Liu Yizheng

Liu Yizheng (1880–1956), courtesy name Yimou, was a native of Dantu (present-day Zhenjiang) in Jiangsu Province. He was a prominent modern Chinese historian, library scientist, calligrapher, and educator, a founder of Chinese cultural studies, and a master of modern Confucianism. Elected to the first cohort of the Academia Sinica in 1948, he long served as director of the National Studies Library. His representative work, A History of Chinese Culture, published in three volumes, systematically traces the evolution of Chinese culture and combines a general historical perspective with thematic depth; works such as The Essence of Chinese History and A Brief History of Successive Dynasties reflect his historiographical method and teaching experience. His writing is well documented, clearly organized, and elegant yet plain in language, exerting a profound influence in the fields of cultural history and historical reading.