Lu Chih-houng (; 1897–1973),

courtesy name A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...

Youhai (), was a Chinese/Taiwanese educator, metallographist, materials scientist and

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

Biography

Lu was born into a prominent family in

Jiaxing Jiaxing (), alternately romanized as Kashing, is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province, China. Lying on the Grand Canal of China, Jiaxing borders Hangzhou to the southwest, Huzhou to the west, Shanghai to the northeast, and the p ...

Zhejiang ) , 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 ...

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

. His family were descendants of

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

Lu Zhi. His father was former President of Zhejiang Provincial Library (浙江省立圖書館). Lu graduated No.1 from the

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

(current 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 ...

) Engineering School. Lu and went back to China after graduation in 1924, and joined the faculty of Nanjing Engineering College (root of current Southeast University). In 1927, Lu became a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

of the original

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 ...

(now called

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 ...

). Lu was the dean of engineering faculty of the National Central University. In 1945, Lu was sent to take-over the Taihoku Imperial University (now

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

) after the

surrender of Japan The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was Hirohito surrender broadcast, announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally Japanese Instrument of Surrender, signed on 2 September 1945, End of World War II in Asia, ending ...

at the end of World War II. In July 1946, Lu became the second President of the National Taiwan University (NTU), after Lo Tsung-lo. Lu led the manufacture of first 99.9999999%-pure

semiconductor A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Its conductivity can be modified by adding impurities (" doping") to its crystal structure. When two regions with different doping level ...

germanium Germanium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is lustrous, hard-brittle, grayish-white and similar in appearance to silicon. It is a metalloid or a nonmetal in the carbon group that is chemically ...

in Taiwan, helping build a solid foundation for later successful semiconductor industries of Taiwan. Lu died in Taipei on May 4, 1973. A hall in the NTU is named after him, nearby there's a bronze statue built in his honour.

References

* Southeast University Archive
陆志鸿(1897-1973)：国中央大学土木系教授(1928-1946)
English Translation: Lu Chih-houng (1897–1973): National Central University Professor of Civil Engineering (1928–1946) * Jiaxing No.1 Middle School Archive: Notable Alumni
Lu Chih-houng
* Material Research Society of Taiwan

(named after his honor) {{DEFAULTSORT:Lu, Chih-houng 1897 births 1973 deaths Scientists from Jiaxing University of Tokyo alumni Academic staff of Nanjing University Presidents of National Taiwan University Academic staff of Southeast University Chinese materials scientists Educators from Jiaxing Engineers from Zhejiang 20th-century Taiwanese engineers Taiwanese people from Zhejiang Chinese expatriates in Japan 20th-century Chinese engineers