Qian Xuantong: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Chinese linguist and writer (1887–1939)}}
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{{infobox Chinese |pic=Qian Xuantong.jpg |piccap=Qian Xuantong
{{family name hatnote|[[Qian (surname)|Qian]]|lang=Chinese}}
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|t=錢玄同 |s=钱玄同 |p=Qián Xuántóng |w=Ch’ien Hsüan-t’ung |hide=no
{{infobox academic|
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|altname=Birth name: Qian Xia |t2=錢夏 |s2=钱夏 |p2=Qián Xià |w2=Ch'ien Hsia
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| image = Qian Xuantong.jpg
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|altname3=Courtesey name: Deqian |t3=德潛 |s3=德潜 |p3=Déqián |w3=Te-ch'ien }}
| birth_date = 1887
'''Qian Xuantong''' (1887—January 17, 1939) was a [[China|Chinese]] linguist.
| birth_place = [[Huzhou]], Zhejiang
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==Biography==
| death_date = 17 January 1939
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Born in [[Huzhou]], [[Zhejiang]], Qian was named '''Qian Xia''' at birth and was given the [[courtesy name]] '''Deqian''' (德潜). Qian trained in traditional Chinese [[philology]]. After receiving his university education in [[Japan]], Qian held a number of teaching positions in mainland China. He was a student of [[Zhang Binglin]]; some of Zhang's works were copied and printed in Qian's remarkable [[seal script]] handwriting. As a philologist, Qian was the first to reconstruct the vowel system of [[Old Chinese]] in [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]].
| death_place =
| discipline = [[Linguist]]
| workplaces = [[Peking University]]
| known_for = [[Simplified characters]], [[pinyin]]
| main_interests = [[Philology]], [[language planning]]
| school_tradition = [[Doubting Antiquity School]]
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| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes |piccap=Qian Xuantong
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| t=錢玄同 |s=钱玄同 |p=Qián Xuántóng |gr=Chyan Shyuantorng |w=Ch’ien Hsüan-t’ung |hide=no
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| altname=Birth name|t2=錢夏 |s2=钱夏 |p2=Qián Xià |gr2=Chyan Shiah |w2=Ch'ien Hsia
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| altname3=Courtesy name|t3=德潛 |s3=德潜 |p3=Déqián |gr3=Derchyan |w3=Te-ch'ien }}}}


'''Qian Xuantong''' (1887{{snd}}17 January 1939) was a Chinese linguist and writer considered to be a leading figure of the [[Doubting Antiquity School]], along with [[Gu Jiegang]]. He was a professor of literature at National Peking University.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=A Billion Voices|last=Moser|first=David|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2016|pages=34–36}}</ref>
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A close friend of [[Lu Xun]], Qian was a key figure in the [[May Fourth Movement]]. Despite his close relationship with the Chinese classics, he promoted the abolition of [[classical Chinese]]. He was also a strong supporter of [[Esperanto]], at one time even proposed the substitution of Chinese by it.<ref name="DeFrancis">{{Citation

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== Biography ==
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Born in [[Huzhou, Zhejiang]], Qian was named Qian Xia at birth and was given the [[courtesy name]] Deqian. Qian trained in traditional Chinese [[philology]]. After receiving his university education in Japan, Qian held a number of teaching positions in mainland China. He was a student of [[Zhang Binglin]]; some of Zhang's works were copied and printed in Qian's [[seal script]] handwriting. As a philologist, Qian was the first to reconstruct the vowel system of [[Old Chinese]] in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]].

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A close friend of [[Lu Xun]], Qian was a key figure in the [[May Fourth Movement]] and the [[New Culture Movement]]. Despite his close relationship with the Chinese classics, he promoted the abolition of [[Literary Chinese]]. He was also a strong supporter of [[Esperanto]], at one time even proposed the substitution of Chinese by it.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="DeFrancis">{{Citation
| last = DeFrancis
| last = DeFrancis
| first = John
| first = John
Line 15: Line 30:
| year = 1950
| year = 1950
| url = http://www.pinyin.info/readings/texts/DeFr1950.html
| url = http://www.pinyin.info/readings/texts/DeFr1950.html
| chapter = chapter 4: One State, One People, One Language }}</ref> An open letter Qian wrote in response to an anti-Confucian essay by [[Chen Duxiu]] stated:<ref name=":0" />
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| chapter = chapter 4: One State, One People, One Language }}</ref> He and [[Liu Bannong]] did their best to promote [[vernacular Chinese]], attacking such classical Chinese stylists as [[Lin Shu]]. His skepticism of the Chinese heritage was such that he at one time wanted to change his surname to Yi Gu (疑古 "suspecting things ancient"). He also did much important work with regards to the standardization of [[Simplified Chinese characters]], [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], and the design of [[pinyin]].


{{Blockquote|text=Dear Mr. Chen,
His son [[Qian Sanqiang]] was a [[nuclear physics|nuclear physicist]] who contributed to development of [[nuclear weapon]]s in China.
In an early essay of yours you strongly advocated the abolition of Confucianism. Concerning this proposal of yours I think that it is now the only way to save China. But upon reading it I have thought of one more thing: if you want to abolish Confucianism you must first abolish the Chinese [written] language. If you want to get rid of the average person's childish, uncivilized, obstinate way of thinking, then it is all the more essential that you first abolish the Chinese language. To abolish Confucianism and eliminate Taoism is a fundamental way to prevent the fall of China and to allow the Chinese to become a civilized nation in the twentieth century. But a more fundamental way than this is to abolish the written Chinese language, in which Confucian thoughts and fallacious Taoist sayings are recorded.|sign=|source=}}


Chen thought that abolishing written Chinese would destroy the spoken language as well, and he countered Qian's proposal by suggesting that Chinese could use a Roman alphabet.<ref name=":0" />
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==References==
*He Jiuying 何九盈 (1995). ''Zhongguo xiandai yuyanxue shi'' (中囯现代语言学史 "A history of modern Chinese linguistics"). Guangzhou: Guangdong jiaoyu chubanshe.
*Wu Rui 吳銳 (1996). ''Qian Xuantong pingzhuan'' (钱玄同评传 "A Biography of Qian Xuantong"). Nanchang: Baihuazhou wenyi chubanshe.
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{{reflist}}


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He and [[Liu Bannong]] promoted [[vernacular Chinese]], attacking classical stylists such as [[Lin Shu]]. His skepticism of the Chinese heritage was such that he at one time wanted to change his surname to Yigu ({{zhi|c=疑古|l=suspecting things ancient}}). He also did important work regarding standardization of [[simplified characters]], as well as the [[Standard Chinese]] dialect and the design of [[pinyin]].
==External links==

*{{worldcat id|lccn-n86-13045}}
His son [[Qian Sanqiang]] was a [[nuclear physics|nuclear physicist]] who was instrumental in China's early nuclear weapons program, sometimes referred to as the "father of the atomic bomb" for China.<ref name=":0b">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1826576|title=那年今日丨中国的"原子弹之父"钱三强诞生_科技湃_澎湃新闻-The Paper|website=www.thepaper.cn|access-date=2017-10-16}}</ref>

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== References ==
=== Citations ===
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{{reflist}}
=== Works cited ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book |last=He|given=Jiuying|year=1995|author-mask=He Jiuying (何九盈) |trans-title=A history of modern Chinese linguistics|script-title=zh:中囯现代语言学史|isbn=978-7-54063-859-7 |language=zh|publisher=Guangdong jiaoyu chubanshe|location=Guangzhou}}
*{{Cite book |last=Wu |first=Rui |author-mask=Wu Rui (吳銳)|year=1996 |publisher=Baihuazhou wenyi chubanshe |isbn=978-7-80579-516-4 |series=Guoxue dashi congshu |location=Nanchang|trans-title=A Biography of Qian Xuantong|lang=zh|script-title=zh:钱玄同评传}}
{{ref end}}
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{{Authority control}}


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{{Authority control|VIAF=1483256}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Qian, Xuantong
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Chinese linguist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1887
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1939
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qian, Xuantong}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qian, Xuantong}}
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1939 deaths]]
[[Category:1939 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Huzhou]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Beijing Normal University]]
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[[Category:Chinese linguists]]
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[[Category:Peking University faculty]]
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[[Category:Phoneticians]]
[[Category:Chinese Esperantists]]
[[Category:Chinese Esperantists]]
[[Category:Beijing Normal University faculty]]
[[Category:Educators from Huzhou]]
[[Category:Educators from Zhejiang]]
[[Category:Linguists from China]]
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[[Category:Academic staff of Peking University]]

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[[Category:Phoneticians]]

[[Category:Scientists from Huzhou]]
{{Esperanto-stub}}
[[Category:Writers from Huzhou]]

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[[Category:20th-century linguists]]
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[[fr:Qian Xuantong]]
[[ja:銭玄同]]
[[no:Qian Xuantong]]
[[zh:钱玄同]]

Latest revision as of 13:00, 13 March 2024

In this Chinese name, the family name is Qian.
Qian Xuantong
Born1887
Huzhou, Zhejiang
Died17 January 1939
Known forSimplified characters, pinyin
Academic work
DisciplineLinguist
School or traditionDoubting Antiquity School
InstitutionsPeking University
Main interestsPhilology, language planning
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese錢玄同
Simplified Chinese钱玄同
Hanyu PinyinQián Xuántóng
Gwoyeu RomatzyhChyan Shyuantorng
Wade–GilesCh’ien Hsüan-t’ung
Birth name
Traditional Chinese錢夏
Simplified Chinese钱夏
Hanyu PinyinQián Xià
Gwoyeu RomatzyhChyan Shiah
Wade–GilesCh'ien Hsia
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese德潛
Simplified Chinese德潜
Hanyu PinyinDéqián
Gwoyeu RomatzyhDerchyan
Wade–GilesTe-ch'ien

Qian Xuantong (1887 – 17 January 1939) was a Chinese linguist and writer considered to be a leading figure of the Doubting Antiquity School, along with Gu Jiegang. He was a professor of literature at National Peking University.[1]

Biography[edit]

Born in Huzhou, Zhejiang, Qian was named Qian Xia at birth and was given the courtesy name Deqian. Qian trained in traditional Chinese philology. After receiving his university education in Japan, Qian held a number of teaching positions in mainland China. He was a student of Zhang Binglin; some of Zhang's works were copied and printed in Qian's seal script handwriting. As a philologist, Qian was the first to reconstruct the vowel system of Old Chinese in the IPA.

A close friend of Lu Xun, Qian was a key figure in the May Fourth Movement and the New Culture Movement. Despite his close relationship with the Chinese classics, he promoted the abolition of Literary Chinese. He was also a strong supporter of Esperanto, at one time even proposed the substitution of Chinese by it.[1][2] An open letter Qian wrote in response to an anti-Confucian essay by Chen Duxiu stated:[1]

Dear Mr. Chen, In an early essay of yours you strongly advocated the abolition of Confucianism. Concerning this proposal of yours I think that it is now the only way to save China. But upon reading it I have thought of one more thing: if you want to abolish Confucianism you must first abolish the Chinese [written] language. If you want to get rid of the average person's childish, uncivilized, obstinate way of thinking, then it is all the more essential that you first abolish the Chinese language. To abolish Confucianism and eliminate Taoism is a fundamental way to prevent the fall of China and to allow the Chinese to become a civilized nation in the twentieth century. But a more fundamental way than this is to abolish the written Chinese language, in which Confucian thoughts and fallacious Taoist sayings are recorded.

Chen thought that abolishing written Chinese would destroy the spoken language as well, and he countered Qian's proposal by suggesting that Chinese could use a Roman alphabet.[1]

He and Liu Bannong promoted vernacular Chinese, attacking classical stylists such as Lin Shu. His skepticism of the Chinese heritage was such that he at one time wanted to change his surname to Yigu (疑古; 'suspecting things ancient'). He also did important work regarding standardization of simplified characters, as well as the Standard Chinese dialect and the design of pinyin.

His son Qian Sanqiang was a nuclear physicist who was instrumental in China's early nuclear weapons program, sometimes referred to as the "father of the atomic bomb" for China.[3]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Moser, David (2016). A Billion Voices. Penguin Books. pp. 34–36.
  2. ^ DeFrancis, John (1950), "chapter 4: One State, One People, One Language", Nationalism and Language Reform in China, Princeton University Press
  3. ^ "那年今日丨中国的"原子弹之父"钱三强诞生_科技湃_澎湃新闻-The Paper". www.thepaper.cn. Retrieved 2017-10-16.

Works cited[edit]

  • He Jiuying (何九盈) (1995). 中囯现代语言学史 [A history of modern Chinese linguistics] (in Chinese). Guangzhou: Guangdong jiaoyu chubanshe. ISBN 978-7-54063-859-7.
  • Wu Rui (吳銳) (1996). 钱玄同评传 [A Biography of Qian Xuantong]. Guoxue dashi congshu (in Chinese). Nanchang: Baihuazhou wenyi chubanshe. ISBN 978-7-80579-516-4.
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