Chang Ch'i-yun (29 September 1901 – 26 August 1985) was a Chinese historian, geographer, educator and politician. He was the founder of the

Chinese Culture University The Chinese Culture University (CCU; ) is a private Taiwanese university located in Yangmingshan in Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan. Established in 1962, CCU is one of the largest universities in Taiwan with an enrollment of about 32,000 student ...

and the Nanhai Academy, and served as

Minister of Education An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...

of the

Republic of China 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 ...

from 1954 to 1958. He was a lead editor on the ''

Zhongwen Da Cidian __NOTOC__ The ''Zhongwen Da Cidian'', also known in English as the ''Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the Chinese Language'', is an unabridged Chinese dictionary, edited by Zhang Qiyun and others. The first edition had 40 volumes including its radi ...

''.

Biography

Chang Ch'i-yun graduated from the Division of History and Geography of National Nanjing Higher Normal School (later renamed

National Central University National Central University (; abbreviated NCU; ) is a public research university based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1902 in Nanjing; initially located in Miaoli after moving to Taiwan, it relocated to Zhongli in 1962 and developed into a com ...

and

Nanjing University Nanjing University (NJU) is a public university in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. It is affiliated and sponsored by the Ministry of Education. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction. The univers ...

), where he studied from scholars such as

Liu Yizheng Liu Yizheng (; 1880–1956) was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, librarian, cultural scholar, educator, and academic leader. He is known for his personal charisma, spirit and eruditeness. In modern Chinese academic field, it is said that the num ...

, Zhu Kezhen and Liu Boming. After graduating, Chang worked for ''

The Commercial Press The Commercial Press () is the first modern publishing organization in China. The Commercial Press is known for its academic publishing and translation work in humanities and social sciences, as well as the '' Xinhua Dictionary''. History In ...

'' as an editor, and later taught at his alma mater, the National Central University. In 1936, he was transferred to

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 taught history and geography, later becoming the university's dean of the Faculty of Arts. In 1943, Chang was invited to give lectures at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in the U.S. In 1949, Chang escaped to Taiwan, where he became the Secretary-General of the Kuomintang Central Committee, and in 1954, he became the Minister of Education. In 1955, Chang became the first Minister of the

Atomic Energy Council The Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC; ) is an independent government agency of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) which is responsible for atomic safety, development and regulations. It also conducts research and development into ...

, a position he held until 1958. In 1962, Chang founded the Far East University, later renamed the

. Chang died in Taipei in 1985. His son is

Chang Jen-Hu Chang Jen-hu (), or J. H. Chang (18 March 1927 – 25 November 2019) was a Chinese educator, geographer based in Taiwan. He was a specialist in ancient climate change, and the agricultural development of mainland China and Taiwan. Chang was the ...

, an educator in

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 ...

Works

*《清史》 "Qing Shi" History of Qing, 1961.

References

1901 births 1985 deaths Chinese geographers 20th-century Chinese historians Nanjing University alumni Senior advisors to President Chiang Ching-kuo Ministers of education of Taiwan Writers from Ningbo Educators from Ningbo Academic staff of Zhejiang University Academic staff of the National Central University Scientists from Ningbo Kuomintang politicians in Taiwan Politicians from Ningbo Republic of China politicians from Zhejiang Taiwanese people from Zhejiang Historians from Zhejiang 20th-century geographers {{Taiwan-KMT-politician-stub