The publication of the History of Chinese Philosophy in 1934 marked a significant shift in how classical thought was synthesized for modern audiences. Feng Youlan, born in 1895 in Tanghe County, spent his career navigating the intersection of Confucian tradition and Western methodology, eventually becoming a central figure in the historical development of Chinese philosophical discourse throughout the twentieth century.
Academic Formation
Feng began his formal education at the China Public School in Shanghai before moving to Peking University and Central China Normal University. In 1919, he moved to the United States to study at Columbia University, where he earned a PhD in 1923 with a thesis titled A Comparative Study of Life Ideals. During this period, he studied under John Dewey, whose pragmatist approach influenced his future intellectual work.
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Upon returning to China, Feng held prominent positions at Tsinghua University, serving as the Chair of the Department of Philosophy on two separate occasions. His 1934 masterpiece, History of Chinese Philosophy, introduced rigorous analytical methods to ancient texts. By 1939, he developed Xin Lixue, or New Rational Philosophy, which integrated metaphysical concepts from Taoism and neo-Confucianism with Western rationalist frameworks to explain morality and human development.
Institutional Leadership and Political Upheaval
Feng’s career spanned eras of immense political transition, including the Qing dynasty, the Republic of China, and the People's Republic of China. He served as President of Tsinghua University between 1948 and 1949. Despite spending time as a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Hawaiʻi, he chose to return to China during the communist rise. In his later years, he endured the constraints of the Cultural Revolution, which required him to modify his scholarly output to align with prevailing political ideology.
Fast facts
- Born: 1895, Tanghe County
- Died: 1990, Beijing
- Doctoral degree: Columbia University
- Key work: History of Chinese Philosophy
- Academic post: President of Tsinghua University (1948-1949)
- Award: Prix Stanislas Julien (1950)
- Professional fields: Philosophy, history
Questions readers ask
What was Feng Youlan’s primary philosophical contribution?
He is best known for his systematic historical reinterpretation of Chinese philosophy using Western analytical methods.
Did Feng Youlan remain in China during political upheavals?
Yes, he returned to China in 1949 and remained there throughout his life, despite later political pressures and the censorship of his works.
Achievements
- Notable work: History of Chinese Philosophy
- Held posts at University of Pennsylvania, University of Hawaiʻi System and Tsinghua University
- Fields: philosophy
