Chang Chih-tung (1837–1909)

Chinese administrator and classical scholar. His political life was extraordinarily active and varied. He took the highest degree in the state examinations in 1863, and his first posts were connected with the administration of the examinations. His honesty and energy led to his appointment as governor-general of Kwangtung-Kwangsi in 1884. He built an arsenal in 1887, and his support for the Peking-Hankow railway project led to his transfer to the governor-generalship of Hupeh-Hunan in 1889.

Chang Chih-tung was born in Chihli, China. He was famous for his championing the despatch of students abroad to Japan, principally to acquire Western knowledge, but his first allegiance was to the Chinese way of life. His dualistic philosophy of ‘Chinese learning for essentials, and Western learning for practical matters’ was only of passing validity.