王国维

王國維

Wáng Guówéi

proper noun

Meanings

1 Wang Guowei, late-Qing/early-Republic scholar, literary critic, and historian

About Wang Guowei

1877–1927 · 学者 scholar

Scholar of literature and ancient history. His 人间词话 describes three stages of any great undertaking, still quoted in speeches, and he used oracle bones to confirm the Shang kings. He drowned himself at the Summer Palace.

Also called 静安、观堂

Characters

to maintain; preserve

Examples

HSK 7-9

王国维的《人间词话》是中国词学的经典之作。

Wáng Guówéi de 《 Rénjiān Cí huà 》 shì Zhōngguó cí xué de jīngdiǎnzhīzuò.

Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua is a classic of Chinese ci poetry criticism.

HSK 7-9

王国维在颐和园投湖自尽，震惊学界。

Wáng Guówéi zài Yíhéyuán tóu hú zìjìn, zhènjīng xuéjiè.

Wang Guowei drowned himself in the Summer Palace, shocking the scholarly world.

Tips

culture

The three stages are lines borrowed from Song love lyrics. The last, by 辛弃疾, ends a long search through the crowd with 蓦然回首，那人却在灯火阑珊处: 'I turn round, and there she is, where the lamplight is dim', the breakthrough that comes after long effort.

history

Why he did it is still argued: loyalty to the fallen Qing, fear of the advancing Northern Expedition, or grief for a dying culture. 陈寅恪's inscription for his memorial at 清华大学 praises his 独立之精神，自由之思想, 'independent spirit, free thought', words scholars still quote.

Stroke Order

王 wáng

国 guó

维 wéi

王国维