- Cai Yuanpei
-
蔡元培 Born January 11, 1868
Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaDied March 5, 1940 (aged 72)
Hong KongOccupation President of Peking University
Revolutionary
Educator
PoliticianKnown for Chinese educator Courtesy name Traditional Chinese 鶴卿 Simplified Chinese 鹤卿 Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Hèqīng - Wade–Giles Ho-ch'ing Sobriquet Chinese 孑民 Literal meaning Lone Citizen Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Jiémín - Wade–Giles Chieh-min Cai Yuanpei (Chinese: 蔡元培; pinyin: Cài Yuánpéi; Wade–Giles: Ts'ai Yüan-p'ei) (January 11, 1868 – March 5, 1940) was a Chinese educator and the president of Peking University. He was known for his critical evaluation of the Chinese culture that led to the influential May Fourth Movement. In his thinking, Cai was heavily influenced by Anarchism.
Contents
Biography
Born in Shānyīn Village, Shaoxing Subprefecture, Zhejiang, Cai was appointed to the Hanlin Imperial Academy at 26. In 1898, he became involved in administering institutes and became:
- Superintendent of Shaoxing Chinese-Western School (紹興中西學堂監督)
- Head of Shèng District Shànshān College (嵊縣剡山書院院長)
- Director-Teacher of the Special Class of Nanyang Public School (南洋公學特班總教習)
He established Guangfuhui in 1904 and joined Tongmenghui the next year. After studying philosophy, psychology, and art history in the Universität Leipzig of Germany in 1907 under Karl Lamprecht, he served as the provisional Republic's Minister of Education in January 1912, but later resigned during Yuan Shikai's presidency. Subsequently, he returned to Germany, and then went to France.
Cai returned to China in 1916 and served as the President of Peking University the following year. It was during his tenure at Peking University that he recruited such famous thinkers (and future Chinese Communist Party leaders) to the school as Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao. In 1927, he co-founded the National College of Music, which later became the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In April 1928, he became the first president of the Academia Sinica.
Cai advocated the equal importance of five ways of life — "Virtue, Wisdom, Health, Collective, and Beauty" (德、智、體、群、美) — core values that are still taught in schools today in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. He was also a proponent of women's right to divorce and remarry, he strongly opposed foot binding and concubinage that were widely practiced in China at the time.
Cai Yuanpei died at the age of 72 in Hong Kong.
Bibliography
- Cai Jianguo (1998) (in German). Cai Yuanpei: Gelehrter und Mittler zwischen Ost und West. translated by: Stichler, Hans Christian. Münster [u.a.].
- Wang Peili (1996) (in German). Wilhelm von Humboldt und Cai Yuanpei: eine vergleichende Analyse zweier klassischer Bildungskonzepte in der deutschen Aufklärung und in der ersten chinesischen Republik. Münster, New York: Waxmann.
See also
External links
Government offices Preceded by
Position createdPresident of the Control Yuan
1928—1929Succeeded by
Zhao DaiwenDream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢/红楼梦) Text and
commentariesRouge Inkstone • Odd Tablet • Cheng-Gao versions • Gao ECharacters Twelve Beauties of Jinling: Lin Daiyu • Xue Baochai • Jia Yuanchun • Jia Tanchun • Shi Xiangyun • Miaoyu • Jia Yingchun • Jia Xichun • Wang Xifeng • Jia Qiaojie • Li Wan • Qin Keqing
Secondary characters: Granny Liu • Xue Pan • Qin Zhong • Zhen Baoyu
Masters: Jia Baoyu • Jia Zheng • Jia She • Jia Zhen • Jia Lian • Jia Rong • Jia Lan • Jia Huan • Jia Yun
Ladies: Grandmother Jia • Lady Wang • Aunt Xue • Lady Xing • Lady You • Concubine Zhao
Maids: Ping'er • Yuanyang • Xiren • Qingwen • Zijuan • Xiangling • Sheyue • Xiaohong • Xueyan • JinchuanRedologists Cai Yuanpei • Hu Shih • Yu Pingbo • Wu Shichang • Zhou Ruchang • Eileen Chang • Feng Qiyong • Cai Yijiang • Liu Xinwu • QigongAdaptations Dream of the Red Chamber (1944 film) • Dream of the Red Chamber (1987 TV series) • A Dream in Red Mansions (2010 TV series)Categories:- 1868 births
- 1940 deaths
- Chinese educators
- Chinese Esperantists
- Chinese philosophers
- Peking University
- Peking University faculty
- People from Shaoxing
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