Wang Guowei (Chinese: 王國維; 2 December 1877 – 2 June 1927) or Wang Kuo-wei, courtesy nameJing'an (靜安) or Boyu (伯隅), was a Chinese historian and poet. A versatile and original scholar, he made important contributions to the studies of ancient history, epigraphy, philology, vernacular literature and literary theory.
A native of Haining, Zhejiang, he went to Shanghai to work as a proofreader for a newspaper, after failing to pass the Imperial Examination in his hometown, at the age of 22. There he studied in the Dongwen Xueshe (東文學社), a Japanese language teaching school, and became a protégé of Luo Zhenyu. Sponsored by Luo, he left for Japan in 1901, studying natural sciences in Tokyo. Back in China one year later, he began to teach in different colleges, and devoted himself to the study of German idealism. He fled to Japan with Luo when the Xinhai Revolution took place in 1911. He returned to China in 1916, but remained loyal to the overthrown Manchu emperor. In 1924, he was appointed professor by the Tsinghua University, where he was known as one of the "Four Great Tutors," along with the prominent Chinese scholars Liang Qichao, Chen Yinke, and Y. R. Chao.
Chen Yinque's epitaph read: "The suicide of Wang was because he worried about losing the independent spirit and free thought he long cherished in his academic pursuit."[3]
LegacyEdit
Wang focused on the studies of Chinese vernacular literature during the early year of his career. When he became convinced that Schopenhauer's metaphysics were not believable, he turned for solace to critical and philological studies of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as well as writing a concise history of the theaters of the Song and Yuan dynasties.[4] Although its conclusions are controversial, his article "On A Dream of the Red Chamber" has been called "a monumental development in the history of modern Chinese criticism."[5] Later he changed his academic direction, focusing on philology and ancient history. His works on ancient history and philology are collected in Guantang Jilin (觀堂集林). In these areas, Wang is remembered for his contributions to the study of oracle bone script and the history of the Shang dynasty. In 1917, Wang published a scholarly article entitled Study of the Ancestral Kings and Nobility Appearing in the Yin Oracular Inscriptions (《殷卜辭中所見先公先王考》) in which Wang identified 31 kings and ancestors of the Shang royal lineage as the recipients of sacrifices that were recorded in the Yinxu oracle bone inscriptions. Wang was able to basically confirm the king list compiled by Sima Qian over a millennium later in the "Basic Annals of Yin" of the Records of the Grand Historian (《史記·殷本紀》) while making several corrections to it.[6]
ReferencesEdit
^Bonney, Joey (1986). Wang Kuo-wei: an intellectual biography. Harvard University Press. ISBN0-674-94594-8.
^. China Daily. 2003-12-30. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
^ Benjamin Schwartz, "Themes in intellectual history: May Fourth and After," Cambridge History of China Volume 12 Republican China 1912-1949 Pt 1 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983), p. 418
^Q.S. Tong and X. Zhou, "Criticism and Society: The Birth of the Modern Critical Subject in China," Boundary 2 29.1 (2002): 153-176. Hong Kong University Handle
^Wang Guowei. Study of the Ancestral Kings and Nobility Appearing in the Yin Oracular Inscriptions (1917) (王國維 《殷卜辭中所見先公先王考》, 民國6年）.
Wang Guowei. A Portrait by Kong Kai Ming at Hong Kong Baptist University Library
August 27, 2023
wang, guowei, this, chinese, name, family, name, wang, chinese, 王國維, december, 1877, june, 1927, wang, courtesy, name, jing, 靜安, boyu, 伯隅, chinese, historian, poet, versatile, original, scholar, made, important, contributions, studies, ancient, history, epigra. In this Chinese name the family name is Wang Wang Guowei Chinese 王國維 2 December 1877 2 June 1927 or Wang Kuo wei courtesy name Jing an 靜安 or Boyu 伯隅 was a Chinese historian and poet A versatile and original scholar he made important contributions to the studies of ancient history epigraphy philology vernacular literature and literary theory Wang GuoweiThe Monument of Wang Guowei in Tsinghua UniversityBorn 1877 12 02 2 December 1877Haining Zhejiang Qing ChinaDied2 June 1927 1927 06 02 aged 49 Kunming Lake Summer Palace Beijing ChinaCause of deathSuicide by drowningOccupation s Historian poetWang GuoweiTraditional Chinese王國維Simplified Chinese王国维TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinWang GuoweiGwoyeu RomatzyhWang GwoweiWade GilesWang2 Kuo2 wei2IPA wa ŋ kwo we ɪ WuRomanizationWaon Kueʔ vi Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditA native of Haining Zhejiang he went to Shanghai to work as a proofreader for a newspaper after failing to pass the Imperial Examination in his hometown at the age of 22 There he studied in the Dongwen Xueshe 東文學社 a Japanese language teaching school and became a protege of Luo Zhenyu Sponsored by Luo he left for Japan in 1901 studying natural sciences in Tokyo Back in China one year later he began to teach in different colleges and devoted himself to the study of German idealism He fled to Japan with Luo when the Xinhai Revolution took place in 1911 He returned to China in 1916 but remained loyal to the overthrown Manchu emperor In 1924 he was appointed professor by the Tsinghua University where he was known as one of the Four Great Tutors along with the prominent Chinese scholars Liang Qichao Chen Yinke and Y R Chao In 1927 Wang drowned himself in Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace before the National Revolutionary Army entered Beijing during the Northern Expedition 1 2 Chen Yinque s epitaph read The suicide of Wang was because he worried about losing the independent spirit and free thought he long cherished in his academic pursuit 3 Legacy EditWang focused on the studies of Chinese vernacular literature during the early year of his career When he became convinced that Schopenhauer s metaphysics were not believable he turned for solace to critical and philological studies of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber as well as writing a concise history of the theaters of the Song and Yuan dynasties 4 Although its conclusions are controversial his article On A Dream of the Red Chamber has been called a monumental development in the history of modern Chinese criticism 5 Later he changed his academic direction focusing on philology and ancient history His works on ancient history and philology are collected in Guantang Jilin 觀堂集林 In these areas Wang is remembered for his contributions to the study of oracle bone script and the history of the Shang dynasty In 1917 Wang published a scholarly article entitled Study of the Ancestral Kings and Nobility Appearing in the Yin Oracular Inscriptions 殷卜辭中所見先公先王考 in which Wang identified 31 kings and ancestors of the Shang royal lineage as the recipients of sacrifices that were recorded in the Yinxu oracle bone inscriptions Wang was able to basically confirm the king list compiled by Sima Qian over a millennium later in the Basic Annals of Yin of the Records of the Grand Historian 史記 殷本紀 while making several corrections to it 6 References Edit Bonney Joey 1986 Wang Kuo wei an intellectual biography Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 94594 8 Cheng Zhongying Nicholas Bunnin 2002 Contemporary Chinese Philosophy Blackwell Publishers p 37 ISBN 0 631 21725 8 Humanities reborn at Tsinghua China Daily 2003 12 30 Archived from the original on June 9 2013 Retrieved 16 April 2009 Benjamin Schwartz Themes in intellectual history May Fourth and After Cambridge History of China Volume 12 Republican China 1912 1949 Pt 1 Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1983 p 418 Q S Tong and X Zhou Criticism and Society The Birth of the Modern Critical Subject in China Boundary 2 29 1 2002 153 176 Hong Kong University Handle Wang Guowei Study of the Ancestral Kings and Nobility Appearing in the Yin Oracular Inscriptions 1917 王國維 殷卜辭中所見先公先王考 民國6年 External links Edit in Chinese Biography and bibliography in Chinese Biography Works by Wang Guowei at Project Gutenberg Wang Guowei A Portrait by Kong Kai Ming at Hong Kong Baptist University Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wang Guowei amp oldid 1152837909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
