Hsu Dau-lin
Encyclopedia
Hsu Dau-lin was a distinguished legal scholar who made substantial contributions to the study of Tang and Song Law and, especially for new republican states, of Constitutional Law. He devoted his prime years to the service of China as government official and as diplomat, and spent his later years teaching Chinese legal history in Taiwan, and Chinese literature and philosophy in America.
, Japan
. His father was Hsu Shu-cheng (徐樹錚 Xu Shuzheng
) (1880–1925), who was a student of military science in Tokyo at the time. His mother was Hsia Hsuan (夏萱 Xia Xuan) (1878–1956). His siblings included his eldest brother Hsu Shen-chiao (徐審交 Xu Shenjiao) and a younger sister, Hsu Ying (徐桜).
The family returned to China
in 1910, where Dau-lin received his classical education under the instruction of a private tutor. His family shared a love of kunqu
, an old form of Chinese opera, and Dau-lin played the bamboo flute. After studying German, he travelled to Germany to further his education, and studied at the universities of Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Geneva. In 1929, he began graduate study in Law at the University of Berlin. Fellow students and friends, Stephan Kuttner
and Hellmut Wilhelm
, introduced Dau-lin to Barbara Schuchard, in Berlin. Dau-lin graduated in 1931 with a thesis entitled Das Geltungs-problem im Verfassungsrecht (The Problem of Validity in Constitutional Law), a document that is still used in constitutional law classes in Japan.
He returned to China in 1932 to take a government post, and became personal secretary to Chiang Kai-shek
. The following year, Barbara Schuchard joined him in China and they were married. In 1937, he lived in Hsikou (Xikou), as he was assigned as a tutor to Chiang Kai-shek's 27 year-old son, Chiang Ching-kuo
, who had just returned from 12 years in Russia. In 1938, they moved to Rome, where Dau-lin served as the Chargé d'affaires in Italy until 1941. In 1942 he became a department director in the Ministry of Personnel. In 1945 he received a cabinet-level position as Director of Political Affairs of the Executive Yuan. He resigned this post in November 1945 in order to formally accuse Feng Yu-hsiang of his father's (Xu Shuzheng
's) assassination, without appearance of political bias. While he served as a Professor of Law at National Central University
in Chungking (1944–45), he published the book Introduction to Tang Law. He was Professor and Dean of the Law School at National Tungchi University (Tongji University
) in Shanghai from 1947-49. He served briefly as Secretary-General of Taiwan Province in 1947 and finally as Secretary-General of his home province of Kiangsu in 1948-1949 (while on leave from the university).
His wife and three children left Shanghai
in 1949 and immigrated to the United States
. After the Communist government came to power, Dau-lin travelled through Hong Kong to Taiwan. Because of the long separation from his family, he and his first wife divorced. He served as a Professor of Law at National Taiwan University
from 1954 to 1958, teaching both Chinese and Roman law. He met and married Ye Miao-ying "Nancy" in Taiwan. From 1958 to 1962, he served as Professor and Department Chair in Political Science at Tunghai University
in Taichung, Taiwan. During this time he published a biography of his father, The Life of General Hsu Shu-tseng (in Chinese, Commercial Press).
In 1962, Dau-lin immigrated with his wife and two children to the U.S. to take a research faculty position at the University of Washington
, joining his former colleague and friend, Hellmut Wilhelm
, and his brother-in-law, Li Fang-kuei (Fang-kuei Li). Dau-lin left in 1965 to work at Columbia University
and Michigan State University
, before returning to become a teaching faculty member at the University of Washington in 1970. In his later years, his research focused on law in the Sung Dynasty. He died suddenly on December 24, 1973, in Seattle, Washington. Although he published throughout his career, his German and Chinese works have not been translated into English, and he was not as well-recognized in the US as he was in China and Japan.
Biography
He was born on December 4, 1907, in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 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...
. His father was Hsu Shu-cheng (徐樹錚 Xu Shuzheng
Xu Shuzheng
Hsu Seu-Cheng or Xu Shuzheng , was a Chinese warlord in Republican China. A subordinate and right-hand man of Duan Qirui, he was a prominent member of the Anhui Clique....
) (1880–1925), who was a student of military science in Tokyo at the time. His mother was Hsia Hsuan (夏萱 Xia Xuan) (1878–1956). His siblings included his eldest brother Hsu Shen-chiao (徐審交 Xu Shenjiao) and a younger sister, Hsu Ying (徐桜).
The family returned to China
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...
in 1910, where Dau-lin received his classical education under the instruction of a private tutor. His family shared a love of kunqu
Kunqu
Kunqu , also known as Kunju , Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area...
, an old form of Chinese opera, and Dau-lin played the bamboo flute. After studying German, he travelled to Germany to further his education, and studied at the universities of Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Geneva. In 1929, he began graduate study in Law at the University of Berlin. Fellow students and friends, Stephan Kuttner
Stephan Kuttner
Stephan George Kuttner , an expert in Canon Law, was recognized as a leader in the discovery, interpretation and analysis of important texts and manuscripts that are key to understanding the evolution of legal systems from Roman law to modern constitutional law.-Biography:Born in Bonn, Germany,...
and Hellmut Wilhelm
Hellmut Wilhelm
Hellmut Wilhelm was a German sinologist noted for his broad knowledge of both Chinese literature and Chinese history...
, introduced Dau-lin to Barbara Schuchard, in Berlin. Dau-lin graduated in 1931 with a thesis entitled Das Geltungs-problem im Verfassungsrecht (The Problem of Validity in Constitutional Law), a document that is still used in constitutional law classes in Japan.
He returned to China in 1932 to take a government post, and became personal secretary to Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang 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....
. The following year, Barbara Schuchard joined him in China and they were married. In 1937, he lived in Hsikou (Xikou), as he was assigned as a tutor to Chiang Kai-shek's 27 year-old son, Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
, who had just returned from 12 years in Russia. In 1938, they moved to Rome, where Dau-lin served as the Chargé d'affaires in Italy until 1941. In 1942 he became a department director in the Ministry of Personnel. In 1945 he received a cabinet-level position as Director of Political Affairs of the Executive Yuan. He resigned this post in November 1945 in order to formally accuse Feng Yu-hsiang of his father's (Xu Shuzheng
Xu Shuzheng
Hsu Seu-Cheng or Xu Shuzheng , was a Chinese warlord in Republican China. A subordinate and right-hand man of Duan Qirui, he was a prominent member of the Anhui Clique....
's) assassination, without appearance of political bias. While he served as a Professor of Law at National Central University
National Central University
National Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
in Chungking (1944–45), he published the book Introduction to Tang Law. He was Professor and Dean of the Law School at National Tungchi University (Tongji University
Tongji University
Tongji University , colloquially known as Tongji , located in Shanghai, has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members . It offers degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
) in Shanghai from 1947-49. He served briefly as Secretary-General of Taiwan Province in 1947 and finally as Secretary-General of his home province of Kiangsu in 1948-1949 (while on leave from the university).
His wife and three children left Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1949 and immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After the Communist government came to power, Dau-lin travelled through Hong Kong to Taiwan. Because of the long separation from his family, he and his first wife divorced. He served as a Professor of Law at National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
from 1954 to 1958, teaching both Chinese and Roman law. He met and married Ye Miao-ying "Nancy" in Taiwan. From 1958 to 1962, he served as Professor and Department Chair in Political Science at Tunghai University
Tunghai University
Tunghai University was founded by Methodist missionaries in 1955 as a comprehensive university. It is a top-ranked private school and a leading institution in Taiwan. Moreover, Tunghai University was founded as the first private university making it the second oldest university in Taiwan, which...
in Taichung, Taiwan. During this time he published a biography of his father, The Life of General Hsu Shu-tseng (in Chinese, Commercial Press).
In 1962, Dau-lin immigrated with his wife and two children to the U.S. to take a research faculty position at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, joining his former colleague and friend, Hellmut Wilhelm
Hellmut Wilhelm
Hellmut Wilhelm was a German sinologist noted for his broad knowledge of both Chinese literature and Chinese history...
, and his brother-in-law, Li Fang-kuei (Fang-kuei Li). Dau-lin left in 1965 to work at 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...
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, before returning to become a teaching faculty member at the University of Washington in 1970. In his later years, his research focused on law in the Sung Dynasty. He died suddenly on December 24, 1973, in Seattle, Washington. Although he published throughout his career, his German and Chinese works have not been translated into English, and he was not as well-recognized in the US as he was in China and Japan.
Selected works
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1929. "Die Chinesische Liebe. [In German]" Sinica 6.
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1945. Introduction to T'ang Law. [In Chinese] Chungking: Chung-hua. 94 pp.
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1957. Introduction to Semantics. [In Chinese] Hong Kong: Union Publishers. 218 pp.
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1959. "The Benevolent Government of the Early Chou Emperors [In Chinese]." Tunghai Journal. I
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1962. The Life of General Hsu Shu-tseng.[In Chinese] Taipei: Commercial Press. 331 pp.
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1970. "Crime and Cosmic Order." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 30 (October):111-125.
- Hsu Dau-lin. 1970-71. "The Myth of the 'Five Human Relations' of Confucius." Monumenta Serica, 29 (1970–71): 27-37.