Ambrose King
Encyclopedia
Ambrose King Yeo-chi, SBS
, JP
is a Hong Kong
sociologist, educator, writer
and academician
. He was formerly vice-chancellor
of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
(CUHK).
. He graduated from Taipei Municipal Chenggong Senior High School
, earned a B.A from National Taiwan University
and M.A. degree in political studies from National Chengchi University
. Then he went to the United States
and earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1970.
and in 1989 he became Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university before succeeding Arthur Li
. In 2002 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, and retired in 2004. He is now a Professor
of Sociology
in the CUHK, teaching the course Individual and Society.
King has written essays; Cambridge Musings (1977),
Heidelberg Musings (1986) and Ever in my Heart (2005). He is also a calligrapher.
to study the development of Chinese culture in the process of modernization. He also tried to measure the costs and benefits of modernization after the break-down of the old Chinese dynastic orders
and clan systems in the late 19th century.
He wrote theses on Hong Kong society, including The Administrative Absorption of Politics in Hong Kong (1975), Social Life and Development in Hong Kong (1985), The Special Character of Hong Kong’s Polity and its Democratic Prospects (1987), One Country, Two Systems: An Idea on Trial (1995), and Hong Kong: A City with the Most Traits of Modernity in Chinese Societies (2000). He held that in order to understand Hong Kong, one cannot overlook two important threads, namely, colonial rule and capitalism
. He is famous for the administrative absorption politics model (行政吸納政治) he introduced in 1975.
When he visited Cambridge University in 1975, he wrote his first essay on university education, entitled Two Cultures and Technological Humanism.
In 1983 he published The Idea of a University, a work that was the fruit of many years of reflection and study. In 1994, he was elected a Fellow of Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and in the following years he has been honoured by many universities.
Silver Bauhinia Star
The Silver Bauhinia Star is the second rank in the Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, awarded to persons who have taken a leading part in public affairs or voluntary work over a long period...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
sociologist, educator, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and academician
Academician
The title Academician denotes a Full Member of an art, literary, or scientific academy.In many countries, it is an honorary title. There also exists a lower-rank title, variously translated Corresponding Member or Associate Member, .-Eastern Europe and China:"Academician" may also be a functional...
. He was formerly vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
(CUHK).
Personal life
Ambrose King received most of his education in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. He graduated from Taipei Municipal Chenggong Senior High School
Cheng Kung Senior High School
thumb|rightTaipei Municipal Chenggong Senior High School is a senior high school in Taipei, Taiwan.-History:...
, earned a B.A from National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
and M.A. degree in political studies from National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University is a prestigious public university at Muzha in Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. It is well-known for its concentration on the social sciences, law, commerce, communication, liberal arts and for its MBA programs....
. Then he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1970.
Career
After earning his PhD, he joined the Department of Sociology of CUHK in 1970. In 1974, he was promoted to Senior Lecturer, in 1979 to Reader and in 1983 Professor of Sociology in CUHK. From 1977 to 1985, he served as Head of New Asia CollegeNew Asia College
The New Asia College is now one of the constituent colleges of the Chinese University of Hong Kong .- History :New Asia College has its origin in the Asia Evening College of Arts and Commerce established in September 1949 by Ch'ien Mu and several other scholars from mainland China...
and in 1989 he became Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university before succeeding Arthur Li
Arthur Li
Arthur Li Kwok-cheung GBS JP was a member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Secretary for Education and Manpower from August 2002 to June 2007....
. In 2002 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, and retired in 2004. He is now a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in the CUHK, teaching the course Individual and Society.
King has written essays; Cambridge Musings (1977),
Heidelberg Musings (1986) and Ever in my Heart (2005). He is also a calligrapher.
Research focus and contributions
His research interest are modernization and modernity of China, and the role of tradition in social-cultural transformation. He employed the theoretical framework of Max WeberMax Weber
Karl Emil Maximilian "Max" Weber was a German sociologist and political economist who profoundly influenced social theory, social research, and the discipline of sociology itself...
to study the development of Chinese culture in the process of modernization. He also tried to measure the costs and benefits of modernization after the break-down of the old Chinese dynastic orders
and clan systems in the late 19th century.
He wrote theses on Hong Kong society, including The Administrative Absorption of Politics in Hong Kong (1975), Social Life and Development in Hong Kong (1985), The Special Character of Hong Kong’s Polity and its Democratic Prospects (1987), One Country, Two Systems: An Idea on Trial (1995), and Hong Kong: A City with the Most Traits of Modernity in Chinese Societies (2000). He held that in order to understand Hong Kong, one cannot overlook two important threads, namely, colonial rule and capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. He is famous for the administrative absorption politics model (行政吸納政治) he introduced in 1975.
When he visited Cambridge University in 1975, he wrote his first essay on university education, entitled Two Cultures and Technological Humanism.
In 1983 he published The Idea of a University, a work that was the fruit of many years of reflection and study. In 1994, he was elected a Fellow of Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and in the following years he has been honoured by many universities.
Selected works
- The Idea of University (大學之理念), 2001, London: Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
- Chinese Politics and Culture (中國政治與文化), 1997, London: Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
- State Confucianism and Its Transformation: The Restructuring of the State-Society Relation in Taiwan and The Transformation of Confucianism in the Post-Confucian Era: The Emergence of Rationalistic Traditionalism in Hong Kong
"Confucian Traditions in East Asian Modernity", 1996, edited by Tu Wei-ming. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P... - Chinese Society and Culture (中國社會與文化), 1992, London: Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
- From Traditional to Modernised (從傳統到現代), 1992, London: Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
- Administrative Absorption of Politics in Hong Kong: Emphasis on the Grass Roots Level, Asian Survey, Vol. 15, No. 5 (May, 1975), pp. 422-439, University of California Press