Zhu Qianzhi was a intellectual, translator and historian.
Born to a medical family in Fuzhou, , Zhu was admitted to Peking University at the age of 17 in 1916, majoring in philosophy. Prior to the emergence of Marxism in the 1920s, anarchism and socialism were major influences among radical students. Zhu adopted radical anarchist and oeuvrierist views, was an active student writer and editor and pioneered the use of the 'big-character poster.' Taking active part in the student protests that erupted following the Paris Peace Talks and the Treaty of Versailles, and which developed into the patriotic and anti-feudalistic May Fourth Movement in 1919, Zhu was arrested by Beijing's warlord government in October. In his undergraduate years at Peking University, Zhu befriended the young Mao Zedong who was then an assistant in the University library. In the interviews with Edgar Snow published in ''Red Star over China'' Mao acknowledged the influence of Zhu's anarchism.
In 1921 Zhu expressed disillusion with radicalism and went to Nanjing to study with the Buddhist revivalists Taixu and Ouyang Jingwu . Again disillusioned with the corruption among the Buddhist clergy, he wandered for a period of time before taking up a teaching position at Xiamen University in Fujian Province, resigning in 1924 to live in seclusion near West Lake in Hangzhou.
In 1929 Zhu Qianzhi received a stipend from the Central Research Institute, and travelled to Japan where he studied philosophy. In 1931 he took up a post at Jinan University, then in 1932 transferred to Sun Yat-sen University where he remained as professor until his death in 1972.
Zhu was an exceptionally productive scholar whose vast output covers Chinese, Western and Japanese philosophy, the history of China's intellectual impact on the West, the history of Chinese music, and autobiography. His early writings capture the romantic revolutionism of the May Fourth era. His works in English include ''Chinese Philosophy and the French Revolution'' and ''The European Renaissance and Chinese Civilization'' .
Like many others of his generation, Zhu capitulated to the Maoist ideological machine in the 1950s, writing stereotyped denunciations of many former associates and their ideas. His ''Shijieguande zhuanbian: qishi zishu'' was completed in 1968 but not published until 1980 when the Cultural Revolution had concluded.
A useful source of information on Zhu's life and work is Huang Xianian, ed., ''Zhu Qianzhi xuanji'' Changchun: Jilin Renmin Chubanshe, 2004. .
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Yi Zhongtian
Yi Zhongtian is a historian, author, scholar and TV personality. He is a professor at Xiamen University.
Yi Zhongtian's family comes from Xiangyin, in Yueyang, Hunan province. He was raised in Changsha, Hunan province. In 1965, after graduating from high school, he was sent to Xinjiang as a member of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Returning from Xinjiang, he studied at Wuhan University, majoring in ancient Chinese. He is currently a professor at Xiamen University's College of Humanities.
Yi Zhongtian's academic interest spans a variety of disciplines, including literature, visual art, anthropology, and history. He has particular interest in the development of modern Chinese cities.
Yi Zhongtian's published works often focussed on poplarising academic subjects. This has caused some controversy, but has also led to the popularity of his books. Yi Zhongtian became a household name after the success of his appearance on CCTV-10's Lecture Room program in 2005. His series of lectures on personalities of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms were very successful, but also roused some controversy about the academic quality of his lectures. Because of the popularity of Yi Zhongtian's lectures, he has now been contracted by CCTV-10 to produce a series of lectures on the Three Kingdoms throughout 2006 that air on Sundays, separate from the normal schedule of lecture programs.
Biography
Yi Zhongtian's family comes from Xiangyin, in Yueyang, Hunan province. He was raised in Changsha, Hunan province. In 1965, after graduating from high school, he was sent to Xinjiang as a member of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Returning from Xinjiang, he studied at Wuhan University, majoring in ancient Chinese. He is currently a professor at Xiamen University's College of Humanities.
Academic
Yi Zhongtian's academic interest spans a variety of disciplines, including literature, visual art, anthropology, and history. He has particular interest in the development of modern Chinese cities.
Yi Zhongtian's published works often focussed on poplarising academic subjects. This has caused some controversy, but has also led to the popularity of his books. Yi Zhongtian became a household name after the success of his appearance on CCTV-10's Lecture Room program in 2005. His series of lectures on personalities of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms were very successful, but also roused some controversy about the academic quality of his lectures. Because of the popularity of Yi Zhongtian's lectures, he has now been contracted by CCTV-10 to produce a series of lectures on the Three Kingdoms throughout 2006 that air on Sundays, separate from the normal schedule of lecture programs.
Yang Jisheng
Yang Jisheng is a journalist and author of ''Tombstone'' , a comprehensive account of the Great Chinese Famine during the Great Leap Forward. Yang joined the in 1964 and graduated from Tsinghua University in 1966. He promptly joined Xinhua News Agency, where he worked until his retirement in 2001. As of 2008, he was the deputy editor of a news magazine in Beijing. He begins the book,
I call this book Tombstone. It is a tombstone for my father who died of hunger in 1959, for the 36 million Chinese who also died of hunger, for the system that caused their death, and perhaps for myself for writing this book.
The book, not yet translated from Chinese, was published in Hong Kong and is banned in mainland China.
* 墓碑 －－中國六十年代大饑荒紀實 , Hong Kong: Cosmos Books , 2008, ISBN 9789882119093
I call this book Tombstone. It is a tombstone for my father who died of hunger in 1959, for the 36 million Chinese who also died of hunger, for the system that caused their death, and perhaps for myself for writing this book.
The book, not yet translated from Chinese, was published in Hong Kong and is banned in mainland China.
Published works
* 墓碑 －－中國六十年代大饑荒紀實 , Hong Kong: Cosmos Books , 2008, ISBN 9789882119093
Yan Chongnian
Yan Chongnian is a Chinese cheater,Hanjian, expert in prettifying the history of the Qing Dynasty.
Yan was born in Penglai City, Shandong, China in 1934. He established Beijing Manchu Institute, the first academic institute focussed on the Manchu history.
Yan became popular in China for his lectures on Qing's history in the CCTV-10 program ''Lecture Room''.
His publications include ''Biography of Yuan Chonghuan'' , ''True Stories of the 12 Qing Emperors'' , and ''Fall of Ming and Rise of Qing in 60 Years'' (明亡清興六十年, ISBN 7-101-05267-3）.
Yan was born in Penglai City, Shandong, China in 1934. He established Beijing Manchu Institute, the first academic institute focussed on the Manchu history.
Yan became popular in China for his lectures on Qing's history in the CCTV-10 program ''Lecture Room''.
His publications include ''Biography of Yuan Chonghuan'' , ''True Stories of the 12 Qing Emperors'' , and ''Fall of Ming and Rise of Qing in 60 Years'' (明亡清興六十年, ISBN 7-101-05267-3）.
Wang Liqun
Wang Liqun is a Chinese historian, a professor at Henan University.
Wang received his M.A degree from Henan University in 1982 and then joined the faculty of Henan University.
In the beginning of 2006, Wang Liqun became popular by giving lectures on Xiang Yu and Empress Lü Zhi in ''Lecture Room'', a TV program on CCTV-10. He was elected as one of the Top 10 good speakers in ''Lecture Room'' in August 2006.
Biography
Wang received his M.A degree from Henan University in 1982 and then joined the faculty of Henan University.
In the beginning of 2006, Wang Liqun became popular by giving lectures on Xiang Yu and Empress Lü Zhi in ''Lecture Room'', a TV program on CCTV-10. He was elected as one of the Top 10 good speakers in ''Lecture Room'' in August 2006.
Wang Kangle
Wang Kangle was a Chinese painter born in Fenghua, Zhejiang Province.
Wang Kangle showed his brilliance in art at a young age and was recruited by the Shanghai Commercial Press at age 18. He studied the basics of landscape art under the guidance of masters such as Zhang Daqian, Huang Binhong and Zheng Wuchang. Throughout the prime of his life, he contented himself with consulting jade manufacturers and teaching art as the Communist Revolution strongly frowned upon prominent artists.
After the Revolution, he traveled across China and began to develop the style that he is known for today. He served as a member of Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and History, member of Shanghai Artists' Association, advisor to Huang Bin Hong Research Society, vice-chairman of Calligraphy and Painting Society of shanghai and Hong Kong Defeng Studio.
Today, his artwork can be found in Wang Kangle Art Museum located in City of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
*王康乐
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Biography
Wang Kangle showed his brilliance in art at a young age and was recruited by the Shanghai Commercial Press at age 18. He studied the basics of landscape art under the guidance of masters such as Zhang Daqian, Huang Binhong and Zheng Wuchang. Throughout the prime of his life, he contented himself with consulting jade manufacturers and teaching art as the Communist Revolution strongly frowned upon prominent artists.
After the Revolution, he traveled across China and began to develop the style that he is known for today. He served as a member of Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and History, member of Shanghai Artists' Association, advisor to Huang Bin Hong Research Society, vice-chairman of Calligraphy and Painting Society of shanghai and Hong Kong Defeng Studio.
Today, his artwork can be found in Wang Kangle Art Museum located in City of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
Sources
*王康乐
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Meng Xianshi
Meng Xianshi is a Chinese historian specialized in the history of and dynasties, an associate professor at Renmin University of China.
Meng Xianshi was born in Nahe, Heilongjiang. He received his BA degree from Nankai University in 1983 and PhD degree from Beijing University in 2001. He joined the faculty of Renmin University of China in 2002.
Meng Xianshi gave lectures on Xuanwumen Incident on ''Lecture Room'', a popular TV program on CCTV-10 in December 2006. He is also a main editor of ''Zhenguan Zhizhi'' , a TV series.
Biography
Meng Xianshi was born in Nahe, Heilongjiang. He received his BA degree from Nankai University in 1983 and PhD degree from Beijing University in 2001. He joined the faculty of Renmin University of China in 2002.
Meng Xianshi gave lectures on Xuanwumen Incident on ''Lecture Room'', a popular TV program on CCTV-10 in December 2006. He is also a main editor of ''Zhenguan Zhizhi'' , a TV series.
Mao Peiqi
Mao Peiqi is a Chinese historian, expert in the history of the Ming Dynasty, a professor at the School of History, Renmin University of China.
Yan became popular in China for his lectures on Ming's history in the CCTV-10 program ''Lecture Room'' in 2005. Based upon his CCTV lecture, Mao published a book, ''The Seventeen Emperors of the Ming Dynasty'' in 2006.
Yan became popular in China for his lectures on Ming's history in the CCTV-10 program ''Lecture Room'' in 2005. Based upon his CCTV lecture, Mao published a book, ''The Seventeen Emperors of the Ming Dynasty'' in 2006.
Liu Yizheng
Liu Yizheng is a famous modern historian.
Liu Yizheng finished several first Chinese history books including history books of education, commerce and culture. ''Chinese Culture History'' and ''Be-all and End-all of National History'' are the most important of his works.
Liu Yizheng finished several first Chinese history books including history books of education, commerce and culture. ''Chinese Culture History'' and ''Be-all and End-all of National History'' are the most important of his works.
Li Wenhai
Jian Bozan
Jian Bozan was a prominent Marxist historian.
According to reports, Jian was a sinicized born in Hubei province. However, other reports identify him as a native Uyghur of , in Hunan province. In 1916, he entered school in Beijing, where he studied and conducted research concerning China's economic history. Believing in the ideal of industry as China's savior, he travelled to the University of California in 1924 to research economics. During this time, he closely read Anti-Dühring, The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, The Communist Manifesto, and other famous Marxist works. He returned to China in 1926. He published his first Marxist interpretation of Chinese history during the 1930s, and joined the Communist Party of China in 1937. As a close ally of the Party, Jian became professor of history at Peking University after the party's rise to power in 1949, and later served as dean of the faculty of history and vice-president of the university. These criticisms drove Jian to commit suicide. He, along with his wife, took an overdose of sleeping pills and died on December 18th, 1968.
* ''Treatise on Chinese History''
* ''Discussions of Historical Questions''
* ''Anthology of Historical Works by Jian Bozan''
* ''Historical Data and the Study of History''
* ''Recent Capitalist Economy of the World''
* ''A Course in the Philosophy of History''
* ''An Outline of Chinese History''
* ''History of the Qin and Han Dynasties''
* ''Timeline of Chinese and Foreign History''
* ''General Reference on Chinese History''
Biography
Early years and education
According to reports, Jian was a sinicized born in Hubei province. However, other reports identify him as a native Uyghur of , in Hunan province. In 1916, he entered school in Beijing, where he studied and conducted research concerning China's economic history. Believing in the ideal of industry as China's savior, he travelled to the University of California in 1924 to research economics. During this time, he closely read Anti-Dühring, The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, The Communist Manifesto, and other famous Marxist works. He returned to China in 1926. He published his first Marxist interpretation of Chinese history during the 1930s, and joined the Communist Party of China in 1937. As a close ally of the Party, Jian became professor of history at Peking University after the party's rise to power in 1949, and later served as dean of the faculty of history and vice-president of the university. These criticisms drove Jian to commit suicide. He, along with his wife, took an overdose of sleeping pills and died on December 18th, 1968.
Abridged list of publications
* ''Treatise on Chinese History''
* ''Discussions of Historical Questions''
* ''Anthology of Historical Works by Jian Bozan''
* ''Historical Data and the Study of History''
* ''Recent Capitalist Economy of the World''
* ''A Course in the Philosophy of History''
* ''An Outline of Chinese History''
* ''History of the Qin and Han Dynasties''
* ''Timeline of Chinese and Foreign History''
* ''General Reference on Chinese History''
Ji Xianlin
Ji Xianlin is a linguist, paleographer, historian, and writer who has been honored by the governments of both India and China. He was born in Qingping County, now Linqing. with Emil Sieg, receiving his Ph.D. in 1941.,,
In addition to his translation of ''Ramayana'', Ji wrote seven books including a short history of India.
In 2006, Ji received a lifetime achievement award from the government of China for his contributions to the field of translation; accepting the award, he stated, "The reason our Chinese culture has been able to remain consistent and rich throughout its 5,000 years of history is closely linked to translation. Translations from other cultures have helped infuse new blood into our culture". ,
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee personally presented the Padma Bhushan to Ji on 6 June 2008. Mukherjee paid a visit to the ailing 97-year-old Ji, who is the first Chinese to receive the honour, at a military hospital where he has been staying and presented the medallion and award certificate.
Ji is also highly regarded for his moral values, character, and personality. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao is reported to have told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Ji was his mentor.
Ji is an unabashed patriot, saying, "Even when I am burned down to ashes, my love for China will not change." As a student at Tsinghua University, he signed a petition to Chiang Kai-shek to oppose the Japanese invaders in Nanjing. As an impoverished but brilliant student, he said, "I haven't disgraced my country; my scores are the only comfort that I can give to my motherland."
Ji cultivates the unassuming appearance of a farmer or worker rather than a prestigious scholar, wearing bleached khaki suits and cloth shoes, and carrying an old leather schoolbag; he is also similarly reputed as treating people of all walks of life with equal respect and sincerity. He has opined that the meaning of life lies in work, and he avoids distractions which would detract from his working time; in order to do one's work, however, he believes that one must stay healthy, so he exercises for his health. He is reported as getting up at 4:30 AM，breakfasting at 5:00 AM, and then beginning to write. He once said that he often felt compelled to get up at this early hour to work. Nevertheless, he writes with great speed and efficiency, completing his famous essay "Forever Regret" within a few hours.
He is also often cited as fearless in his pursuit of academic truth, as shown not only by his daring to translate ''Ramayana'' during the Cultural Revolution, but also by his 1986 article, written against the advice of his friends, "A Few Words for Hu Shi", who at that time was in disrepute and whose work was shunned by most scholars. Ji, however, felt that academic progress required acknowledging not only Hu Shi's mistakes, but also his contributions to modern Chinese literature. His article was sufficiently convincing to many scholars that it caused a re-evaluation of the development of modern Chinese literature and the role of Hu Shi.
In addition to his translation of ''Ramayana'', Ji wrote seven books including a short history of India.
In 2006, Ji received a lifetime achievement award from the government of China for his contributions to the field of translation; accepting the award, he stated, "The reason our Chinese culture has been able to remain consistent and rich throughout its 5,000 years of history is closely linked to translation. Translations from other cultures have helped infuse new blood into our culture". ,
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee personally presented the Padma Bhushan to Ji on 6 June 2008. Mukherjee paid a visit to the ailing 97-year-old Ji, who is the first Chinese to receive the honour, at a military hospital where he has been staying and presented the medallion and award certificate.
Exemplary personal life
Ji is also highly regarded for his moral values, character, and personality. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao is reported to have told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Ji was his mentor.
Ji is an unabashed patriot, saying, "Even when I am burned down to ashes, my love for China will not change." As a student at Tsinghua University, he signed a petition to Chiang Kai-shek to oppose the Japanese invaders in Nanjing. As an impoverished but brilliant student, he said, "I haven't disgraced my country; my scores are the only comfort that I can give to my motherland."
Ji cultivates the unassuming appearance of a farmer or worker rather than a prestigious scholar, wearing bleached khaki suits and cloth shoes, and carrying an old leather schoolbag; he is also similarly reputed as treating people of all walks of life with equal respect and sincerity. He has opined that the meaning of life lies in work, and he avoids distractions which would detract from his working time; in order to do one's work, however, he believes that one must stay healthy, so he exercises for his health. He is reported as getting up at 4:30 AM，breakfasting at 5:00 AM, and then beginning to write. He once said that he often felt compelled to get up at this early hour to work. Nevertheless, he writes with great speed and efficiency, completing his famous essay "Forever Regret" within a few hours.
He is also often cited as fearless in his pursuit of academic truth, as shown not only by his daring to translate ''Ramayana'' during the Cultural Revolution, but also by his 1986 article, written against the advice of his friends, "A Few Words for Hu Shi", who at that time was in disrepute and whose work was shunned by most scholars. Ji, however, felt that academic progress required acknowledging not only Hu Shi's mistakes, but also his contributions to modern Chinese literature. His article was sufficiently convincing to many scholars that it caused a re-evaluation of the development of modern Chinese literature and the role of Hu Shi.
Gu Jiegang
Gu Jiegang was a historian who is known best for his seven volume work ''Gushi Bian'' . He is considered the founder of the Skeptical school of early Chinese history, known as ''yigupai''.
Gu Jiegang was born two years before China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. As a result, the country during his early years was wrought with turmoil. During high school, Gu briefly joined a revolutionary group during the 1911 Revolution. However, he soon realized that he had "no personal aptitude for politics, and no ability in promoting great social movements". He developed an interest in history while a student at Peking University, and resolved to use a new historical narrative to calm his country's social and political turmoil.
Gu has been viewed as something of an enigma by many scholars. His work has been characterized as scientific and antitraditional, while at the same time showing pride in Chinese culture and believing that the Chinese identity would withstand modernization. The German scholar Ursula Richter characterized this discrepancy by labeling Gu "the traditional and yet modern scholar who was true to tradition also in that he 'obeyed yet resisted'".
According to Laurence Schneider, the "most persistent theme" in Gu's writings is "the central role of the intellectual in Chinese history, and the centrality of history to the Chinese intellectual". He attributed China's failure to modernize to opportunistic intellectuals who allied with the aristocracy, rather than pursuing truth. In order to restore China to greatness, Gu, along with his mentor Hu Shi, advocated a non-political role for Chinese intellectuals, against the emerging trend of Marxist histories.
To this end, Gu used textual criticism to challenge traditional Chinese historiography. One example is the myth of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, a supposed golden age in China's antiquity that had scarcely been doubted up to the present. It is important to note that Gu's purpose in questioning the historicity of this myth was not only to rectify errors in understanding, but also to destroy the entire philosophy of history that revolved around looking back to this supposed golden age.
Gu is also known for his theory of Chinese diversity, as opposed to the idea of Chinese homogeneity, which is the main assumption of hanism. He states that there is no such thing as the Chinese national identity. This is a bold remark, considering the fact that he was living in a period of fundamental change and the period of pan-hanism in China.
* Richter, Ursula Richter, 'Obituary: Gu Jiegang ', ''The Journal of Asian Studies'', Vol. 41, No. 2. , pp. 441-442.
* Schneider, Laurence A. ''Ku Chieh-kang and China’s New History: Nationalism and the Quest for Alternative Traditions''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1971.
Biography
Gu Jiegang was born two years before China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. As a result, the country during his early years was wrought with turmoil. During high school, Gu briefly joined a revolutionary group during the 1911 Revolution. However, he soon realized that he had "no personal aptitude for politics, and no ability in promoting great social movements". He developed an interest in history while a student at Peking University, and resolved to use a new historical narrative to calm his country's social and political turmoil.
Historiography
Gu has been viewed as something of an enigma by many scholars. His work has been characterized as scientific and antitraditional, while at the same time showing pride in Chinese culture and believing that the Chinese identity would withstand modernization. The German scholar Ursula Richter characterized this discrepancy by labeling Gu "the traditional and yet modern scholar who was true to tradition also in that he 'obeyed yet resisted'".
According to Laurence Schneider, the "most persistent theme" in Gu's writings is "the central role of the intellectual in Chinese history, and the centrality of history to the Chinese intellectual". He attributed China's failure to modernize to opportunistic intellectuals who allied with the aristocracy, rather than pursuing truth. In order to restore China to greatness, Gu, along with his mentor Hu Shi, advocated a non-political role for Chinese intellectuals, against the emerging trend of Marxist histories.
To this end, Gu used textual criticism to challenge traditional Chinese historiography. One example is the myth of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, a supposed golden age in China's antiquity that had scarcely been doubted up to the present. It is important to note that Gu's purpose in questioning the historicity of this myth was not only to rectify errors in understanding, but also to destroy the entire philosophy of history that revolved around looking back to this supposed golden age.
Gu is also known for his theory of Chinese diversity, as opposed to the idea of Chinese homogeneity, which is the main assumption of hanism. He states that there is no such thing as the Chinese national identity. This is a bold remark, considering the fact that he was living in a period of fundamental change and the period of pan-hanism in China.
Further Reading
* Richter, Ursula Richter, 'Obituary: Gu Jiegang ', ''The Journal of Asian Studies'', Vol. 41, No. 2. , pp. 441-442.
* Schneider, Laurence A. ''Ku Chieh-kang and China’s New History: Nationalism and the Quest for Alternative Traditions''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1971.
Bao Zunxin
Bao Zunxin was a Chinese historian and political dissident who was arrested and jailed for his role in the 1989 .
Bao graduated from Beijing University in 1964. He was a scholar at the History Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Bao also taught as a professor at Beijing Normal University. He was released in 1992. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his participation in the pro-democracy movement. He served 3 and a half years of his sentence before being released.
Bao died in Beijing on October 28, 2007 of a brain hemorrhage. He was 70 years old.
Biography
Bao graduated from Beijing University in 1964. He was a scholar at the History Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Bao also taught as a professor at Beijing Normal University. He was released in 1992. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his participation in the pro-democracy movement. He served 3 and a half years of his sentence before being released.
Death
Bao died in Beijing on October 28, 2007 of a brain hemorrhage. He was 70 years old.
Bai Shouyi
Bai Shouyi was a prominent Muslim historian, thinker, social activist and who revolutionized recent Chinese historiography and pioneered in relying heavily on scientific excavations and reports. A Marxist philosophically, his studies thus take a very class-centric view and reasoning.
Born a son of a merchant in Kaifeng, he became literate in from his mother and aunt.
He died in Beijing at the age of 91.
Born a son of a merchant in Kaifeng, he became literate in from his mother and aunt.
He died in Beijing at the age of 91.
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