E. T. C. Werner
Encyclopedia
Edward Theodore Chalmers Werner (1864–1954) was a noted British diplomat in Qing Dynasty China and sinologist specialising in superstition, myths and magic in China. Werner arrived in Peking in the 1880s attached to the British Legation as a student interpreter and remained in China until 1914. E.T.C. Werner was born at Port Chalmers
, Dunedin
, New Zealand
. His father was Prussian and his mother English. He was educated at Tonbridge School
. His father died in 1878 meaning E.T.C. had to find a career. He passed the entrance exams to the Far Eastern Cadetship.
), two in Tientsin (Tianjin
) and another couple in Macao
. He later spent a year in Hangchow (Hangzhou
), one in the Pagoda Anchorage (Mawei), the isolated Kiungchow (Qiongshan) on Hainan Island, a couple of years on the Gulf of Tonkin in the remote posting of Pakhoi (Beihai
) before being posted to Kongmoon (Jiangmen
). Promotion saw Werner Consul at the busy tea port of Kiukiang (Jiujiang
), serving for four years. In 1911 Werner became British Consul-General in Foochow (Fuzhou
). He left the diplomatic service in 1914.
, a lecturer at Peking University
, member of the Chinese government’s Historiography Bureau and a member of the Royal Asiatic Society
.
. In 1919 the couple adopted a baby daughter, Pamela, in Peking. Between 1943 and 1945 E.T.C. Werner was interned by the Japanese at the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Camp, The Weihsien Compound
, in Shandong
. Werner’s daughter Pamela was murdered in January 1937 in a crime that was not solved at the time. The murder later became the subject of the book Midnight in Peking by Paul French.
Port Chalmers
Port Chalmers is a suburb and the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, with a population of 3,000. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast from Dunedin's city centre....
, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. His father was Prussian and his mother English. He was educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
. His father died in 1878 meaning E.T.C. had to find a career. He passed the entrance exams to the Far Eastern Cadetship.
Diplomatic career
Werner remained in the British diplomatic service in China until 1914 serving in postings including time working in the Chancery at the Peking Legation, then a year in Canton (GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
), two in Tientsin (Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
) and another couple in Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
. He later spent a year in Hangchow (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...
), one in the Pagoda Anchorage (Mawei), the isolated Kiungchow (Qiongshan) on Hainan Island, a couple of years on the Gulf of Tonkin in the remote posting of Pakhoi (Beihai
Beihai
Beihai is a prefecture-level city of Guangxi, China. Beihai means "north of the sea" in Chinese, signifying its status as a seaport on the north shore of the Gulf of Tonkin. Between the years 2006 and 2020, Beihai is predicted to be the world's fastest growing city...
) before being posted to Kongmoon (Jiangmen
Jiangmen
Jiangmen , is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province in southern China with a population of about 4.48 million in 2010. The 3 urban districts are now part of Guangzhou - Shenzhen built up area.-Names:...
). Promotion saw Werner Consul at the busy tea port of Kiukiang (Jiujiang
Jiujiang
Jiujiang , formerly transliterated Kiukiang, is a prefecture-level city located on the southern shores of the Yangtze River in northwest Jiangxi Province, China. It is the second-largest prefecture-level city in Jiangxi province, the largest one being Nanchang...
), serving for four years. In 1911 Werner became British Consul-General in Foochow (Fuzhou
Fuzhou
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....
). He left the diplomatic service in 1914.
Contributions to Sinology
After retirement Werner moved back to Peking where he concentrated on his sinological studies. He was a member of the planning committee of the Peking Union Medical CollegePeking Union Medical College
Peking Union Medical College is among the most selective medical colleges in the People's Republic of China and is renowned both in its own right and for being connected to one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.-History:...
, a lecturer at 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...
, member of the Chinese government’s Historiography Bureau and a member of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
.
Personal life
E.T.C. Werner was married to Gladys Nina Ravenshaw (1886–1922) in 1911 in Hong Kong. Gladys was the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Withers Ravenshaw, the former British Resident in NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. In 1919 the couple adopted a baby daughter, Pamela, in Peking. Between 1943 and 1945 E.T.C. Werner was interned by the Japanese at the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Camp, The Weihsien Compound
The Weihsien Compound
The Weihsien Internment Camp was a Japanese operated Civilian Assembly Center in the former Wei County , located in the present-day city of Weifang, Shandong, China. The compound was a Japanese-run military internment camps created during World War II to keep civilians Allied countries living in...
, in Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. Werner’s daughter Pamela was murdered in January 1937 in a crime that was not solved at the time. The murder later became the subject of the book Midnight in Peking by Paul French.
Selected Bibliography
- China of the Chinese, 1919 (Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...
eText.) - Dictionary of Chinese Mythology (1932)
- Weapons of China (1932)