Li Linsi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Li Linsi
厉麟似 |
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| Born | February 18, 1896 |
| Died | October 21, 1970 (aged 74) |
| Other names | Li Jiaxiang (厉家祥) |
| Education | Doctor of Philosophy; Master of Laws |
| Alma mater | Heidelberg University; University of Jena; Sophia University; Tongji University |
| Occupation | Educator, Diplomat, Scholar |
| Known for | China's Mahatma Gandhi; Pioneering figure in China-Europe cultural exchange; Major proponent of China's League of Nations diplomacy; Key facilitator of China-Germany relationship; Rescuing the Jews during WWII |
| Title | Diplomatic consultant to Chiang Kai-shek; Director General of Ministry of Education, Republic of China; Distinguished Professor at National Central University; Distinguished Professor at Shanghai International Studies University |
| Movement | Leader of China's nonviolent resistance movement |
| Board member of | Co-founder of United Nations Association of China |
| Children | Li Shengjiao (厉声教) |
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Li Linsi (Chinese: 厉麟似; pinyin: Lì Línsì; 1896 – 1970) was an important Chinese educator, diplomat, and scholar. He is remembered as a key person in China's modern history.
Li Linsi was sometimes called China's Mahatma Gandhi. He led a peaceful resistance movement against Japanese forces. He also helped save hundreds of Jewish people who came to Shanghai during World War II.
He was an advisor to Chiang Kai-shek, who was a leader of China at the time. Li Linsi helped improve the relationship between China and Germany in the 1930s. He also strongly supported China's involvement with the League of Nations, an organization that worked for world peace.
Li Linsi helped start important groups like the China branch of the United Nations. He was known for connecting Chinese and European cultures. He helped people in the West understand ancient Chinese ideas and brought many new Western ideas to China.
Li Linsi came from a famous family. His ancestor, Jiang Ziya, was a legendary prime minister in ancient China. His great-great-great-grandson, Li E, was a famous poet. Li Linsi's oldest son, Li Shengjiao, also became a well-known diplomat. Li Linsi passed away in Shanghai in 1970.
Contents
Li Linsi's Life and Work
Growing Up and Education
Li Linsi was born in February 1896 in Hangzhou, China. He grew up in a family known for its writers and artists. His father, Li Liangyu, was a government official and a famous artist. He helped start the Xiling Seal Art Society, an important art group in China.
Li Linsi's family taught him a lot about traditional Chinese studies from a young age. After finishing his studies at Tongji University in 1915, he went to Japan and Germany for more education. He studied at Sophia University, University of Jena, and Heidelberg University. He earned degrees in law and philosophy.
Li Linsi lived and studied in Germany and other parts of Europe for ten years. Besides his degrees, he also learned about politics, education, and military strategies. He became fluent in many languages, including German, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese.
While traveling in Europe, Li Linsi met many people and learned about new ideas. He became friends with Chinese students like Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, who later became leaders of the People's Republic of China. He also formed a close friendship with a German expert on China, Richard Wilhelm.
Li Linsi helped at Germany's first China Institute at the University of Frankfurt. This center, started by Richard Wilhelm, aimed to help Westerners understand Chinese culture better. Li Linsi helped create magazines about China, like China and the China-Germany Yearbook. He also helped organize events and exhibitions about Chinese studies.
Working for the Chinese Government
Li Linsi returned to China in 1930. He joined the government as an education official. He was recommended by Chiang Kai-shek, who was China's leader at the time. Later, Li Linsi became Chiang's diplomatic advisor.
As a senior education official and diplomat, Li Linsi played a big role in China's relationship with the League of Nations in the 1930s. The League of Nations was an international group that worked to keep peace around the world, before the United Nations. Li Linsi believed China should get more support from other countries through the League of Nations to fight against Japan.
In 1932, Li Linsi visited Europe as a representative for China's government. He went to Switzerland, where the League of Nations was located. This trip helped improve cultural exchange and cooperation between China, Europe, and the League of Nations.
Li Linsi also helped start important organizations in China. In 1933, he co-founded the China Institute of World Cultural Cooperation at the League of Nations. He helped strengthen China's ties with the League of Nations. After the League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations, Li Linsi also helped establish the China branch of the United Nations.
Li Linsi was very important in the relationship between China and Germany in the 1930s. He helped the German Military Mission in China and was a key link between Chinese leaders and German military advisors.
He helped arrange a visit for Hans von Seeckt, a former German Army commander, to China in 1933. Li Linsi convinced Seeckt to become a military advisor to Chiang Kai-shek. This helped make the relationship between China and Germany much stronger. In 1935, China and Germany even upgraded their diplomatic relationship.
Seeckt gave Chiang Kai-shek a book he wrote called Thoughts of a Soldier. Li Linsi translated this book into Chinese. The Chinese version, published in 1936, became an important guide for the Chinese military.
Helping Jewish Refugees During World War II
When China's war with Japan began in 1937, Li Linsi left his government job. He moved his family to Shanghai, where they lived in an area controlled by British and American forces. This area was not occupied by the Japanese.
Li Linsi became a professor at Jinan National University, which was the first university in China to accept foreign students.
During this time, many Jewish people fled to Shanghai to escape the Nazis in Europe. They came from Germany, Austria, and Poland. Li Linsi became known for helping these Jewish refugees in Shanghai.
He used his connections and resources to make Shanghai a safer place for them. For a long time, Shanghai was the only place in the world that offered a safe haven for Jewish people without conditions.
Li Linsi was deeply moved by their struggles. He had lived in Germany for many years and wanted to help. He even gave shelter to some Jewish friends from Germany in his own home.
With help from Li Linsi and other wealthy locals, a modern Jewish community grew in Shanghai. More homes were found for refugees, businesses were started, German newspapers were printed, and even an orchestra was formed.
China's Peaceful Leader
Li Linsi's life became very difficult after December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Japanese forces then took control of the British and American parts of Shanghai. Li Linsi's family faced hardship and were separated from him because he refused to work for the Japanese.
After Shanghai was fully occupied, Jinan National University moved out of the city, but Li Linsi stayed. He was known as China's Mahatma Gandhi because he led Shanghai's thinkers in a peaceful fight against the Japanese.
The Japanese tried to get Li Linsi to work for them. They offered him important jobs, like Minister of Education. But Li Linsi, who was a well-known public figure and had studied in Japan, always found polite ways to refuse. His non-violent approach worked.
During this time, Li Linsi studied Japanese and German military writings. His research was very helpful to China's war against Japan.
Li Linsi's peaceful ideas inspired many people. This included Chinese scholars, students, everyday people, and even people from other countries.
Later Years
After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Li Linsi became a professor at Shanghai International Studies University. He taught many students who became skilled in languages. He passed away in Shanghai in 1970 during China's Cultural Revolution, at the age of 74.
