Derk Bodde (March 9, 1909November 3, 2003) was an American
sinologist and
historian of China known for his pioneering work on the history of the Chinese legal system.
Bodde received his undergraduate degree from
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
in 1930. He spent six years (1931-1937) studying in China on a fellowship. He earned a
doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...
in Chinese Studies from the
University of Leiden
Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; nl, Universiteit Leiden) is a public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. The university was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, as a reward to the city of Le ...
March 3, 1938. When the
Fulbright scholarship program was initiated in 1948, Bodde was the first American recipient of a one-year fellowship, which he spent studying in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
.
He spent several decades as Professor of Chinese Studies at the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
, and was a president of the
American Oriental Society
The American Oriental Society was chartered under the laws of Massachusetts on September 7, 1842. It is one of the oldest learned societies in America, and is the oldest devoted to a particular field of scholarship.
The Society encourages basi ...
(1968–69). He was a member of both the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, a ...
and the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
.
Honors
*
Association for Asian Studies The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) is a scholarly, non-political and non-profit professional association focusing on Asia and the study of Asia. It is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.
The Association provides members with an Annu ...
(AAS), 1985 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies
[Association for Asian Studies (AAS)]
1985 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies
retrieved 2011-05-31
See also
*
William P. Alford: current Harvard University scholar of Chinese law
*
Jerome A. Cohen: current New York University scholar (emeritus) of Chinese law
*
List of Sinologists
A list of sinologists around the world, past and present. Sinology is commonly defined as the academic study of China primarily through Chinese language, literature, and history, and often refers to Western scholarship. Its origin "may be traced t ...
Notes
References
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1909 births
2003 deaths
American expatriates in China
American sinologists
Harvard University alumni
Historians from Massachusetts
Historians of China
Legal historians
Leiden University alumni
Scholars of Chinese law
University of Pennsylvania faculty
{{US-historian-stub
Members of the American Philosophical Society
Fulbright alumni