Chen Han-seng
Encyclopedia
Chen Han-seng (February 5, 1897–March 13, 2004) was a Chinese sociologist and considered a pioneer of modern Chinese social science, and also a member of legendary Soviet master-spy Richard Sorge
's Tokyo ring;
He was born in Wuxi
, Jiangsu
. He studied at Pomona College
, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1920, and he then pursued a M.A. in history at The University of Chicago. In Spring 1922, he enrolled at Harvard University
for a history PhD; there he assisted Charles Haskins. However, A year later, he left the United States for Germany, and completed his doctorate at Berlin University. In 1924, he earned an academic position at Beijing University.
He was recruited to the Comintern
, also in 1924, by Li Dazhao
, as mentioned in his 1988 autobiography My Life During Four Eras. During the 1930s he came down on the Communist side of Mao Zedong
, drawing on his field research on the economic conditions of Chinese peasantry for the Institute for Social Science Research. He wrote Landlord and Peasant in China (1936) on this area. He was one of Mao's theorists, and he spent time out of China in Moscow.
From 1945 to 1950, he resided in the USA. He then returned to China, an uncomfortable experience since he was accused of spying for the Kuomintang
. Later in the Cultural Revolution
, he was harshly treated.
Richard Sorge
Richard Sorge was a German communist and spy who worked for the Soviet Union. He has gained great fame among espionage enthusiasts for his intelligence gathering during World War II. He worked as a journalist in both Germany and Japan, where he was imprisoned for spying and eventually hanged....
's Tokyo ring;
He was born in Wuxi
Wuxi
Wuxi is an old city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Split in half by Lake Tai, Wuxi borders Changzhou to the west and Suzhou to the east. The northern half looks across to Taizhou across the Yangtze River, while the southern half also borders the province of Zhejiang to the south...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
. He studied at Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1920, and he then pursued a M.A. in history at The University of Chicago. In Spring 1922, he enrolled at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for a history PhD; there he assisted Charles Haskins. However, A year later, he left the United States for Germany, and completed his doctorate at Berlin University. In 1924, he earned an academic position at Beijing University.
He was recruited to the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
, also in 1924, by Li Dazhao
Li Dazhao
Li Dazhao was a Chinese intellectual who co-founded the Communist Party of China with Chen Duxiu in 1921.-Early life:...
, as mentioned in his 1988 autobiography My Life During Four Eras. During the 1930s he came down on the Communist side of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
, drawing on his field research on the economic conditions of Chinese peasantry for the Institute for Social Science Research. He wrote Landlord and Peasant in China (1936) on this area. He was one of Mao's theorists, and he spent time out of China in Moscow.
From 1945 to 1950, he resided in the USA. He then returned to China, an uncomfortable experience since he was accused of spying for the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
. Later in the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, he was harshly treated.