Southeast University began with Sanjiang Normal School founded by Zhang Zhidong in 1902, and its predecessor, National Southeast University, was established on the basis of Nanjing Normal School in 1921, which was one of the earliest national universities in China. In 1928, it was renamed National Central University. In 1952, the departments of colleges and universities were adjusted, and the liberal arts and other departments of the school moved out. Nanjing Institute of Technology was established in the original site of National Central University with the former Institute of Technology as the main body. In 1988, the name of Southeast University was restored. Historically, Wu Jianxiong, the "mother of the atomic bomb", studied at Southeast University, and Li Linsi, Xu Beihong and Ma Yinchu all taught at Southeast University.