Wang Yao

Wang Yao (1914–1989), courtesy name Zhaochen, was a native of Pingyao, Shanxi, and a renowned Chinese literary historian and educator who taught for many years in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University. He studied Han, Wei and Six Dynasties literature under Zhu Ziqing, and his History of Medieval Chinese Literature established his standing in that field. His Draft History of Modern Chinese New Literature, published in 1953, is regarded as a foundational work of modern Chinese literary studies and has had a far-reaching influence. His other representative works include Collected Essays on the History of Modern Chinese Literature, Selected Writings of Wang Yao, and Chinese Literature: Ancient and Modern, which also touch on literary appreciation and the study of classics. He served as president of the Modern Chinese Literature Research Association and mentored scholars such as Qian Liqun, Wen Rumin and Chen Pingyuan. The collection also includes works on medicine and photography; public information on these is limited, so they are not discussed here.