Bo Yibo had a passion for education.

His son Bo Xilai and former bodyguard Luo Weijun recalled his boundless energy and enormous zeal to spread knowledge, Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po reported.

"Bo Yibo taught me the real meaning of revolution and the mission of life," said Luo.

Luo was a bodyguard for Bo from the late 1930s to the early 1940s when Bo was a commander in Shanxi. He said they developed a strong camaraderie as they worked together.

Luo said life was hard after the Japanese invasion, but although people had no food or shelter, Bo armed with knowledge.

When he arrived in Shanxi Luo did not know how to write and he recalls how Bo encouraged him to learn, saying if he could learn three words a day he would know 30 words in 10 days.

Bo was not only good at teaching, he was also an accomplished athlete, said Luo.

He recalled that once they were playing basketball and Bo bumped into him. He shouted at Bo, but immediately regretted his temper.

Later Bo asked him, "Why have you been so quiet these last few days?"

When Luo said he felt sorry for shouting at him. Bo laughed it off: "You are not doing anything wrong if you fight on the basketball court."

"My perception of life and yearning for knowledge are due to Bo's love and care for me," he said.

Their four years together ended in 1943 when Bo advised Luo to go to study in Yan'an.

Son recalls father's help

Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai said his father Bo Yibo was his greatest inspiration.

"My father taught me that what a man becomes as he grows up depends on his education and personality as a child," Bo Xilai once said in an interview.

"I'm lucky to have received a lot of help from my father in these areas."

Guan Minqing, Bo Xilai's primary school teacher, remembered visiting Bo's family one weekend.

Bo Yibo was very warm and hospitable, she recalled. He inquired about his son's performance at school and asked her to be strict with him.

China Daily

(China Daily 01/17/2007 page2)