Weng Wenhao
Encyclopedia
Weng Wenhao (1889 – 27 January 1971) was a Chinese geologist
, educator, and paramount politician
.
He was one of the earliest modern Chinese geologists, and is regarded as the founder of modern Chinese geology and the father of modern Chinese oil industry in many literature.
From May to Nov. 1948, Weng served as the President of the Executive Yuan
of the Republic of China
. The position is most commonly referred to as prime minister or premier.
(town), Ningbo
(city), Zhejiang Province in late Qing Dynasty
, and his courtesy name was Yongni (咏霓). His father was a locally-famous businessman.
In 1902, he was only a 13-year old boy but won the title of "skillful writer" (秀才) in the Imperial Examination
. Later, he went to Shanghai
and then entered a French
-speaking Catholic school there.
He obtained his doctor's degree on geology from the Catholic University of Leuven
, Flanders
, Belgium
, in 1912. He was the first Chinese who held the western doctor's degree in geology.
. At the same time, he was also a lecturer and the chief professor (director, from 1914) of the National Research Institute of Geography.
He was also a professor
of geology in both Beijing University and Tsinghua University
. He once was the head of the Department of Geography, Tsinghua University. In Jul. 1931, he start serving as the president (acting) of Tsinghua University.
In 1928
he assisted Canadian paleoanthropologist Davidson Black
in the establishment of the Cenozoic Research Laboratory
for the research and appraisal of Peking Man
fossils unearthed at Zhoukoudian
.
During the period of Central (Provisional) Military Government of the Republic of China, he served in the central government as the General Secretary of the Executive Yuan
(13 December 1935 – 9 September 1937); the Minister of Industry (till 1 January 1938), Minister of Education (28 October 1932 – 21 April 1933), and the Minister of Economy (1 January 1938 – 1947).
Invited by Chiang Kai-shek
, He served as the first President of the Executive Yuan
of Nationalist Government (capital Nanjing
) (25 May 1948 – 26 November 1948).
In March 1948, he was selected to be a member of the Academia Sinica
. After the establishment of the PRC, he also became a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
). The Academia Sinica
is based in Taipei, with most members living in Taiwan
and the United States
.
, he relocated to Beijing
and served in People's Political Consultative Conference with his longtime associate Qian Changzhao.
During the Cultural Revolution
, he was specially protected by Zhou Enlai
. In 1971, he died in Beijing
.
, the second oldest one named Weng Xinhan（翁心翰） was a pilot who was killed in the Second Sino-Japanese War
.
The founder of Chinese modern geophysics - Weng Wenbo (翁文波), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
, is his cousin.
Weng Xinzhi (翁心植), academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering
, is his nephew.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, educator, and paramount politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was one of the earliest modern Chinese geologists, and is regarded as the founder of modern Chinese geology and the father of modern Chinese oil industry in many literature.
From May to Nov. 1948, Weng served as the President of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. The position is most commonly referred to as prime minister or premier.
Early years
He was born in 1889 in CixiCixi
Cixi may refer to:*Empress Dowager Cixi , empress of the Qing Dynasty*Cixi City, in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China...
(town), Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
(city), Zhejiang Province in late 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....
, and his courtesy name was Yongni (咏霓). His father was a locally-famous businessman.
In 1902, he was only a 13-year old boy but won the title of "skillful writer" (秀才) in the Imperial Examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
. Later, he went to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and then entered a French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking Catholic school there.
He obtained his doctor's degree on geology from the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, in 1912. He was the first Chinese who held the western doctor's degree in geology.
ROC period
1912, after obtaining his doctor's degree in geology, he went back to China. He served as the Minister of Mine Industry and the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, Beiyang GovernmentBeiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
. At the same time, he was also a lecturer and the chief professor (director, from 1914) of the National Research Institute of Geography.
He was also 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 geology in both Beijing University and Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
. He once was the head of the Department of Geography, Tsinghua University. In Jul. 1931, he start serving as the president (acting) of Tsinghua University.
In 1928
1928 in archaeology
The year 1928 in archaeology involved some significant events.-Explorations:* American astronomer and University of Arizona professor A. E. Douglass participates in a National Geographic Society research project under Neil Merton Judd exploring Chaco Canyon...
he assisted Canadian paleoanthropologist Davidson Black
Davidson Black
Davidson Black, FRS was a Canadian paleoanthropologist, best known for his naming of Sinanthropus pekinensis . He was Chairman of the Geological Survey of China and a Fellow of the Royal Society...
in the establishment of the Cenozoic Research Laboratory
Cenozoic Research Laboratory
The Cenozoic Research Laboratory of the Geological Survey of China was established at the Peking Union Medical College in 1928 by Canadian paleoanthropologist Davidson Black and Chinese geologists Ding Wenjing and Weng Wenhao for the research and appraisal of Peking Man fossils unearthed at...
for the research and appraisal of Peking Man
Peking Man
Peking Man , Homo erectus pekinensis, is an example of Homo erectus. A group of fossil specimens was discovered in 1923-27 during excavations at Zhoukoudian near Beijing , China...
fossils unearthed at Zhoukoudian
Zhoukoudian
Zhoukoudian or Choukoutien is a cave system in Beijing, China. It has yielded many archaeological discoveries, including one of the first specimens of Homo erectus, dubbed Peking Man, and a fine assemblage of bones of the gigantic hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris...
.
During the period of Central (Provisional) Military Government of the Republic of China, he served in the central government as the General Secretary of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
(13 December 1935 – 9 September 1937); the Minister of Industry (till 1 January 1938), Minister of Education (28 October 1932 – 21 April 1933), and the Minister of Economy (1 January 1938 – 1947).
Invited by Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, He served as the first President of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
of Nationalist Government (capital 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...
) (25 May 1948 – 26 November 1948).
In March 1948, he was selected to be a member of the Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
. After the establishment of the PRC, he also became a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences , formerly known as Academia Sinica, is the national academy for the natural sciences of the People's Republic of China. It is an institution of the State Council of China. It is headquartered in Beijing, with institutes all over the People's Republic of China...
). The Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
is based in Taipei, with most members living in Taiwan
Taiwan
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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
After 1949 & Late years
After Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, he relocated to 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...
and served in People's Political Consultative Conference with his longtime associate Qian Changzhao.
During 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 specially protected by Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
. In 1971, he died 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...
.
Academic achievements & activities
- One of the founders of modern Chinese geography;
- Set up modern Chinese oil industry;
- Studies of the Peking ManPeking ManPeking Man , Homo erectus pekinensis, is an example of Homo erectus. A group of fossil specimens was discovered in 1923-27 during excavations at Zhoukoudian near Beijing , China...
; - Studies of earthquakeEarthquakeAn earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in China.
Family
He had four sons, the eldest one named Weng Xinyuan (翁心源), was a famous petroleum engineer who was killed in Cultural RevolutionCultural 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...
, the second oldest one named Weng Xinhan（翁心翰） was a pilot who was killed in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
The founder of Chinese modern geophysics - Weng Wenbo (翁文波), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences , formerly known as Academia Sinica, is the national academy for the natural sciences of the People's Republic of China. It is an institution of the State Council of China. It is headquartered in Beijing, with institutes all over the People's Republic of China...
, is his cousin.
Weng Xinzhi (翁心植), academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering
Chinese Academy of Engineering
The Chinese Academy of Engineering is the national academy of the People's Republic of China for engineering. It was established in 1994 and is an institution of the State Council of China...
, is his nephew.
Major works
- Studies of Earthquakes in Gansu Procince (《甘肃地震考》)
- A Brief Record of Minerals in China (《中国矿产志略》)
- Literary Collection of Zhuizhi (《椎指集》)
- Mourn for Mr. DING Zai-Jun (《追悼丁在君先生》)
- Earthquake (《地震》)
- Quadrumana Fossils in China (《中国灵长类动物化石》)
- The First Record on Chinese Mine Industry (《第一次中国矿业纪要》)
- Paleozoic Plant Fossils in the Middle Part of Shanxi Province (《山西中部古生代植物化石》)
- An Elementary Introduction to Earthquake (《地震浅说》)
- Lectures on Geology (《地质学讲义》)
Books on him
- Chronicle of Weng Wenhao, (《翁文灏年谱》), Oct. 2005
- Weng Wenhao's Outstanding Contributions to Chinese Oil Industry, (《翁文灏的石油业绩》)
- Selected Works of Weng Wenhao (《翁文灏选集》)