Chen Daqi
Encyclopedia
Chen Daqi was a polymath
, politician and pioneer of modern psychology
in China. Chen was a former President of Zhejiang University
, and acting President of Peking University
.
, Jiaxing
, Zhejiang Province in 1886. Chen's style name
was Bainian (百年). Chen finished his elementary study in a local school of his hometown, and studied English in Shanghai. In 1901, Chen entered Zhejiang Qiushi Academy
(current Zhejiang University
) in Hangzhou
. In 1903, Chen went to study in Japan. Chen first studied in Sendai, but later entered the Tokyo Imperial University
(current the University of Tokyo
). Chen studied philosophy
, majored in psychology
, and graduated BA in 1912.
In 1912, Chen went back to China after graduation. From 1912 to 1913, Chen was the president of Zhejiang Advanced College (浙江高等学校; current Zhejiang University) in Hangzhou. Chen was also a professor of Zhejiang School of Law and Politics (浙江(私立)法政专门学校).
Chen was a strong supporter of May Fourth Movement
. He was also a close friend of Lu Xun
.
From 1922 to 1927, Chen was a professor, the head of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University in Beijing. From 1927 to Jan 1928, Chen was the Provost
of Peking University. From 6 Nov 1928 to 30 Dec 1929, Chen was the Secretary-general
of the Examination Yuan
of the Central Government of ROC
. In 1929, Chen was the dean
of the arts faculty of Peking University. From 1929 to Jan 1931, Chen was the acting President of Peking University. From 10 Dec 1930 to 22 Dec 1932 and from 10 to 27 Jan 1942, Chen served the Secretary-general of Examination Yuan. In Jul 1948, Chen start serving as a senior advisor of national policy for government.
After 1949, Chen went to Taiwan
. Chen served the first President of National Chengchi University
(NCCU) from Oct 1954 to Jul 1959. In Apr 1964, Chen became the first Director-general of the Confucius
-Mencius
Society (孔孟学会) in Taipei
at the Nanhai Academy
.
Chen died in Taiwan on 8 Jan 1983.
. Chen published more than 20 monograph
s. His A General Outline of Psychology (《心理学大纲》, 1918, Commercial Press
) is the first modern textbook
of psychology in China. Chen also translated many German psychological works, thus he was also a well-known translator
.
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
, politician and pioneer of modern psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in China. Chen was a former President of Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
, and acting President of 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...
.
Biography
Chen was born in HaiyanHaiyan
Haiyan is a town under the jurisdiction of Taishan, in Guangdong Province of southern China.Haiyan contains an overseas Chinese farm .-External links:* *...
, Jiaxing
Jiaxing
Jiaxing is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying on the Grand Canal of China, Jiaxing borders Hangzhou to the southwest, Huzhou to the west, Shanghai to the northeast, and the province of Jiangsu to the north....
, Zhejiang Province in 1886. Chen's style name
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
was Bainian (百年). Chen finished his elementary study in a local school of his hometown, and studied English in Shanghai. In 1901, Chen entered Zhejiang Qiushi Academy
Qiushi Academy
Qiushi Academy , was the main root of the current Zhejiang University, which is one of the most comprehensive universities in China.-History:The academy was the first modern institute for higher education established in Zhejiang Province; it was also one of the earliest in China. It was founded in...
(current Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
) 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 1903, Chen went to study in Japan. Chen first studied in Sendai, but later entered the Tokyo Imperial University
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
(current the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
). Chen studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, majored in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and graduated BA in 1912.
In 1912, Chen went back to China after graduation. From 1912 to 1913, Chen was the president of Zhejiang Advanced College (浙江高等学校; current Zhejiang University) in Hangzhou. Chen was also a professor of Zhejiang School of Law and Politics (浙江(私立)法政专门学校).
Chen was a strong supporter of 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...
. He was also a close friend of Lu Xun
Lu Xun
Lu Xun or Lu Hsün , was the pen name of Zhou Shuren , one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century. Considered by many to be the leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in baihua as well as classical Chinese...
.
From 1922 to 1927, Chen was a professor, the head of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University in Beijing. From 1927 to Jan 1928, Chen was the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Peking University. From 6 Nov 1928 to 30 Dec 1929, Chen was the Secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the Examination Yuan
Examination Yuan
The Examination Yuan is in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants in the Republic of China . It is one of the five government branches of the ROC government...
of the Central Government of ROC
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. In 1929, Chen was the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the arts faculty of Peking University. From 1929 to Jan 1931, Chen was the acting President of Peking University. From 10 Dec 1930 to 22 Dec 1932 and from 10 to 27 Jan 1942, Chen served the Secretary-general of Examination Yuan. In Jul 1948, Chen start serving as a senior advisor of national policy for government.
After 1949, Chen went to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Chen served the first President of National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University is a prestigious public university at Muzha in Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. It is well-known for its concentration on the social sciences, law, commerce, communication, liberal arts and for its MBA programs....
(NCCU) from Oct 1954 to Jul 1959. In Apr 1964, Chen became the first Director-general of the Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
-Mencius
Mencius
Mencius was a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself.-Life:Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko, was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng , Shandong province, only thirty kilometres ...
Society (孔孟学会) in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
at the Nanhai Academy
Nanhai Academy
The Nanhai Academy is a collection of cultural and educational facilities located on Nanhai Road in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan. After the Republic of China Government relocated to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek ordered its construction...
.
Chen died in Taiwan on 8 Jan 1983.
Work
Chen was an influential educator, writer, educator, Confucian philosopher and psychologistPsychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
. Chen published more than 20 monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
s. His A General Outline of Psychology (《心理学大纲》, 1918, Commercial Press
Commercial Press
-History:In 1897, 26-year-old Xia Ruifang and three of his friends founded The Commercial Press in Shanghai. The group soon received financial backing and began publishing books. In 1914, Xia attempted to buy out a Japanese company that had invested in the Commercial Press. Four days later he was...
) is the first modern textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
of psychology in China. Chen also translated many German psychological works, thus he was also a well-known translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
.
External links
- Chen Daqi's biography (Baidu.com) (in Chinese, including photo)
- Chen Daqi - President of Zhejiang University (in Chinese, including photo)
- Chen Daqi's brief biography from Zhejiang University
