Zhang Shizhao
Encyclopedia
Zhang Shizhao courtesy name Xingyan, penname Huangzhonghuang, Qingtong or Qiutong, was a Chinese politician of the 20th century. He was the Minister of Justice and Minister of Education of the Beiyang Government
, led by Duan Qirui
during the Republic of China
period. He was a senator in the Republic of China government and a standing committee member of the National People's Congress
of the People's Republic of China and a standing committee member of the CPPCC in PRC. He was the president of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History
.
. He entered Lianghu Academy of Chinese Literature (两湖书院) in 1901 and was a classmate of Huang Xing
, with whom he co-founded the Huaxing Party (华兴会) (out of which in 1904 the Huaxinghui
was created). In May 1903, he was appointed the chief editor of the "Su Bao" newspaper. After the paper was banned, he founded "Minyu Daily", whose name (literally meaning "people's murmurs") insinuated that people could not complain loudly, only murmur (民不敢声，惟有吁也). Together with Yang Shouren, Cai Yuanpei
, Cai E
and others, he organized the Patriot Association in Shanghai
.
After the Xinhai Revolution
, he joined the Beiyang Military Government
led by Yuan Shikai
and became the secretary general in Guangdong Military Government. He later became the editor in chief of "Jiaying", a conservative journal. He spent his whole life promoting Classical Chinese
writing and protesting written vernacular Chinese, disputing for many years with Hu Shi, a pioneer of liberal Chinese. In 1920, he sponsored Mao Zedong
20,000 yuan.
He later became the Minister of Justice and Minister of Education in the government led by Duan Qirui
. In 1930, he was invited by Zhang Xueliang
and became the dean of the school of Chinese literature at Northeast University in China. After the Mukden Incident
, he went to Shanghai to work as a lawyer. After the Sino-Japanese War
, he became a senator in the Republic of China Chongqing
government. He returned to Shanghai later and resumed his law practice. In Spring of 1949, he was invited by Li Zongren
as a KMT delegate and went to Beijing
to negotiate with the CPC. In May 1973, he flew to Hong Kong
and coordinated the proposed Third KMT and CPC corporation.
He died in Hong Kong on July 1, 1973 at age of 92.
His adopted daughter was Zhang Hanzhi
.
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
, led by Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui was a Chinese warlord and politician, commander in the Beiyang Army, and the Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China from November 24, 1924 to April 20, 1926. He was arguably the most powerful man in China from 1916 to 1920.- Early life :Born in Hefei as Duan Qirui , his...
during the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
period. He was a senator in the Republic of China government and a standing committee member of the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
of the People's Republic of China and a standing committee member of the CPPCC in PRC. He was the president of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History
Central Research Institute of Culture and History
Central Research Institute of Culture and History is an institute founded by Communist Party of China and Chinese government for senior intellects with united front and honorary purposes. Its principle is "respecting elders and promoting culture"...
.
Biography
Zhang Shizhao was born in Changsha in HunanHunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
. He entered Lianghu Academy of Chinese Literature (两湖书院) in 1901 and was a classmate of Huang Xing
Huang Xing
Huang Xing or Huang Hsing , was a Chinese revolutionary leader, militarist, and statesman, was the first army commander-in-chief of the Republic of China. As one of the founders of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China, his position was next to Sun Yat-sen. Together they were known as...
, with whom he co-founded the Huaxing Party (华兴会) (out of which in 1904 the Huaxinghui
Huaxinghui
The Huaxinghui , translated as the China Revival Society or China Arise Society, was founded by Huang Xing and Zhang Shizhao on February 15, 1904, in Hunan for the explicit goal of overthrowing the Manchu dynasty. Many of its members later became key figures of the Tongmenghui. The Huaxinghui was...
was created). In May 1903, he was appointed the chief editor of the "Su Bao" newspaper. After the paper was banned, he founded "Minyu Daily", whose name (literally meaning "people's murmurs") insinuated that people could not complain loudly, only murmur (民不敢声，惟有吁也). Together with Yang Shouren, Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei was a Chinese educator and the president of Peking University. He was known for his critical evaluation of the Chinese culture that led to the influential May Fourth Movement...
, Cai E
Cai E
Cai E or Tsai Ao was a Chinese revolutionary leader and warlord. He was born Cai Genyin in Shaoyang, Hunan, and his courtesy name was Songpo...
and others, he organized the Patriot Association 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...
.
After the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
, he joined the Beiyang Military Government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
led by 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...
and became the secretary general in Guangdong Military Government. He later became the editor in chief of "Jiaying", a conservative journal. He spent his whole life promoting Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese...
writing and protesting written vernacular Chinese, disputing for many years with Hu Shi, a pioneer of liberal Chinese. In 1920, he sponsored Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
20,000 yuan.
He later became the Minister of Justice and Minister of Education in the government led by Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui was a Chinese warlord and politician, commander in the Beiyang Army, and the Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China from November 24, 1924 to April 20, 1926. He was arguably the most powerful man in China from 1916 to 1920.- Early life :Born in Hefei as Duan Qirui , his...
. In 1930, he was invited by Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang , occasionally called Peter Hsueh Liang Chang in English, nicknamed the Young Marshal , was the effective ruler of Manchuria and much of North China after the assassination of his father, Zhang Zuolin, by the Japanese on 4 June 1928...
and became the dean of the school of Chinese literature at Northeast University in China. After the Mukden Incident
Mukden Incident
The Mukden Incident, also known as the Manchurian Incident, was a staged event that was engineered by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for invading the northern part of China known as Manchuria in 1931....
, he went to Shanghai to work as a lawyer. After the 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...
, he became a senator in the Republic of China Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
government. He returned to Shanghai later and resumed his law practice. In Spring of 1949, he was invited by Li Zongren
Li Zongren
Li Zongren or Li Tsung-jen , courtesy name Delin , was a prominent Guangxi warlord and Kuomintang military commander during the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
as a KMT delegate and went 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 negotiate with the CPC. In May 1973, he flew to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and coordinated the proposed Third KMT and CPC corporation.
He died in Hong Kong on July 1, 1973 at age of 92.
His adopted daughter was Zhang Hanzhi
Zhang Hanzhi
Zhang Hanzhi was a Chinese diplomat who was Mao Zedong's English tutor and U.S. President Richard Nixon's interpreter during his historic 1972 trip to China....
.