Gu Yanwu
Encyclopedia
Gu Yanwu (July 15, 1613– February 15, 1682), also known as Gu Tinglin , was a Chinese philologist and geographer. He spent his youth in anti-Manchu activities at a time when the Ming Dynasty
had been overthrown. He never served the Qing Dynasty
. Instead, he traveled throughout the country and devoted himself to studies.
, Gu was born as Gu Jiang . Gu began his schooling at the age of 14. In the spring of 1645, Gu was recommended to be the position of Bingbu Siwu in the royal court at Nanjing
. There he proposed many ideas. Unsatisfied with the royal court's organisation, Gu resigned and returned to his hometown. In 1655, local officials laid charges against him and threw him into prison. He was released from prison with the help of a friend.
Inspired by Chen Di
, who had demonstrated that the Old Chinese
has its own phonological system, Gu divided the rhyme
s of Old Chinese into 10 groups, the first one to do so. His positivist approach to a variety of disciplines, and his criticism of Neo-Confucianism
had a huge influence on later scholars. His works include Yinxue Wushu (音學五書), Ri Zhi Lu (日知錄) and Zhao Yu Zhi (肇域志).
Along with Wang Fuzi and Wang Zongxi, Gu was named as one of the most outstanding Confucian scholars of the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty.
In 1682, while returning from a friend's home to Huaying
, Gu fell from horseback and passed away the next day.
Alternatively, The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone; or Everyone bears responsibility for the prosperity of society.
. In 2005, the Central Propaganda Department of China named the Gu Yanwu Museum located at Gu's former residence in Qiandeng town
as a "national patriotism education base".
of Kunshan
, a Ming dynasty commplex with main hall, living quarter, a study
and a garden. Gu Yanwu's grave is located in a quiet corner of the garden.
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
had been overthrown. He never served the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Instead, he traveled throughout the country and devoted himself to studies.
Biography
Gu, a native of JiangsuJiangsu
' 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...
, Gu was born as Gu Jiang . Gu began his schooling at the age of 14. In the spring of 1645, Gu was recommended to be the position of Bingbu Siwu in the royal court at Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. There he proposed many ideas. Unsatisfied with the royal court's organisation, Gu resigned and returned to his hometown. In 1655, local officials laid charges against him and threw him into prison. He was released from prison with the help of a friend.
Inspired by Chen Di
Chen Di
Chen Di , courtesy name: Jili , was a Chinese philologist, strategist, and traveler of the Ming Dynasty. A native of Fujian, he was versed in both pen and sword. As a strategist, he served under Qi Jiguang and others for many years before retiring to occupy himself with studies and travel...
, who had demonstrated that the Old Chinese
Old Chinese
The earliest known written records of the Chinese language were found at a site near modern Anyang identified as Yin, the last capital of the Shang dynasty, and date from about 1200 BC....
has its own phonological system, Gu divided the rhyme
Syllable rime
In the study of phonology in linguistics, the rime or rhyme of a syllable consists of a nucleus and an optional coda. It is the part of the syllable used in poetic rhyme, and the part that is lengthened or stressed when a person elongates or stresses a word in speech.The rime is usually the...
s of Old Chinese into 10 groups, the first one to do so. His positivist approach to a variety of disciplines, and his criticism of Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
had a huge influence on later scholars. His works include Yinxue Wushu (音學五書), Ri Zhi Lu (日知錄) and Zhao Yu Zhi (肇域志).
Along with Wang Fuzi and Wang Zongxi, Gu was named as one of the most outstanding Confucian scholars of the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty.
In 1682, while returning from a friend's home to Huaying
Huaying
Huaying is a county-level city in Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city Guang'an. Its total population is 360 000 and with 50000 in the central city district. The city tree is the small leafed banyan and the city flower is the azalea....
, Gu fell from horseback and passed away the next day.
Aphorism
"Everybody is responsible for the fate of his country"Alternatively, The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone; or Everyone bears responsibility for the prosperity of society.
Legacy
Gu is commemorated by Tinglin Park and the Gu Yanwu Museum in Tinglin Park of KunshanKunshan
Kunshan is a satellite city in the greater Suzhou region. Administratively, it is a county-level city within the prefecture-level city of Suzhou. It is located in southeastearn part of Jiangsu Province, China, adjacent to Jiangsu's border with the Shanghai Municipality.The total area of Kunshan...
. In 2005, the Central Propaganda Department of China named the Gu Yanwu Museum located at Gu's former residence in Qiandeng town
Qiandeng town
Qiandeng town is a picturesque water town in Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is located 15 kilometers south of Kunshan city, bordering the East side with Shanghai Qingpu District...
as a "national patriotism education base".
Former residence of Gu Yanwu
The former residence of Gu Yanwu is located in Qiandeng townQiandeng town
Qiandeng town is a picturesque water town in Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is located 15 kilometers south of Kunshan city, bordering the East side with Shanghai Qingpu District...
of Kunshan
Kunshan
Kunshan is a satellite city in the greater Suzhou region. Administratively, it is a county-level city within the prefecture-level city of Suzhou. It is located in southeastearn part of Jiangsu Province, China, adjacent to Jiangsu's border with the Shanghai Municipality.The total area of Kunshan...
, a Ming dynasty commplex with main hall, living quarter, a study
and a garden. Gu Yanwu's grave is located in a quiet corner of the garden.