Yang Changji (simplified Chinese: 杨昌济; traditional Chinese: 楊昌濟; pinyin: Yáng Chāngjì; 21 April 1871 – 17 January 1920) was a Chinese educator, philosopher, and writer. After advanced studies in Japan and Europe, he taught at Hunan First Normal University, where he exerted considerable influence on Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen, Xiao Zisheng, and others, and then at Peking University. He became considered one of the leading philosophers of his generation before his early death.
Biography
Yang was born in Changsha County of Changsha prefecture in Hunan Province of China during the Qing Dynasty. During his childhood, Yang studied at Cheng-Zhu school. He first attended school at the age of 7. In 1898, Yang was accepted to Yuelu Academy. He promoted democracy and supported Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. After the Hundred Days' Reform, he retired into the country. In 1903, Yang entered Hongwen Academy (弘文学院). After graduating, he attended University of Tsukuba. In 1909, Yang studied at the University of Aberdeen, majoring in philosophy and ethics. He then went on to study literature at University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1912.
In 1912, Yang went to Germany on an education investigation. From 1913 to 1918, Yang worked in Hunan First Normal University. His students included Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen and Deng Zhongxia. Befriending Mao, professor Yang urged him to read a radical newspaper, New Youth (Xin qingnian), the creation of his friend Chen Duxiu, a dean at Peking University. From 1918 to 1920, Yang taught ethics in Peking University.
Yang died at the Beijing Germany Hospital in 1920, aged 48.
Personal life
Yang married Xiang Zhenxi (向振熙), they had a daughter named Yang Kaihui, she married Mao Zedong in Hunan First Normal University in 1920, they had 3 children.
Works
- Dahuazhai Daily (達化齋日記)
- Collected Works of Yang Changji (楊昌濟文集)
- The origin problem of Ethics (倫理學之根本問題)
Notes
References and further reading
- "Sage in residence: Yang Changji," Ch 6 in Liu, Liyan (2012). Red Genesis the Hunan Normal School and the Creation of Chinese Communism, 1903-1921. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9781438445052.
