二十世紀初,中國的年輕一代迫切渴望出國留學,目的是為了在本國從事重要工作接受必要的培訓。丁於1902年前往日本,對居留日本的一群中國人士正在准備的革命運動產生了興趣。然而他很快意識到,中國更需要擁有技術知識的人才促進國家的文化和經濟的發展。他積極努力並獲得成功,於1904年抵達英國。在語言和通識課程上經過勤奮學習,於1907年成功地被格拉斯哥大學地質系錄取,與J. W. Gregory教授一起工作。在進入格拉斯哥大學之前,他於1906-1907年在歐洲大陸旅行,他因此熟悉了法語和德語。
注:丁文江先生的英文傳記或簡介,至少有4種:《中國地質學會志》(Bulletin of Geological Society of Chian)上曾發表過翁文灝(Wong Wen-hao)先生1936和1937寫的 V. K. Ting Biographical Note; V. K. Ting--Scientist and Patriot兩篇英文稿和格拉斯哥大學G. W. Tyrrell教授寫作、1940年刊出的 Dr. V. K. Ting。另外,哥倫比亞大學出版的《中華民國人物傳記辭典》(Biographical Dictionary of Republican China)第三卷”也有一個不短的傳記,詳見本博文附錄2的鏈接。
V. K. Ting was born in 1887 at Huangchiao village, Taihsing district, Kiangsu province. His intelligence was early noticed as he has received excellent marks at the first graduate examination at the age of thirteen years. In the examination paper he wrote eloquently on the accomplishment of Han Wu-ti in developing the south-western area of China. This special interest in the South-west region seemed to have been prophetic for his later geological work which was chiefly concentrated in Yunnan, Kueichow and neighbouring provinces.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the younger generation in China earnestly desired to study abroad with the intention of getting the necessary training for the important work in this country. Ting went to Japan in 1902 and became interested in the revolutionary movement which was being prepared by a group of Chinese residents. He shortly realized, however, that China more seriously needed men of technical know-ledge who would help in the intellectual and economical development of the country. He tried hard and succeeded in reaching England in 1904. After diligent and successful work in language and general education he was admitted in 1907 to the geological department of the University of Glasgow to work with Prof. J. W. Gregory. Before entering Glasgow University he travelled on the continent of Europe in 1906-1907 when he became familiar with French and German languages.
After his graduation from Glasgow in 1911, he returned to China. He landed at Saigon and travelled in Yunnan, Kueichow and Hunan provinces in order to see the geographical and geological features of this area to which he later devoted much more work.
In 1912 Ting taught biology in a middle school in Shanghai and wrote a good text-book of zoology. He was soon invited by the Ministry……