Deng Guangming
Encyclopedia
Dèng Guăngmíng was a leading Chinese
historian
and historiographer who specialized in the 10th to 13th century Song
, Jin and Liao Dynasty
Dynasties remembered for his meticulous attention to detail.
Born in Linyi County, Shandong
and known by the courtesy title
Gong San (恭三), Deng’s principle works were:
then three years later entered Shandong Number 1 Normal School where he “received enlightenment through real education”. As this was the warlord era
in China, a reactionary appointed new headmaster causing a school-wide protest strike. Deng joined in and was expelled in 1927. He sat the entrance exam for Peking, now Beijing University in 1931 but was not enrolled. Instead Deng entered the English Department at the Catholic University of Peking (now Fu Jen Catholic University
). The following year he retook the entrance examination for Peking University and was admitted as a student.
and Hu Shih
, who were both his tutors. In his fourth year, Deng took an extra course taught by Hu on biographical studies. For his graduation thesis he wrote his Biography of Chen Longchuan (陈龙川传), a work that was highly rated by Hu and whose praise created a huge influence on Deng. After his graduation from the History Department in 1936 he remained at the university as Hu’s assistant in the Humanities Research Institute whilst also acting as an assistant historiography teacher. Thereafter, Deng’s main task together with Luo Ergang was to catalog the stone rubbings of successive dynasties stored in the university library. At the same time he assisted Qian Mu
compile the Synopsis of Dynastic History (国史大纲). One year after graduation Deng had already decided that henceforth his life would be follow the path of academia
and Xia Chengdoao (夏承焘/夏承燾) amongst others and made the author’s name.
Following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident
on 7 July 1937 the War of Resistance against the Japanese
began. Deng continued his research at the Beiping Library
and with the assistance of Fu Niansi and Zhao Wanli (赵万里) completed a work containing Chronicle of Xin Qiji’s Life (辛稼轩年谱), Annotated Works of Xin Qiji (稼轩词编年笺注) and Treasury of Xin Qiji’s Writing and Poetry (辛稼轩诗文钞存). In August 1939 Deng travelled through Shanghai, Hong Kong and Hanoi to the newly established National Southwestern Associated University
in Kunming
, Yunnan Province. Here he became teaching assistant to Beijing University researcher Cheng Yinke]]. In 1940, Deng followed Fu Niansi to Li Village, Nanxi County
, Sichuan where from 1940 until Spring 1942 he received support from the board of directors of the Sino-British Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Fund (中英庚款董事会) and began his research into the History of Song
. At this time he also completed and published Amended Government Functionaries Records from the History of Song
(宋史职官志考正) and Amended Criminal Law Records from the History of Song (宋史刑法志考正).
In July 1943 on the recommendation of Fu Sinian, Deng became Assistant Professor of History at Fudan University
, relocating to its temporary location in Beibei, Chongqing
. Here his lectures on narrative Chinese history were welcomed by the students and two years later he became a full professor. During this period he wrote and published Biography of Chen Longchuan (陈龙川传), Chronicle of Han Shizhong
’s Life (韩世忠年谱) and Biography of Yue Fei (岳飞传) in succession.
requested that Fu Sinian and Hu Shih accompany him to Taiwan
. Deng in turn was invited by his former tutors but he declined and instead remained on the Chinese mainland. Deng’s appointment as Professor of History at Beijing University followed in 1950.
The 1950’s were the golden era of Deng’s academic career when between 1947 and 1957 he produced the largest quantity of his historiographical work. In 1958 he was criticized for his suggestion that the “four keystones” of Chinese historical education were chronology
, institutional functions, historical geography and bibliography. Later Deng began to contribute to the compilation of the Outline of Chinese History • The Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties (中国史纲要•宋辽金史纲要).
Following the start of the Cultural Revolution
in 1966, Deng was denounced as a “reactionary academic” and sentenced to forced labor at either Beijing University Re-education Camp or sent to a re-education village in the countryside where he “reformed through living in a cowshed”. In October 1969 according to a decision by the army propaganda team he was sent to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province along with the rest of the teaching and administrative staff of Beijing University for “re-education through labor” which involved manual work in the fields.
When the Cultural Revolution ended with Mao Zedong
’s death in 1976 Deng became Dean of the History Faculty of Beijing University. From 1980 onwards he held successive posts as a member of the presidium of the China Historiography Association and President of the Chinese Song History Research Association. After 1982 he acted as a consultant to the China National Antiquarian Book Publishing Project and subsequently joined national working committees researching antiquarian books. In 1983 Deng established the National Ancient History Research Center at Beijing University of which he became Director and where he taught a large number of talented students. At the same time Deng’s academic achievements continued to grow.
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...
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...
and historiographer who specialized in the 10th to 13th century Song
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...
, Jin and Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
Dynasties remembered for his meticulous attention to detail.
Born in Linyi County, Shandong
Linyi County, Shandong
Linyi County is a county of northwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by Dezhou City.The population was 509 846 in 1999.- External links :*...
and known by the courtesy title
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...
Gong San (恭三), Deng’s principle works were:
- Outline of Chinese History • The Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties (中国史纲要•宋辽金史纲要)
- Wang AnshiWang AnshiWang Anshi was a Chinese economist, statesman, chancellor and poet of the Song Dynasty who attempted controversial, major socioeconomic reforms...
’s Political Reforms During the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋政治改革家王安石) - Biography of Yue FeiYue FeiYue Fei , style name Pengju, was a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was in Xiaoti, Yonghe Village, Tangyin, Xiangzhou, Henan...
(岳飞传) - Biography of Xin QijiXin QijiXīn Qìjí was a Chinese poet, military leader, and statesman during the Southern Song dynasty.-Life:During Xin's lifetime, northern China was occupied by the Jin or Jurchen, a nomadic people from what is now north-east China then regarded as barbarians. Only southern China was ruled by the Han...
(辛弃疾传) - Biography of Chen Longchuan (陈龙川传)
- Chronicle of Xin Qiji’s Life (辛稼轩年谱)
- Annotated Works of Xin Qiji (稼轩词编年笺注)
- Amended Institutional Function Records from the History of SongHistory of SongThe History of Song or Song Shi is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China that records the history of the Song Dynasty...
(宋史职官志考正) - Amended Criminal Law Records from the History of Song (宋史刑法志考正)
Early life
Born to a relatively well-off family in Qijia Village (齐家庄), Linyi County, Deng entered a private school in 1913 at the age of six. In the autumn of 1920 he passed the entrance examination for the Lingao County Number One Advanced Primary Schoolthen three years later entered Shandong Number 1 Normal School where he “received enlightenment through real education”. As this was the warlord era
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
in China, a reactionary appointed new headmaster causing a school-wide protest strike. Deng joined in and was expelled in 1927. He sat the entrance exam for Peking, now Beijing University in 1931 but was not enrolled. Instead Deng entered the English Department at the Catholic University of Peking (now Fu Jen Catholic University
Fu Jen Catholic University
Fu Jen Catholic University is a co-educational Catholic university located in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, Republic of China...
). The following year he retook the entrance examination for Peking University and was admitted as a student.
University career
During his time at Peking University Deng met the two greatest influences on his academic career, Fu SinianFu Sinian
Fù Sīnián , was a famous Chinese educator and linguist, and one of the leaders of the May Fourth Movement in 1919. He studied experimental psychology at University College, London from 1920-23. He was also one of the creators of the Academia Sinica, and was named director of the Institute of...
and Hu Shih
Hu Shih
Hu Shih , born Hu Hung-hsing , was a Chinese philosopher, essayist and diplomat. His courtesy name was Shih-chih . Hu is widely recognized today as a key contributor to Chinese liberalism and language reform in his advocacy for the use of written vernacular Chinese...
, who were both his tutors. In his fourth year, Deng took an extra course taught by Hu on biographical studies. For his graduation thesis he wrote his Biography of Chen Longchuan (陈龙川传), a work that was highly rated by Hu and whose praise created a huge influence on Deng. After his graduation from the History Department in 1936 he remained at the university as Hu’s assistant in the Humanities Research Institute whilst also acting as an assistant historiography teacher. Thereafter, Deng’s main task together with Luo Ergang was to catalog the stone rubbings of successive dynasties stored in the university library. At the same time he assisted Qian Mu
Ch'ien Mu
Ch'ien Mu , was a Chinese historian, educator, philosopher and Confucian considered one of the greatest historians and philosophers in 20th-century China....
compile the Synopsis of Dynastic History (国史大纲). One year after graduation Deng had already decided that henceforth his life would be follow the path of academia
Early career and works
Amongst Hu Shih’s comments on Deng’s Biography of Chen Longchuan he wrote: “Literary sources on the friendship between Chen Longchuan and Xin Qiji are lacking and should be improved upon.” This gave Deng his first opportunity to research Xin Qinji and as this was at the time of the invasion of China by Japan he decided as an act of patriotism to write a historical biography. Thereafter in 1937 Deng published his Chronicle of Xin Qiji’s Life (辛稼轩年谱) together with the Annotated Works of Xin Qiji (稼轩词疏证) which were unanimously praised by Hu Shih, Chen YinkeChen Yinke
Chen Yinke was a sinologist and a fellow of Academia Sinica. His representative works are The Origins of Sui and Tang Institutions: A Brief Account 《隋唐制度淵源略論稿》, On the Political History of the Tang Dynasty 《唐代政治史述論稿》, and An Alternative Biography of Liu Rushi 《》.-Early life:Chen Yinke was born in...
and Xia Chengdoao (夏承焘/夏承燾) amongst others and made the author’s name.
Following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was a battle between the Republic of China's National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, often used as the marker for the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War .The eleven-arch granite bridge, Lugouqiao, is an architecturally significant structure,...
on 7 July 1937 the War of Resistance against the Japanese
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...
began. Deng continued his research at the Beiping Library
National Library of China
The National Library of China or NLC in Beijing is the largest library in Asia, and one of the largest in the world with a collection of over 23 million volumes...
and with the assistance of Fu Niansi and Zhao Wanli (赵万里) completed a work containing Chronicle of Xin Qiji’s Life (辛稼轩年谱), Annotated Works of Xin Qiji (稼轩词编年笺注) and Treasury of Xin Qiji’s Writing and Poetry (辛稼轩诗文钞存). In August 1939 Deng travelled through Shanghai, Hong Kong and Hanoi to the newly established National Southwestern Associated University
National Southwestern Associated University
When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out between China and Japan in 1937, Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University, merged to form Changsha Temporary University in Changsha, and later National Southwestern Associated University in Kunming...
in Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
, Yunnan Province. Here he became teaching assistant to Beijing University researcher Cheng Yinke]]. In 1940, Deng followed Fu Niansi to Li Village, Nanxi County
Nanxi County
Nanxi District is a district of the city of Yibin, Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. Nanxi was known as Nanxi County until 28 July 2011, when it was upgraded to Nanxi District.-References:...
, Sichuan where from 1940 until Spring 1942 he received support from the board of directors of the Sino-British Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Fund (中英庚款董事会) and began his research into the History of Song
History of Song
The History of Song or Song Shi is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China that records the history of the Song Dynasty...
. At this time he also completed and published Amended Government Functionaries Records from the History of Song
History of Song
The History of Song or Song Shi is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China that records the history of the Song Dynasty...
(宋史职官志考正) and Amended Criminal Law Records from the History of Song (宋史刑法志考正).
In July 1943 on the recommendation of Fu Sinian, Deng became Assistant Professor of History at Fudan University
Fudan University
Fudan University , located in Shanghai, is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, and is a member of the C9 League. Its institutional predecessor was founded in 1905, shortly before the end of China's imperial Qing dynasty...
, relocating to its temporary location in Beibei, Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
. Here his lectures on narrative Chinese history were welcomed by the students and two years later he became a full professor. During this period he wrote and published Biography of Chen Longchuan (陈龙川传), Chronicle of Han Shizhong
Han Shizhong
Han Shizhong was a Chinese general of the late Northern Song Dynasty and the early Southern Song Dynasty. He dedicated his whole life to serving the Song Dynasty, and performed many legendary deeds. It is said that he had scars all over his body and, by the time he retired, there were only four...
’s Life (韩世忠年谱) and Biography of Yue Fei (岳飞传) in succession.
People’s Republic of China Era
At the end of the war in 1945, Deng returned to Beijing University and was appointed Secretary of the University acting on behalf of Fu Sinian. Not long afterwards he became a professor in the History Department. In 1949, Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
requested that Fu Sinian and Hu Shih accompany him 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...
. Deng in turn was invited by his former tutors but he declined and instead remained on the Chinese mainland. Deng’s appointment as Professor of History at Beijing University followed in 1950.
The 1950’s were the golden era of Deng’s academic career when between 1947 and 1957 he produced the largest quantity of his historiographical work. In 1958 he was criticized for his suggestion that the “four keystones” of Chinese historical education were chronology
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
, institutional functions, historical geography and bibliography. Later Deng began to contribute to the compilation of the Outline of Chinese History • The Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties (中国史纲要•宋辽金史纲要).
Following the start of 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...
in 1966, Deng was denounced as a “reactionary academic” and sentenced to forced labor at either Beijing University Re-education Camp or sent to a re-education village in the countryside where he “reformed through living in a cowshed”. In October 1969 according to a decision by the army propaganda team he was sent to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province along with the rest of the teaching and administrative staff of Beijing University for “re-education through labor” which involved manual work in the fields.
When the Cultural Revolution ended with 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...
’s death in 1976 Deng became Dean of the History Faculty of Beijing University. From 1980 onwards he held successive posts as a member of the presidium of the China Historiography Association and President of the Chinese Song History Research Association. After 1982 he acted as a consultant to the China National Antiquarian Book Publishing Project and subsequently joined national working committees researching antiquarian books. In 1983 Deng established the National Ancient History Research Center at Beijing University of which he became Director and where he taught a large number of talented students. At the same time Deng’s academic achievements continued to grow.