Promoting Patriotism and Passing on Revolutionary Family Values: Peng Yina Delivers Lecture on “Willingly Bearing National Worries” at the University of Macau’s Centre for Chinese History and Culture
Group Photo
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and to promote patriotic sentiments and the spirit of revolutionary martyrs, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau successfully held a themed lecture titled “Willingly Bearing National Worries—The Patriotic Spirit of Two Generations: Martyr Mr. Peng Pai and Academician Mr. Peng Shilu” on the morning of October 31, 2025, at Cultural Building, UM. The lecture featured Ms. Peng Yina, granddaughter of Mr. Peng Pai, a veteran proletarian revolutionary of the Communist Party of China, as the keynote speaker, and was moderated by Prof. Zhang Yan, Director of the CCHC ,UM. Distinguished guests in attendance included Ms. Li Fei, President of the Patriotic Education General Association of Macao; Prof. Wei Chuxiong, Part-time Professor at the CCHC,UM; Dr. Cheang Neng Ian, Deputy Director; Ms. Kuan Sio In, Leona, Principal Admin Officer; and Ms. Tong Ho Kei, Stephenie, Administrative Staff. The event also drew dozens of participants, including faculty and student representatives from the University of Macau, Chinese Culture Ambassadors, and members from various sectors of society.
From a family history perspective, Ms. Peng Yina reviewed the struggles of Mr. Peng Pai and his descendants throughout modern Chinese history, exploring how the family’s enduring values transformed into an internal driving force for serving national development amid the changes of different eras. Standing at the intersection of history and the future, she captivated the audience with her vivid narrative, leading them into historical scenes and systematically tracing Peng Pai’s transformation from a wealthy family’s son to a revolutionary pioneer. Facing a weak and impoverished nation and the suffering of the people, he traveled to Japan to study and seek national salvation. Upon his return, he renounced his family fortune, went deep into rural areas, established peasant movement training institutes, and led the Haifeng-Lufeng Soviet government, remaining steadfast in his beliefs until his sacrifice. The lecture also mentioned six Party members and martyrs from the Peng family who sacrificed their lives during the Great Revolution, demonstrating this revolutionary family’s spirit of dedication.
The Peng family values have been fully inherited by subsequent generations. Peng Pai’s son, Academician Peng Shilu, overcame childhood hardships and persisted in scientific research despite illness, becoming a founding figure in China’s nuclear submarine and nuclear power endeavors. His granddaughter, Peng Yina, went to Macau when her child was only eight months old, contributing to Macau’s smooth return to China. The Peng family has always upheld the patriotic sentiment of “seeking no fame or profit, dedicating oneself to the nation.” Peng Yina stated: “Inheritance is the best form of commemoration,” and called upon contemporary youth to carry forward the spirit of the martyrs and courageously shoulder the responsibilities of the times.
The lecture concluded successfully amid enthusiastic exchanges between faculty and students. Attendees expressed that this narrative approach based on family history made patriotic education more vivid and profound, giving them a more comprehensive understanding of the spirit of “loving the country and loving Macau” and “patriotic sentiments.” The China Historical and Cultural Centre will continue to explore more diversified educational formats in the future, allowing history to illuminate reality and guiding the younger generation to strengthen their ideals and beliefs through understanding the spirit of their predecessors, consciously shouldering the mission and responsibilities entrusted by the new era.
