Feng Youlan

Feng Youlan (Chinese冯友兰/冯友兰, Pinyin Feng Yǒulán, W.-G. Feng Yu -lan, also: Fung Yu- Lan; * December 4, 1895, † 26 November 1990 ) was a Chinese philosopher.

Feng Youlan gained importance, which was translated into English by Derk Bodde especially with his main work history of Chinese philosophy. Recently published is a much more enhanced version of this work, the New History of Chinese Philosophy ( Zhongguo shi 'Zhexue xinbian ) in 6 volumes ( Beijing) and 7 volumes ( Taipei ).

Biography

Feng Youlan was born in Tanghe in the south of Henan Province on the border with the province of Hubei, the son of a rich landowner. Due to its excellent high school exam him the provincial government granted in 1915 a scholarship to study philosophy at Peking University. Subsequently, he was a professor at Zhongzhou University, Kaifeng.

From 1919 to 1923 Feng studied under Professors John Dewey and Frederick JE Woodbridge at Columbia University in New York. His doctoral thesis was " A comparative study of the ideal of man."

Works in English translation (selection)

• A Comparative Study of Life Ideals: The Way of Decrease and Increase with Interpretations and Illustrations from the Philosophies of the East and the West. Shanghai: The Commercial Press, 1924
• A History of Chinese Philosophy. Translated by Derk Bodde. With introduction, notes, bibliography and index. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1952 and 1953 Vol I: The Period of the Philosophers (from the beginnings to circa 100 bc).
• Vol.II: The Period of Classical Learning (from the second century BC, to the twentieth century ad).

Advanced Chinese philosophy history

• Zhongguo shi 'Zhexue xinbian, 6 vols. Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1982-1989