Zhu Qianzhi
Encyclopedia
Zhu Qianzhi was a Chinese
intellectual
, translator and historian
.
, Fujian Province
, 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
(1889–1947) and Ouyang Jingwu (1871–1943). 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 (1946).
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 [A Changing Worldview - Autobiography at 70] (世界观的转变——七十自述) 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 (Selected writings of Zhu Qianzhi) Changchun: Jilin Renmin Chubanshe, 2004. (黄夏年，朱谦集选集, 长春:吉林人民出版社2004).
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
, translator and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Biography
Born to a medical family in FuzhouFuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, Fujian Province
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, Zhu was admitted to Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
at the age of 17 in 1916, majoring in philosophy. Prior to the emergence of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
in the 1920s, anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
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
Big-character poster
Big-character posters are handwritten, wall-mounted posters using large-sized Chinese characters, used as a means of protest, propaganda, and popular communication. They have been used in China since imperial times, but became more common when literacy rates rose after the 1911 revolution...
.' Taking active part in the student protests that erupted following the Paris Peace Talks and the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, and which developed into the patriotic and anti-feudalistic May Fourth Movement
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...
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
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
who was then an assistant in the University library. In the interviews with Edgar Snow
Edgar Snow
Edgar P. Snow was an American journalist known for his books and articles on Communism in China and the Chinese Communist revolution...
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
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
to study with the Buddhist revivalists Taixu
Taixu
Venerable Master Taixu , 1890-1947, was a Buddhist modernist, activist and thinker who advocated the reform and renewal of Chinese Buddhism.- Biography :...
(1889–1947) and Ouyang Jingwu (1871–1943). 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
Xiamen University
Xiamen University , colloquially known as Xia Da , located in Xiamen, Fujian province, is the first university in China founded by overseas Chinese. Before 1949, it was originally known as the University of Amoy. The school motto is "Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection "...
in Fujian Province, resigning in 1924 to live in seclusion near West Lake
West Lake
Xī Hú is a famous fresh water lake located in the historic center of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. The lake is divided by the causeways of Sū Tí , Bái Tí , and Yánggōng Tí...
in Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
.
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
Jinan University
Jinan University is a public research and comprehensive university based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. It is one of the oldest universities established on mainland China tracing back to the Qing Empire...
, then in 1932 transferred to Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University, also unofficially referred to as Zhongshan University , is a prominent university located mainly in Guangzhou, China. The University is named after Dr...
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 (1946).
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 [A Changing Worldview - Autobiography at 70] (世界观的转变——七十自述) was completed in 1968 but not published until 1980 when the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
had concluded.
A useful source of information on Zhu's life and work is Huang Xianian, ed., Zhu Qianzhi xuanji (Selected writings of Zhu Qianzhi) Changchun: Jilin Renmin Chubanshe, 2004. (黄夏年，朱谦集选集, 长春:吉林人民出版社2004).