Jiqing
College profile photo

Mr. Wang is handsome and tall, and likes to wear lapel tweed jackets. During class, his voice was loud and standard, and he explained the profound things in simple terms. He was particularly good at combining profound acoustic principles with daily experience. More than 40 years later, I still remember the content, voice, and gestures of Mr. Wang's lectures. The following are Mr. Wang’s famous quotes from his class:

“Covering one ear equals 3 decibels.” Because the unit of sound intensity is geometric level, a difference of 3 decibels is a big difference.

"Rough cement cannot absorb sound." Mr. Wang said that the venue construction uses brushed cement as the surface. If you think it looks good, I have no problem with it, but it has no effect on sound absorption.

"Gravity sound insulation is the cheapest." I apply this sentence to this day.

"The higher the floors of high-rise residential buildings, the louder the noise." Because noise has direct sound and reflected sound. At that time, high-rise residential buildings only had more than a dozen floors.

"Greening cannot insulate sound. Greening sound insulation is actually distance sound insulation." Mr. Wang said that the size of leaves, grass, leaves and trunks is very different from the sound waves, and the sound insulation effect is poor. But I was thinking in class, if the greenery turned into a dense wall of trees, wouldn’t it be able to isolate the sound? Decades later, when I went to Mr. Wang’s home for a long talk, I still wanted to discuss this issue, but there were too many things to say and I didn’t have time to ask.

Later, our classmate Shi was admitted to Mr. Wang’s graduate school.

Later, Mr. Wang went to the Institute of Acoustics of Tongji University to lead research work, and also served as a doctoral and master's supervisor in the college. Although the institute is only a few hundred meters away, Mr. Wang comes to the institute much less frequently. After I stay in school and work, I will see Mr. Wang once or twice a year.

"Practical Venue Sound Amplification"
Compiled by Wang Jiqing and others
Published by Science Press in 1980

2. Collected Works, Picture Albums and Poems

Time flies, and in 2014, I started to serve as the dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. At the end of the year, Professor Hao Luoxi came to me and said that Mr. Wang Jiqing wanted to talk to the new dean and department head to plan the direction of architectural technology, especially the teaching and research cooperation in architectural acoustics. On December 8, Mr. Wang returned to the college and had a discussion with Peng Zhenwei, then secretary of the party committee of the college, Cai Yongjie, director of the Department of Architecture, Jiang Keyou, director of the college office, and me, and put forward suggestions for the development of the college, especially the development of construction technology and architectural acoustics. On December 26, Wang Ji Accompanied by teachers Hao Luoxi, Song Dexuan, and Mo Fangshuo, Mr. Qing had a discussion with me and Cai Yongjie, and proposed the concept of strengthening architectural acoustics research and promoting cooperation between the Institute of Acoustics and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, which laid the foundation for the subsequent double-first-class construction cooperation between the School of Architecture and Urban Planning and the School of Physics. He also signed and donated the book "Research on Traditional Chinese Theater Architecture", which was newly published in May 2014.

On December 8, 2014, Mr. Wang went to the college and took a group photo with Secretary Peng Zhenwei, Director Cai Yongjie, and Li Zhenyu

On December 26, 2014, Mr. Wang Jiqing, accompanied by teachers Hao Luoxi, Song Dexuan, and Mo Fangshuo, had a discussion with the then dean Li Zhenyu and the director of the Department of Architecture Cai Yongjie

On December 26, 2014, Mr. Wang Jiqing signed and presented a book
"Research on Traditional Chinese Theater Architecture"

In 2016, Mr. Wang sent a collection of paintings "Jiu Han Mo Yuan", which was signed by Su Juxian in the year of Yichou (1985). He said that it was Mr. Chen Congzhou’s suggestion that he invite many senior painters, professors and colleagues to create paintings and calligraphy albums for Wang Jiqing and Zhu Yaxin. Famous artists such as Chen Zhi, Chen Congzhou, Zhou Fangbai, Lu Chuanwen, Wang Qiuye, Fan Mingti, Fan Songfen, and Zhao Hanguang have personally written on the album pages. They were signed by the immortal of the Su Bureau and have been treasured for thirty years. Now they are donated to the college as a witness to the cultural heritage of the college. Mr. Wang hopes that the college will go to Duoyunxuan to make a high-quality replica for him and Teacher Zhu as a souvenir. Later, the college also made replicas of the same model and gave them to sister universities such as Tsinghua University, Tianda University, Xi'an University, and Xi'an University of Science and Technology as gifts to celebrate the school anniversary.

In March 2017, Mr. Wang Jiqing made a special trip to the college to tell me his ideas on the development of architectural acoustics and his suggestions for the training of young teachers. The 85-year-old Mr. Wang came alone, wearing a short coat and a small floral scarf, with a loud voice and quick thinking, and sat for an hour. I presented a new photo album "Reading the City from the Sky" for his correction. My husband enthusiastically encouraged me and said that he would give me a collection of poems in return. A week later, a collection of poems by his wife, teacher Zhu Yaxin, was sent. The poems blended Eastern and Western styles, were elegant and indifferent, and were admirable. It also contains a photo of Mr. Wang’s calligraphy and Mr. Wang’s teacher Zhu. Even in his octogenarian years, his grace has not diminished, which is admirable. This poetry manuscript is based on the poems compiled by Teacher Zhu in 1992 and added in 2012 when they were eighty years old. To express one's aspirations in poetry, one can live a long and healthy life, be elegant and calm, how can such a beautiful word be so beautiful?

In March 2017, Mr. Wang went to the dean’s office for guidance

Teacher Zhu Yaxin’s “Poetry Collection”

Mr. Wang Jiqing’s handwritten poems in “Poetry Collection” in 2012

Teacher Zhu Yaxin’s 80th birthday photo

Mr. Wang Jiqing donated the album "Jie Han Mo Yuan" collected by Mr.

The paintings of Mr. Chen Congzhou, Chen Zhi, Wang Qiuye and Fan Mingti in the album

3. Asking for advice in Fulu

In the spring of 2018, Mr. Wang Jiqing called and asked me to sit at his house when I was free. If the time was a little longer, we could have an in-depth chat and talk about the history of the college. I was very happy to hear this and immediately made an appointment to visit him at his home on Pingwulu Road on the morning of April 6th. When you enter the door, you first see a wooden plaque "Fu Lu", which is a seal script written by Mr. Gu Tinglong, the old director of Shanghai Library, in 1989. Teacher Zhu made me a pot of purple wolfberry tea, so I sat down in the living room and listened to Mr. Wang and Teacher Zhu telling stories.

Mr. Wang Jiqing
Photo by Li Zhenyu in April 2018

Group photo at Fulu

Purple wolfberry tea

Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhu talked about the history of Wenyuan Tower. Contrary to what I imagined, the design of Wenyuan Building was progressing very quickly back then. Director Ha Xiongwen of the Design Office led teacher Huang Yulin to work overtime. Mr. Wang and Teacher Zhu Yaxin were also working in the design office at the time and cooperated in the corresponding design. Since reinforced concrete frame structures were relatively expensive at the time, only a small number of buildings on campus adopted this structural form. The Wenyuan Building was originally used by the Department of Surveying and needed a flat roof as a surveying teaching platform. Therefore, it was approved and completed quickly. Today it has become a representative of our college culture. Teacher Zhu Yaxin graduated from St. John's University and merged into Tongji University. She told many vivid and interesting things, about Mr. Li Dehua, Mr. Luo Xiaowei, their love stories, and the stories of teachers such as Wang Bingquan.

Mr. Wang talked a little about his family’s background, such as the warehouse on Nanjing Road and Liuhe Road, which was the location of their family in the early years. Later I lived on Yongjia Road, and now I live on Pingwu Road. Several decades have passed. He graduated from Zhijiang University. At that time, Zhijiang's Department of Architecture was running a school in Shanghai. After graduation, he taught at the School of Engineering of Aurora University. In 1952, the department was restructured and merged into the Department of Architecture of Tongji University. His children also graduated from Tongji University. He focused on how he embarked on the path of architectural acoustics research, and showed me his early monographs and translations. He said that in the past few years, he has been writing professional papers, published 4 SCI articles, and continued to move forward with young people. The manuscript is under editing and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.

My husband showed me some old books. One is a translation of "Acoustic Design in Architecture" published by Science and Technology Press in 1957 (American, Knudson et al.), and the other is "Noise Control in Architectural Design" edited by Mr. Wang Jiqing. The title page has the signature and seal of the famous architect Dong Dayou in February 1960. Mr. Wang said that this book has a special experience. His own professional collection, including this book, was lost in that particular era. Later, he heard that Mr. Dong Dayou was living in difficulty in his later years, so he asked Mr. Dong's family if they could transfer some of his professional books at the original price to support the old man. After receiving the books, he found out that there was a book written by him. It was really touching.

Time passed quickly and Mr. Wang wanted to leave some food. I quickly said goodbye and he sent me to the entrance of the alley.

"Acoustic Design in Architecture" translated by Mr. Wang Jiqing and others
(US, Knudson et al.), Science and Technology Press, 1957

"Noise Control in Architectural Design" edited by Mr. Wang Jiqing
This volume was once owned by the famous architect Dong Dayou

Draft catalog of Wang Jiqing's collected works

4. Ninetieth Birthday

On December 8, 2018, we held the "Selected Works Release Ceremony of Mr. Wang Jiqing's 90th Birthday Academic Lecture" in the C1 conference room of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University. Mr. Wang Jiqing and teacher Zhu Yaxin attended together. The report meeting was hosted by Professor Qian Feng. I, Teacher Cheng Qian, and Teacher Mao Dongxing delivered congratulatory speeches on behalf of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the School of Physics, and the Institute of Acoustics respectively.

Group photo of Mr. Wang Jiqing’s 90th birthday academic lecture and collection launch ceremony
December 8, 2018

Those who came to participate included the old department chair Professor Zhao Xiuheng, the former director of the Science and Technology Department Professor Xu Dimin, the old teacher representatives Professor Lu Dianya, Professor Chen Xishan, and the former professor Liu Shaoyu of the University of Hong Kong; as well as Mr. Wang’s disciples and teachers and students of the College Yu Liang, Hao Luoxi, Song Dexuan, Lu Yongyi, Yuan Feng, Zhu Xiaoming, Lin Yi, Mo Fangshuo, Yang Li, Qian Feng (female) and dozens of others. Mr. Wang Jiqing gave a report entitled "Some Stories of Architectural Acoustics", which was interesting, vivid and touching. Several teachers, including Liu Shaoyu, Song Dexuan, Hao Luoxi, and Mo Fangshuo, gave brief academic reports and expressed their gratitude to Mr. Wang for his guidance and leadership in academic research.

Mr. Wang Jiqing gave a report on "Some Stories of Architectural Acoustics"

Li Zhenyu delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of the college. The first one on the right is Professor Cheng Qian

Professor Mao Dongxing delivered a speech on behalf of the Institute of Acoustics

Professor Liu Shaoyu reviewed the scientific research cooperation with Mr. Wang in the academic report "Ecological City Shaping"

Professor Hao Luoxi's academic report "Inheritance and Innovation: Teaching, Scientific Research and Design Practice of Light Environment"

Professor Song Dexuan gave an academic report on "Three More Questions"

Associate Professor Mo Fangshuo, a student representative, gave a report on "Reverberation Time and Reverberation Sense of Different Architectural Spaces"

Professor Qian Feng presided over the report meeting

Finally, Mr. Wang signed the new book and presented it to the college library. This book is divided into five chapters. The first four chapters are academic papers on different themes, namely "Indoor Acoustics and Sound Quality Design", "Noise Absorption and Sound Insulation", "Experimental Facilities and Measurement Technology", and the last chapter is "Letter Love and Friendship". There are approximately 80 articles in the book. This book was compiled by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, with teachers such as Hao Luoxi doing a lot of assistance. It is a comprehensive reflection of Mr. Wang’s academic and teaching style and is a great inspiration to our younger generations. Flowers, cakes and applause represent the admiration and gratitude of generations of our students.

Cover and signed title page of "Wang Jiqing's Selected Works"

Presenting flowers and taking a group photo

Cutting the cake

Style. Photographed by Li Zhenyu at the venue

5. The lingering sound

At the beginning of 2019, Mr. Wang called. He was very energetic and concise: "Dean Li, I want to treat you and Hao Luoxi to dinner." I said I would treat you, but the husband couldn't help but tell the date and place. On the appointed day, Mr. Wang, Teacher Zhu, Professor Hao Luoxi and I, as well as media person Pang Jie who was conducting the "Jiangxin" series of interviews, gathered in the restaurant. Mr. Wang personally ordered the dishes and asked us to eat as much as possible without being polite. During the meeting, he shared several of his manuscripts and suggestions for training and supporting young teachers. Looking at Mr. Wang, Mr. Zhu and his wife, who are energetic and graceful, I couldn’t help but cheer secretly in my heart. The 90-year-old and 88-year-old professors are constantly researching and educating people. They teach by words and deeds and are personable. They are really role models for us to learn from.

In January 2019, Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhu invited Hao Luoxi, Li Zhenyu and Pang Jie to have lunch

Teacher Zhu Yaxin and Hao Luoxi

Group photo, January 2019

Sharing Mr. Wang’s manuscript during the meal

In May 2019, Professor Hao Luoxi chaired an interdisciplinary seminar at the Center for Built Environment Technology. At the meeting, Mr. Wang made another report on green buildings and participated in the entire meeting. At the end, some professionals took Mr. Wang's collected works and asked for his autograph, and he agreed with a smile. He told us that he was going to stay with his children in San Francisco for a while, and we would meet again when he came back. I'll treat you to dinner.

On May 8, 2019, Mr. Wang gave an interdisciplinary report meeting at the Center for Built Technology and Environment

Professionals who came to attend the meeting asked for signatures

Who would have thought that this farewell would be forever. His voice and smile will always remain in our hearts. Gentleman's demeanor, scholar's style, elder's demeanor. Tears filled my eyes, and I remembered Mr. Wang's hearty voice again.