北京大学的前身京师大学堂是上个世纪末戊戌变法的产物。京师大学堂不但是清政府直接管理的第一所现代化的综合性大学,而且具有统领全国各级学堂的行政职能,因而其“校长”称作管学大臣,统管全国学务。到了第四任“校长”时,上述行政职能被取消,“校长”专门管理大学堂,从此改称为大学堂总监督。中华民国建立初期,京师大学堂改名为北京大学,其最高领 Peking University’s predecessor, the Imperial University, was the product of the Reform Movement of 1898 in the last century. The Imperial University is not only the first modern comprehensive university under the direct administration of the Qing government, but also has the administrative function of directing all levels of schools across the country. Therefore, its “principal” is called the minister of science and supervises the national school affairs. To the fourth “principal ”, the above administrative functions were canceled, “principal ” specialized management university, renamed the university general supervision. The founding of the Republic of China, Beijing University renamed Peking University, its highest-collar