Zhang Binglin

Zhang Binglin (Chinese章炳麟, Pinyin Zhang Bǐnglín, IPA (high Chinese) [ ʂɑʊ IFU ], W.-G. Chang Ping -lin, Yale Shau Yifu ) ( born December 25, 1868 in Yuhang, Chinese Empire, † June 14, 1936 in Suzhou, China) was a Chinese scholar and revolutionary.

His most important philological work was the Wen Shi (文 始" The origins of Scripture " ), the first systematic work on the etymology of the Chinese. He also contributed to the study of historical Chinese phonology and developed a system based on the seal script shorthand system that Jiyin Zimu (记 音 字母), which became the basis of the Zhuyin later. Although Zhang was innovative in many ways, he was skeptical about new archaeological finds discovered and held the oracle bone inscriptions and their forgeries.

In addition to his scholarly existence Zhang was also politically active as a member of Tongmenghui and Guangfuhui and wrote a number of political writings. This brought him in the days of the Qing Dynasty in prison, and also under the government of Yuan Shikai, he was asked again for three years under house arrest.

Zhang had five children by two different wives.