Ma Jianzhong

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Ma Jianzhong (Chinese: 馬建忠; pinyin: Mǎ Jiànzhōng; Wade-Giles: Ma Chien-chung; style name: 眉叔 Méishū; also known as Ma Kié-Tchong in French) (1845 - 1900) was a Chinese official and scholar during the Qing dynasty.

Ma was born in Dantu (丹徒), Jiangsu province to a prominent Chinese Catholic family. After studies at a French Catholic school in Shanghai, Ma went to France in 1876 to study international law. He became the first Chinese to obtain a baccalauréat and in 1879 he obtained a diploma in law (licence de droit) from École Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris.

Following his return to China in 1880, Ma became a member of Li Hongzhang's secretariat, where Ma's knowledge of international law became a useful asset. Among other things, Ma helped to carry out Qing policy in Korea in 1880-82 and he took part in the arrest of Taewŏn'gun. The same year, Ma reportedly suggested the design of the Korean national flag Taeguk,^[1] which is still in use. In 1884, he also became involved in the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company, where he worked closely with Tong King-sing.

Ma is the author of Mashi Wentong (馬氏文通 "Basic principles for writing clearly and coherently by Mister Ma"), the first textbook of Chinese grammar written by a Chinese (there were already several grammars written by Westerners), published in 1898. Today most scholars believe that Ma's older brother Ma Xiangbo, a famous educator and co-founder of Fudan University, also contributed to the work.^[2]

[edit] References

Ma Jianzhong. Strengthen the Country and Enrich the People: The Reform Writings of Ma Jianzhong. Edited and translated by Paul John Bailey. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, 1995.