Chinggeltei
Encyclopedia
Chinggeltei is a professor of linguistics at the Inner Mongolia University
in Hohhot
, Inner Mongolia
, People's Republic of China
, focusing on the Mongolic languages
. He was one of the founders of the university, and served as its first vice-rector. He is also a former member of the Standing Committee
of China's National People's Congress
.
, Josotu, Inner Mongolia (now administratively part of Chifeng
). He did his early studies at a Mongolian-medium school in Inner Mongolia, before going to Manchukuo
. After completing his course there in 1939, he hoped to transfer to the Peking Mongolian and Tibetan School (北京蒙藏学校, in Beijing
); however, they would not accept students from Manchukuo. Eventually, he ended up enrolling in a teacher training course at the Houhe Mongolian Academy (厚和蒙古学院; "Houhe" is an older Chinese name for Hohhot
), which normally only accepted students from the western parts of Inner Mongolia; he scored well enough on the entrance exam to be placed into the second-year course, and graduated in late 1940. From there, he entered into a preparatory school for students planning to study in Japan, and in 1941, proceeded to Tokyo
.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, Chinggeltei enrolled in a juku
to study English and mathematics for the university entrance exams; he chose to aim at an engineering school, because he felt that his homeland particularly lacked people with such skills. He ended up first enrolling at the Tokyo Institute of Technology
, but due to the long commute from his home and the intensification of World War II
, transferred to Tohoku Imperial University
in Sendai.
brought World War II to an end. He took up teaching duties at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Academy (内蒙古自治学院) in Chifeng
, compiling textbooks and in Mongolian as well as teaching both politics and language and literature courses. It was there that he first met Ulanhu
, who was the school's principal. Ulanhu's speeches about various events of the day (such as the 3 April 1946 meeting in Chengde
which provided for the unification of Inner Mongolia as a single governmental unit) left a deep impression on the teachers of the school and helped them to become more knowledgeable about politics. In May 1947, half of the Autonomous Academy's teaching staff were transferred to Qiqihar
to establish the Inner Mongolia Military Administration University (内蒙古军政大学); Chinggeltei was responsible for setting up their Mongolian language and literature division.
In 1949, Chinggeltei was transferred to the Inner Mongolia Daily (内蒙古日报) as editor of the Mongolian-language section and head of internal education; during this time, he also travelled to Hulunbuir
for a linguistic survey, and published his Grammar of the Mongol language (蒙文文法). In 1953, he began doing language work for the Communist Party of China
's Propaganda Committee. He was tapped to be vice-rector of the newly-founded Inner Mongolia University
in 1957, again working under Ulanhu.
In 1985, Chinggeltei published his Study of the Lesser Khitan Script , a significant milestone in the study of the Khitan language
and its writing system
. He was presented with a Festschrift
by his fellow Mongolists in 1996 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his taking up teaching duties. In 2008, he received the first "Award for Outstanding Talent" (杰出人才奖) from the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Standing Committee, including prize money of RMB
200,000. He used the money to establish the Chinggeltei Mongolian Language Foundation, which provides scholarships to students receiving high scores in Mongolian language on the National Higher Education Entrance Examination.
Inner Mongolia University
Inner Mongolia University, located in the city of Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, Northern China, is a university in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, under the authority of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional government....
in Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, focusing on the Mongolic languages
Mongolic languages
The Mongolic languages are a group of languages spoken in East-Central Asia, mostly in Mongolia and surrounding areas plus in Kalmykia. The best-known member of this language family, Mongolian, is the primary language of most of the residents of Mongolia and the Mongolian residents of Inner...
. He was one of the founders of the university, and served as its first vice-rector. He is also a former member of the Standing Committee
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is a committee of about 150 members of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China , which is convened between plenary sessions of the NPC. It has the constitutional authority to modify legislation within limits set by...
of China's National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
.
Early life and education
Chinggeltei was born in Harqin BannerHarqin Banner
Harqin Banner is a banner of southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Chifeng City, to the north-northeast.-References:*...
, Josotu, Inner Mongolia (now administratively part of Chifeng
Chifeng
Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...
). He did his early studies at a Mongolian-medium school in Inner Mongolia, before going to Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
. After completing his course there in 1939, he hoped to transfer to the Peking Mongolian and Tibetan School (北京蒙藏学校, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
); however, they would not accept students from Manchukuo. Eventually, he ended up enrolling in a teacher training course at the Houhe Mongolian Academy (厚和蒙古学院; "Houhe" is an older Chinese name for Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
), which normally only accepted students from the western parts of Inner Mongolia; he scored well enough on the entrance exam to be placed into the second-year course, and graduated in late 1940. From there, he entered into a preparatory school for students planning to study in Japan, and in 1941, proceeded to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, Chinggeltei enrolled in a juku
Juku
Gakushū juku are special private schools that offer lessons conducted after regular school hours and on the weekends....
to study English and mathematics for the university entrance exams; he chose to aim at an engineering school, because he felt that his homeland particularly lacked people with such skills. He ended up first enrolling at the Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Tech enrolled 4,850 undergaraduates and 5006 graduate students for 2009-2010...
, but due to the long commute from his home and the intensification of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, transferred to Tohoku Imperial University
Tohoku University
, abbreviated to , located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan and is a member of the National Seven Universities...
in Sendai.
Career
In 1945, Chinggeltei returned to Inner Mongolia; soon after, the surrender of JapanSurrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
brought World War II to an end. He took up teaching duties at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Academy (内蒙古自治学院) in Chifeng
Chifeng
Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...
, compiling textbooks and in Mongolian as well as teaching both politics and language and literature courses. It was there that he first met Ulanhu
Ulanhu
Ulanhu was the founder of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China, Ulanhu had the nickname of "Mongolian Khan" during his political career.-Career:...
, who was the school's principal. Ulanhu's speeches about various events of the day (such as the 3 April 1946 meeting in Chengde
Chengde
Chengde , previously known as Jehol or Re He , is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China, situated northeast of Beijing. It is best known as the site of the Mountain Resort, a vast imperial garden and palace formerly used by the Qing emperors as summer residence...
which provided for the unification of Inner Mongolia as a single governmental unit) left a deep impression on the teachers of the school and helped them to become more knowledgeable about politics. In May 1947, half of the Autonomous Academy's teaching staff were transferred to Qiqihar
Qiqihar
- Subdivisions :Qiqihar is divided into 16 divisions: 7 districts , 8 counties and 1 county-level city .-Economy:...
to establish the Inner Mongolia Military Administration University (内蒙古军政大学); Chinggeltei was responsible for setting up their Mongolian language and literature division.
In 1949, Chinggeltei was transferred to the Inner Mongolia Daily (内蒙古日报) as editor of the Mongolian-language section and head of internal education; during this time, he also travelled to Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir is a region that is governed as a prefecture-level city in northeastern Inner Mongolia, in the People's Republic of China. Its administrative center is located at Hailar District, its largest urban area. Major scenic features are the high steppes of the Hulun Buir grasslands, the Hulun...
for a linguistic survey, and published his Grammar of the Mongol language (蒙文文法). In 1953, he began doing language work for the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
's Propaganda Committee. He was tapped to be vice-rector of the newly-founded Inner Mongolia University
Inner Mongolia University
Inner Mongolia University, located in the city of Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, Northern China, is a university in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, under the authority of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional government....
in 1957, again working under Ulanhu.
In 1985, Chinggeltei published his Study of the Lesser Khitan Script , a significant milestone in the study of the Khitan language
Khitan language
The Khitan language is a now-extinct language once spoken by the Khitan people . Khitan is generally deemed to be genetically linked to the Mongolic languages. It was written using two mutually exclusive writing systems known as the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script...
and its writing system
Khitan script
Khitan scripts may refer to one of two mutually exclusive scripts used by the Khitan people during the 10th-12th centuries:*Khitan small script – invented in about 924 or 925 CE by a scholar named Diela...
. He was presented with a Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
by his fellow Mongolists in 1996 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his taking up teaching duties. In 2008, he received the first "Award for Outstanding Talent" (杰出人才奖) from the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Standing Committee, including prize money of RMB
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
200,000. He used the money to establish the Chinggeltei Mongolian Language Foundation, which provides scholarships to students receiving high scores in Mongolian language on the National Higher Education Entrance Examination.
Selected works
|publisher=内蒙古日报社|year=1949}}. The first modern scientific grammar of the Mongolian language published in China-
- Translated to English as
- Reprinted as
- Translated to Cyrillic-orthography Mongolian as
- John C. Street gave the 1963 English version a scathing review, criticising its "linguistic inanities" and "clumsy obfuscations".|year=1985|publisher=Chinese Social Sciences Press|oclc=16717597}}