Chen Daqi (; 1886–1983), traditionally

romanised In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...

as Ch'en Ta-ch'i, was a Chinese psychologist, philosopher, politician, and writer. He was a pioneer of modern

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

in China. Chen was a former President of

Zhejiang University Zhejiang University (ZJU) is a public university, public research university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and D ...

, and acting President of

Peking University Peking University (PKU) is a Public university, public Types of universities and colleges in China#By designated academic emphasis, university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Peop ...

Biography

Chen was born in Haiyan County,

Zhejiang Province ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

in 1886. Chen finished his elementary study in a local school of his hometown, and studied English in Shanghai. In 1901, Chen entered Zhejiang

Qiushi Academy The former site of Qiushi Academy () is historic site protected as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The site was made a college campus by Hangzhou mayor Lin Qi in 1897. It became the oldest campus of Zhejiang U ...

(current

) in

Hangzhou Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...

. In 1903, Chen went to study in Japan. Chen first studied in

Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan. ...

, but later entered the Tokyo Imperial University (now the

University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...

). Chen studied

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

, majored in

, and graduated BA in 1912. In 1912, Chen went back to China after graduation. From 1912 to 1913, Chen was the president of Zhejiang Advanced College, current

, in

. Chen was also a professor of Zhejiang School of Law and Politics. Chen was a strong supporter of

May Fourth Movement The May Fourth Movement was a Chinese cultural and anti-imperialist political movement which grew out of student protests in Beijing on May 4, 1919. Students gathered in front of Tiananmen to protest the Chinese government's weak response ...

. He was also a close friend of

Lu Xun Lu Xun ( zh, c=魯迅, p=Lǔ Xùn, ; 25 September 188119 October 1936), pen name of Zhou Shuren, born Zhou Zhangshou, was a Chinese writer. A leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in both vernacular and literary Chinese as a no ...

. From 1922 to 1927, Chen was a professor, the head of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University in Beijing. From 1927 to January 1928, Chen was the

Provost Provost may refer to: Officials Ecclesiastic * Provost (religion), a high-ranking church official * Prince-provost, a high-ranking church official Government * Provost (civil), an officer of local government, including the equivalent ...

of Peking University. From 6 November 1928 to 30 December 1929, Chen was the

Secretary-general Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

of the

Examination Yuan The Examination Yuan is the civil service commission branch in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). It has a president, a vice president, and seven to nine members, all o ...

of the Central Government of ROC. In 1929, Chen was the

dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...

of the arts faculty of Peking University. From 1929 to January 1931, Chen was the acting President of Peking University. From 10 December 1930 to 22 December 1932 and from 10 to 27 January 1942, Chen served the Secretary-general of Examination Yuan. In July 1948, Chen start serving as a senior advisor of national policy for government.Chen Daqi - People from Jiaxing
After 1949, Chen went to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. Chen served the first President of

National Chengchi University National Chengchi University () is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. First established in Nanjing in 1927, the university was subsequently reestablished in 1954 in Taiwan as the first reestablished "National University". The u ...

(NCCU) from October 1954 to July 1959. In April 1964, Chen became the first director-general of the Confucius-Mencius Society in

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

at the Nanhai Academy. Chen died in Taiwan on 8 January 1983.

Works

Chen was an influential educator, writer, educator,

Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius ...

philosopher Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

and

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...

. Chen published more than 20

monograph A monograph is generally a long-form work on one (usually scholarly) subject, or one aspect of a subject, typically created by a single author or artist (or, sometimes, by two or more authors). Traditionally it is in written form and published a ...

s. His 1918 book ''A General Outline of Psychology'' () is the first modern textbook of psychology in China. Chen also translated many German psychological works, thus he was also a well-known translator.

References

External links

Brief Biography
from Zhejiang University
Chen Daqi – President of Zhejiang University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Daqi 1886 births 1983 deaths 20th-century Chinese translators Chinese psychologists Educators from Jiaxing Academic staff of Peking University Philosophers from Zhejiang Politicians from Jiaxing 20th-century Chinese philosophers Republic of China politicians from Zhejiang Translators from German Translators to Chinese University of Tokyo alumni Writers from Jiaxing Zhejiang University alumni Academic staff of Zhejiang University 20th-century psychologists