Leo Suryadinata
Encyclopedia
Leo Suryadinata is a Chinese Indonesian
sinologist.
factory. He had 7 siblings.
During high school, Suryadinata read and wrote numerous papers on Indonesian
and Chinese history and literature. He later attended Nanyang University
in Singapore
, focusing on Chinese
and South-East Asian literature. He graduated in 1962 with a bachelour's degree in arts.
From 1962 to 1965, Suryadinata studied literature at the University of Indonesia
in Jakarta, receiving another bachelour's degree from that institution. He focused on Chinese literature, but began to show interest in the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. His thesis discussed the late 19th century Peranakan Chinese press and early 20th century resistance movements against the Dutch colonial government
.
In 1970, Suryadinata received a master's degree in history from Monash University
in Australia. Two years later, he graduated from the University of Ohio in the United States with a master's degree in politics. He later received his doctorate from the American University
in Washington, D.C.
After earning his doctorate, Suryadinata returned to Singapore and took a research position at the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) from 1976 to 1982. In 1982, he took a job as senior lecturer at Department of Political Science of the National University of Singapore
; he later became an assistant professor in 1994 and a full professor in 2000.
From 1990, Suryadinata has served as the editor of the academic journal Asian Culture
. He also served as editor (later co-editor) the Asian Journal of Political Science from 1993 to 2002.
In 2002, Suryadinata returned to ISEAS as a senior research fellow; he left in 2005. That year, he took a position as the director of the Chinese Heritage Center at Nanyang Technological University
.
writes that "[a]nyone studying the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia is bound to encounter Leo Suryadinata's works."
Chinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
sinologist.
Biography
Suryadinata was born Liauw Kian-Djoe (also written Liao Jianyu) in Jakarta. His father was the owner of a building materialBuilding material
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more...
factory. He had 7 siblings.
During high school, Suryadinata read and wrote numerous papers on Indonesian
History of Indonesia
The History of Indonesia was shaped by its geographic position, its natural resources, the series of human migrations, contacts, economy and trade, conquests and politics. Indonesia is an archipelagic country of 17,508 islands stretching along the equator in South East Asia...
and Chinese history and literature. He later attended Nanyang University
Nanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, focusing on Chinese
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
and South-East Asian literature. He graduated in 1962 with a bachelour's degree in arts.
From 1962 to 1965, Suryadinata studied literature at the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
in Jakarta, receiving another bachelour's degree from that institution. He focused on Chinese literature, but began to show interest in the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. His thesis discussed the late 19th century Peranakan Chinese press and early 20th century resistance movements against the Dutch colonial government
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
In 1970, Suryadinata received a master's degree in history from Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
in Australia. Two years later, he graduated from the University of Ohio in the United States with a master's degree in politics. He later received his doctorate from the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
After earning his doctorate, Suryadinata returned to Singapore and took a research position at the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) from 1976 to 1982. In 1982, he took a job as senior lecturer at Department of Political Science of the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
; he later became an assistant professor in 1994 and a full professor in 2000.
From 1990, Suryadinata has served as the editor of the academic journal Asian Culture
Asian Culture (journal)
Asian Culture is the official journal of the Singapore Society of Asian Studies. It is a bilingual refereed journal and was first published in February 1983. Asian Culture started off as a biannual journal until 1990 when it became an annual journal...
. He also served as editor (later co-editor) the Asian Journal of Political Science from 1993 to 2002.
In 2002, Suryadinata returned to ISEAS as a senior research fellow; he left in 2005. That year, he took a position as the director of the Chinese Heritage Center at Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore with the biggest campus in Singapore and the world's largest engineering college. Its lush 200-hectare Yunnan Garden campus was the Youth Olympic Village of the world's first 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in...
.
Publications
, Suryadinata has published 50 books and monographs, 30 chapters in peer reviewed books, 15 articles in international journals, 11 articles in Indonesian journals, six working papers and more than 100 conference papers. They have been published in English, Indonesian, and Chinese. Aimee Dawis of The Jakarta PostThe Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara, and the head office is in the nation's capital, Jakarta....
writes that "[a]nyone studying the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia is bound to encounter Leo Suryadinata's works."