Guo Moruo

Author: Liu Mengxi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-10-01
Features: Guo Moruo's academic achievements are primarily reflected in the study of ancient Chinese history. In his research, he not only gathered materials from ancient classics but also intentionally placed academic studies at a high scientific standard. To this end, he dedicated himself to the study of oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions while embracing Marxist guidance, founding the (Materialist Historicism). This volume includes his works such as the "Research on the Ancient Society of China," a systematically Marxist-influenced study of Chinese history, as well as his oracle bone script works "Studies on Oracle Bone Script" and "Collected Studies on Bronze Inscriptions."
Guo Moruo (1892–1978), originally named Guo Kaiquan and also known as Guo Dingtang, was a native of Leshan, Sichuan. He was a writer, poet, playwright, historian, archaeologist, paleographer, and social activist. In his early years, he studied abroad in Japan, first as a medical student before switching to literature. He began writing new poetry in 1918. In 1926, he became the Dean of the College of Arts at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong. In 1927, he participated in the Nanchang Uprising and joined the Communist Party of China during the southward march of the uprising's forces. In 1928, due to a warrant issued by Chiang Kai-shek, he resided in Japan, where he engaged in research on ancient Chinese history and paleography. His works such as "Studies on Oracle Bone Script," "Illustrated and Annotated Bronze Inscriptions of the Western Zhou," "Collected Studies on Bronze Inscriptions," and "Comprehensive Compilation of Oracle Bone Inscriptions" all caused significant tremors in academia. His life's writings are collected in "Guo Moruo Collected Works" (17 volumes) and "Guo Moruo Complete Works."