Hans Bielenstein
Encyclopedia
Hans Bielenstein is a Swedish sinologist and Professor Emeritus from Columbia University
specialising in the history of the Han Dynasty
.
, Sweden
, Bielenstein studied history and oriental studies at the Stockholm University
under the tutelage of the renowned Bernhard Karlgren
. He earned his master's degree in 1945 and his licentiate
in 1947.
In 1952, Bielenstein was appointed head of the School of Oriental Languages in Canberra University College in Canberra
, Australia
(since 1960 part of Australian National University
). Bielenstein was the first professor of modern or classical Chinese language anywhere in Australia. In 1961 he moved to Columbia University in New York City
, where he became head of the department of East Asian Languages and Cultures in 1969, and retired from teaching as Dean Lung Professor Emeritus of Chinese Studies in 1988. He remains a Swedish subject.
Bielenstein's area of concentration is the administrative and economic history of early imperial China from the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty
. His Bureaucracy of Han Times (1980) remains the definitive English-language reference for the government of the Han Dynasty
.
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
specialising in the history of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Life
Born Johan Henrik August Bielenstein in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Bielenstein studied history and oriental studies at the Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
under the tutelage of the renowned Bernhard Karlgren
Bernhard Karlgren
Klas Bernhard Johannes Karlgren was a Swedish sinologist and linguist who pioneered the study of Chinese historical phonology using modern comparative methods...
. He earned his master's degree in 1945 and his licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in 1947.
In 1952, Bielenstein was appointed head of the School of Oriental Languages in Canberra University College in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(since 1960 part of Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
). Bielenstein was the first professor of modern or classical Chinese language anywhere in Australia. In 1961 he moved to Columbia University in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he became head of the department of East Asian Languages and Cultures in 1969, and retired from teaching as Dean Lung Professor Emeritus of Chinese Studies in 1988. He remains a Swedish subject.
Bielenstein's area of concentration is the administrative and economic history of early imperial China from the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. His Bureaucracy of Han Times (1980) remains the definitive English-language reference for the government of the Han Dynasty
Government of the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty of ancient China was the second imperial dynasty of China, following the Qin Dynasty . It was divided into the periods of Western Han and Eastern Han , briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang...
.