Ma Jianzhong, Date of Birth, Date of Death

    

Ma Jianzhong

Chinese official and scholar

Date of Birth: 09-Feb-1845

Date of Death: 01-Jan-1900

Profession: politician, linguist

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius


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About Ma Jianzhong

  • Ma Jianzhong (Chinese: ???; pinyin: Ma Jiànzhong; Wade–Giles: Ma Chien-chung; 1845 – 1900), courtesy name Meishu (Chinese: ??; pinyin: Méishu), also known as Ma Kié-Tchong in French, was a Chinese official and scholar in the late Qing Dynasty. Ma was born in Dantu (??), 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 Taewon'gun.
  • The same year, Ma reportedly suggested the design of the Korean national flag Taeguk, 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 (???? "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.Ma had been requested by Li Hongzhang, for whom he had previously worked for since 1880s to assist after the Eight-Nation Alliance stormed Beijing as part of the Boxer Rebellion and died on August 4, 1900 in Shanghai.

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