Zhang Lan
Encyclopedia
Zhang Lan courtesy name
Biaofang, was a Chinese
political activist best known for being the chairman of the China Democratic League
from its founding in 1941 until 1955.
, Sichuan
in 1872. Witnessing the turmoil at the end of the Qing Dynasty
, Zhang was attracted to the reformist views of Liang Qichao
, and he joined the group advocating constitutional monarchy for China. In 1911, Zhang was vice-chairman of the committee of shareholders that opposed the planned nationalization of the projected Sichuan-Hankou
railroad. The protests against the plan swelled into an uprising that was easily quelled by authorities.
Zhang remained a political leader in Sichuan province. In 1916, he organized a small force to act against Yuan Shikai
, but Yuan died before the troops saw any action. Zhang served briefly in 1920 as governor of Sichuan province. In the following years, however, Zhang focused primarily on education. He served as president of Chengdu Normal College for two years before becoming president of Chengdu University in 1928. After the Second Sino-Japanese War
began in 1937, Zhang was appointed a member of the People's Political Council. Although he rarely participated in the body's deliberations, he was respected for his speeches criticizing the Nationalist government.
When a number of opposition groups joined together to form the League of Chinese Democratic Political Groups in 1941, Zhang was elected chairman. As a non-partisan figure, he calmed disagreements between the various constituent groups of the League. He retained this position after the League's reorganization into the China Democratic League in 1944, and until his death in 1955.
The China Democratic League was outlawed in 1947, after which Zhang was placed under house arrest in Shanghai
. In the spring of 1949, he escaped with the aid of Chinese Communist Party
agents and traveled to Beijing
to assist in forming the new government. He headed the China Democratic League delegation to the first Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
in September 1949, and was elected one of the Vice-chairmen of the Central People's Government after the founding of the People's Republic of China
on October 1st. Zhang held this position until 1954, when the government was reorganized to have only one vice-chairman, at which time he was made a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
. Zhang died of arteriosclerosis
in February 1955 at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Liu Huicheng.
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...
Biaofang, was a Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
political activist best known for being the chairman of the 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...
from its founding in 1941 until 1955.
Biography
Zhang was born into a scholarly family in NanchongNanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
in 1872. Witnessing the turmoil at the end of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, Zhang was attracted to the reformist views of Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao |Styled]] Zhuoru, ; Pseudonym: Rengong) was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher and reformist during the Qing Dynasty , who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements...
, and he joined the group advocating constitutional monarchy for China. In 1911, Zhang was vice-chairman of the committee of shareholders that opposed the planned nationalization of the projected Sichuan-Hankou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
railroad. The protests against the plan swelled into an uprising that was easily quelled by authorities.
Zhang remained a political leader in Sichuan province. In 1916, he organized a small force to act against Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
, but Yuan died before the troops saw any action. Zhang served briefly in 1920 as governor of Sichuan province. In the following years, however, Zhang focused primarily on education. He served as president of Chengdu Normal College for two years before becoming president of Chengdu University in 1928. After the Second Sino-Japanese War
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 in 1937, Zhang was appointed a member of the People's Political Council. Although he rarely participated in the body's deliberations, he was respected for his speeches criticizing the Nationalist government.
When a number of opposition groups joined together to form the League of Chinese Democratic Political Groups in 1941, Zhang was elected chairman. As a non-partisan figure, he calmed disagreements between the various constituent groups of the League. He retained this position after the League's reorganization into the China Democratic League in 1944, and until his death in 1955.
The China Democratic League was outlawed in 1947, after which Zhang was placed under house arrest in 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 the spring of 1949, he escaped with the aid of Chinese Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
agents and traveled to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to assist in forming the new government. He headed the China Democratic League delegation to the first Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
in September 1949, and was elected one of the Vice-chairmen of the Central People's Government after the founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
on October 1st. Zhang held this position until 1954, when the government was reorganized to have only one vice-chairman, at which time he was made a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is a committee of about 150 members of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China , which is convened between plenary sessions of the NPC. It has the constitutional authority to modify legislation within limits set by...
. Zhang died of arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a stiffening of arteries.Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening of medium or large arteries It should not be confused with "arteriolosclerosis" or "atherosclerosis".Also known by the name "myoconditis" which is...
in February 1955 at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Liu Huicheng.