Pan Guangdan was one of the most distinguished sociologists and eugenicists

Eugenics

Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...

 of China. He was also a renowned expert on education. His wide research scope included eugenics, education policy, matrimony policy, familial problems, prostitute policy, intellectuals distributions and etc. Pan's wide-ranging intellect led to his active participation in the Crescent Moon Society

Crescent Moon Society

The Crescent Moon Society was a Chinese literary society founded by the poet Xu Zhimo in 1923, which operated until 1931. It was named after The Crescent Moon, a poem by Rabindranath Tagore...

.

Pan's most famous student/protege was Fei Xiaotong

Fei Xiaotong

Fei Xiaotong, or Fei Hsiao-Tung was a pioneering Chinese researcher and professor of sociology and anthropology; he was also noted for his studies in the study of China's ethnic groups as well as a social activist...

, the "father of Chinese anthropology."

Pan joined the China Democratic Groups League (later China Democratic League

China Democratic League

The China Democratic League is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China.The party was established in 1939 and took its present name in 1944. At its formation, it was a coalition of three pro-democracy parties and three pressure groups...

) in 1941, and was a standing committee member of the central committee of the League.

Pan was persecuted in 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...

, and died in 1967, at 69. He was rehabilitated in 1979.