쑨원
In 1924, Sun Yat-sen founded the National Canton University () and inscribed in his own handwriting the school motto of "Study Extensively, Enquire Accurately, Reflect Carefully, Discriminate Clearly, Practise Earnestly." After the death of Sun Yat-sen, the national government that was set up during the first cooperation between the Communists and Nationalists formally decreed to change its name to Sun Yat-sen University on July 17, 1926, in memory of Sun Yat-sen. In 1926, there were five National Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) Universities: National First Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University in Guangzhou (the current Sun Yat-sen University), National Second Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University in Wuhan (the current Wuhan University), National Third Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University in Zhejiang (the current Zhejiang University), National Fourth Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University in Nanjing (the current Nanjing University, National Fifth Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University in Zhengzhou (the current Henan University). In the 1930s, there were seven schools in the university: the Schools of Arts, Sciences, Law, Engineering, Agricultural Studies, Medicine and Education. In 1935, Tsinghua University, Peking University and Sun Yat-sen University set up the first graduate schools in China and began to enroll graduate students. In the 1950s, colleges, schools and departments were readjusted nationwide, and Sun Yat-sen University became a national top-tier comprehensive university with the liberal arts and sciences as its backbone disciplines.