Wang Guangqi 王光祈: the man who introduced the Berlin School of Comparative Musicology to China

Abstract

Wang Guangqi 王光祈 (1892-1936) was a man of many achievements. A student of international law, he had already achived national prominence as an influential social activist, a charismatic youth leader, an acute journalist, and an accomplished poet of the classical style beforing leaving China for Germany. During his years in Germany, Wang, whose patriotism and industry saw him cram several demanding careers into his busy and often impoverished life, ranged in activity from being a correspondent for leading Beijing and Shanghai newspapers to translating historical and diplomatic documents. But above all else, he was known as a musicologist who was responsible for introducing, among other things, the theories and methods of the Berlin School of Comparative Musicology to China.