Selected Works of Wen Xianping (Revised Edition, Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Huang Kan, compiled by Huang Yanzu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Huang Kan (1886–1935), styled Jigang, also known as Yunpei, Xinchuan, Buning, Bingchan, Kuangchushi, Shengtai Shanmin, Liangshou Jushi, etc. He was a native of Qichun, Hubei. In his childhood, he studied under his father, the renowned Confucian scholar Huang Yunhu. At the age of 16, he was recommended by the Wuchang Wutong Middle School to study in Japan. The following year, he returned to China for reasons unknown and later went back to Japan to study under Zhang Taiyan, specializing in phonology and etymology, and joined the Tongmenghui. At that time, Zhang Taiyan was editing the Minbao, and Huang wrote many articles for it advocating the overthrow of the Qing rule. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), the Guocui Xuebao was founded in Shanghai, and Huang was one of its compilers. Three years later, due to his mother's illness, he returned to China and narrowly escaped arrest by the Qing government. He then went to Henan to teach. In the summer of the 2nd year of the Xuantong reign (1910), he passed through Hankou on his way home and stayed with Zhan Dabi in the Da Jiang Bao office. Zhan wrote a short commentary titled Great Chaos is the Magic Medicine for Saving China, which caused a sensation after its publication. The editor-in-chief Zhan Dabi was arrested, and the newspaper office was closed down. After the Wuchang Uprising, Huang joined the revolution and planned to organize local armed uprisings. In the first year of the Republic of China (1912), he founded the Min She in Shanghai and later edited its publication Minsheng Ribao, often criticizing the Tongmenghui. He once served as the Secretary-General of the Yuan Shikai government's State Council but soon left politics to focus on education and the study of phonology. He held professorships at Peking University, Southeast University, Wuchang Higher Normal School, Shanxi University, and Nanjing Central University. He published works such as Yin Lüe and Shuowen Lüeshuo, and also edited magazines like Zhiyan.