Glorious Experience

Chen was born in Jimei Village, Tong'an County of Fujian Province on October 21,1874. At the age of sixteen, he sailed for Singapore with his father to join his business ventures. There he made his success in rubber industry.With 30,000 employees, 150 offices throughout Southeast Asia and agents all over the world,he was reputed as "King of Rubber." Though an outstanding industrialist, he was never interested in material gains. His main concern was to serve the society and to fulfill "the national duty."

A doctrine of Chen was " Without progress in education, there would be no flourishing industry but degradation of people's livelihood." This led him to donate all his earnings for funding education. In 1893, when just 20, he founded the " Tiqi Old-Style School" in his hometown. In 1913, he founded Jimei Primary School, which marked the prelude to his life-long commitment to financing education at all levels with his brother Chen Jingxian.

Thereafter in Jimei evolved the well-known Jimei School, which consisted of a kindergarten, a primary school, a high school, Xiamen University and some special vocational secondary schools. In addition, as many as 110 other schools in 20 counties became recipients of his donation. He initiated and financed Daonan Primary School, Aitong Primary School, Congfu Primary School, Nanqiao High School, Nanqiao Teachers School, Fisheries School, and Navigation School. It is estimated that Chen Jiageng spent about US$100,000,000 on education, an amount equal to all his life-time possessions. No wonder he is held as the school's forefather till today.

Chen was very devoted to China's liberation movement. In 1910, he and his brother Chen Jingxian joined the Chinese Revolutionary League, contributing a significant amount to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary activities. In 1928, after the Japanese invaded Jinan in East China's Shandong Province, Chen founded the "Shandong Disaster Relief Committee ", which played a leading role in raising funds for refugees and boycotting Japanese goods. After the War broke out, Chen called forth the Southeast Asia Overseas Chinese General Association, and was elected chairman. He called on more than 10,000 overseas Chinese to join the Anti-Japanese War and brought over 3,000 workers from Southeast Asia to fight for the cause. In 1940, he led the Delegation of Overseas Chinese Returning to China to encourage the soldiers. Heedless of personal safety, Chen won high respect by Chinese people. Zhou Enlai praised him as one who " Did his utmost for national liberation in his involvement in the Anti-Japanese War and whose determination could not be swayed by slander or coercion."

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chen Jiageng dedicated himself to the construction and reunification of New China. He served as Vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Chairman of the All-China Returned Overseas Chinese Federation. He gave away all he had for the prosperity of the homeland and the progress of society. He was also a strong advocate of the reunification of Taiwan to motherland.