Huang Zunxian

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Huang Zunxian (Chinese: 黃遵憲; pinyin: Huáng Zūnxiàn; Wade-Giles: Huang Tsun-hsien, 1848—28 March 1905), courtesy name Gongdu (公度), was a Chinese writer and poet of the late Qing Dynasty. He was born in Chia-ying, now Mei County, Guangdong, and died after 57 years in the same place.

[edit] Biography

Huang was a government official who worked as a diplomat but is remembered today for his poetry. His diplomatic duties took him to Japan, the United States, and England wherein he collected materials for his poems. He created a literary breakthrough by studying speech and folk songs of the common people in his home town of Chia-ying, and incorporating them into his poetry.

While Huang was a councilor to He Ruzhang, the Qing dynasty's first envoy to Japan in September 1880, he was ordered to compile a policy paper for the visiting Korean reformist Kim Hongjip with recommendations for Korea's foreign policy. This important document, known as the Chaoxian Celue (J: Chōsen Sakuryaku K:Choseon Chekryak) advised Korea to strengthen itself through reform and, "Keeping close to China, Creating ties with Japan, and allying with the United States." The document was presented to the Korean government upon Kim Hongjip's return and may have been one of the key inspirations for reforms in Korea from 1881 onwards.

Huang's writings include Riben Zashi Shi and Riben Guozhi.