Zhang Baixi

Zhang Baixi (simplified Chinese: 张百熙; traditional Chinese: 張百熙; pinyin: Zhāng Bǎixī; Courtesy Yěqiū (埜秋); Posthumous name: Wéndá (文達)) (1847 — March 30, 1907) was an Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who is famous of initializing the education reform. He was considered to be the "father of university" in China^[1]. Both the Peking University and the Beijing Normal University respect him as a founder and president.

Zhang Baixi was born in Changsha County of Hunan province. In 1874, he earned a Jinshi degree and was elevated to the Hanlin Academy. As high administrator for many years, Zhang Baixi advocated profound political, economical and educational reforms. After the Boxer Rebellion, Zhang proposed to reopen the Imperial Capital University (京師大學堂, former Peking University) founded in 1898. In 1902, Zhang drafted the "Authorized School Regulation" (《欽定學堂章程》, alternatively called Ren-Yin Educational system (壬寅學制)) which was later promulgated by Qing government. In 1904, Zhang participated establishment of the "Presented School Regulation" (《奏定學堂章程》, or called "Gui-Mao Educational System" (癸卯學制)), which was the first modern Chinese educational system in history. Zhang died in Beijing in 1907.

Reference

• (English)Xiaoqing Diana Lin. (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) Peking University, Chinese Scholarship and Intellectuals, 1898-1937. ISBN10 0-7914-6321-4; ISBN13 978-0-7914-6321-5
• Draft History of Qing