Wang Zhichang

Wang Zhichang, courtesy name Huaiqing, was born in 1876 in Tianjin County. From a young age, he was well-educated. After graduating from the Law Department of the Tianjin Beiyang University, he went to Japan to study business at Waseda University, where he befriended Liao Zhongkai. Upon returning to China, he taught at various schools and passed the imperial examination as a commercial juren, overseeing coal mines in Jiaozuo, Henan. Entering public service, he held various positions in the Agriculture and Commerce Department of the Beijing government, participated in the Paris Peace Conference and the Washington Conference, and became an important figure in economic management. Though awarded numerous honors, he refused to collude with the corrupt Beiyang warlords, and admired Sun Yat-sen and Liao Zhongkai. After Liao Zhongkai was assassinated in 1925, Wang Zhichang withdrew from politics and retreated to Beijing. After the liberation, he served as a member of the Central Literature and History Museum, receiving recognition from Zhou Enlai.

In terms of family, Wang Zhichang had three wives and eleven children, many of whom participated in revolutionary activities. His third wife, Dong Jieru, actively supported underground work and was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Throughout his life, Wang Zhichang was patriotic, learned extensively, maintained a modest attitude toward fame and wealth, and ultimately made significant contributions to the country.