Tsiang Tingfu
Encyclopedia
Tsiang Tingfu was a Chinese historian and diplomat. Tsiang was born in Shaoyang
in Hunan
province. In 1911, he was sent to study in the United States, where he attended the Park Academy, Oberlin College
and Columbia University
. After obtaining a Ph.D. in history at Columbia, he returned to China in 1923, where he first took up a position at Nankai University
and then at Tsinghua University
. At Tsinghua, he became the head of the History Department, where edited and published a number of works on Chinese history and published the English-language journal Chinese Social and Political Science Review. During his tenure at Tsinghua, he mentored a number of historians in the study of Qing history, including John K. Fairbank
.
Following mounting tensions in China's relations with Japan
, Tsiang left academia in 1935 and joined the Chinese Nationalist government
, which he served in many different capacities throughout the Sino-Japanese War
. In 1945, Tsiang became the Permanent Representative
of China to the United Nations
, and he subsequently also served as the ambassador of China to the United States. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China
on the Chinese mainland, Tsiang defended the exclusive right of the Taiwan-based Republic of China to represent China in the United Nations
and in the Security Council. He died in New York City
in 1965.
Shaoyang
-Administrative divisions:*Shuangqing District *Daxiang District *Beita District *Wugang City *Shaodong County *Shaoyang County *Xinshao County *Longhui County *Dongkou County *Suining County...
in Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
province. In 1911, he was sent to study in the United States, where he attended the Park Academy, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
and Columbia University
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...
. After obtaining a Ph.D. in history at Columbia, he returned to China in 1923, where he first took up a position at Nankai University
Nankai University
Nankai University , commonly known as Nankai, is a public research university based in Tianjin on mainland China. Founded in 1919 by educators Zhang Boling and Yan Fansun , Nankai University is a member of the Nankai serial schools. It is the alma mater of former Chinese Premier and key historical...
and then at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
. At Tsinghua, he became the head of the History Department, where edited and published a number of works on Chinese history and published the English-language journal Chinese Social and Political Science Review. During his tenure at Tsinghua, he mentored a number of historians in the study of Qing history, including John K. Fairbank
John K. Fairbank
John King Fairbank , was a prominent American academic and historian of China.-Education and early career:...
.
Following mounting tensions in China's relations with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Tsiang left academia in 1935 and joined the Chinese Nationalist government
History of the Republic of China
The History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
, which he served in many different capacities throughout the Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. In 1945, Tsiang became the Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
of China to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and he subsequently also served as the ambassador of China to the United States. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
on the Chinese mainland, Tsiang defended the exclusive right of the Taiwan-based Republic of China to represent China in the United Nations
China and the United Nations
China's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council was originally occupied by the Republic of China since October 24, 1945. During the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China repelled the government of the ROC from Mainland China to the island of...
and in the Security Council. He died 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...
in 1965.