周贻淦

Zhou Yigan, born in Huai'an County, Jiangsu Province during the late Qing Dynasty, was the grandfather of China’s renowned political figure Zhou Enlai. His family adhered to traditional feudal family values, emphasizing the principle that “having no descendants is the greatest misfortune.” Shortly after his marriage, due to health reasons, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1898, which threatened his life. To ensure the continuation of the family lineage, the family decided to have the infant Zhou Enlai, who was still in swaddling clothes, be adopted into Zhou Yigan’s household as his son.

In the same year that Zhou Yigan died of tuberculosis, his adopted son Zhou Enlai was born just one day prior and was subsequently adopted into the family. Only a few months later, Zhou Yigan passed away, age unknown. His wife, Mrs. Chen, after her husband's death, never remarried and instead devoted herself to raising the young Zhou Enlai. Mrs. Chen was relatively well-educated, placing emphasis on cultural literacy; from a young age, she taught Zhou Enlai to read and write, as well as poetry and painting, fostering his interest in knowledge.

Due to the family’s special arrangements, and to prevent accidents during his youth, Mrs. Chen strictly limited Zhou Enlai’s outdoor activities, including swimming, which also meant that Zhou Enlai never learned to swim. In later recollections, Zhou Enlai mentioned that the education he received from his foster mother, Mrs. Chen, helped him develop good study habits, and he was grateful for her nurturing.

In summary, Zhou Yigan, as Zhou Enlai’s grandfather, had an indirect influence on Zhou Enlai’s growth during the final stages of his life. The family’s traditional values and educational arrangements laid a foundation for Zhou Enlai’s future development and success.