An Zuozhang (; 10 January 1927 – 20 February 2019) was a Chinese historian who specialized in ancient Chinese history and the regional history of Shandong. A lifelong professor of Shandong Normal University, he was considered in China as a leading expert in the history of Qin and Han dynasties.
An was born on 10 January 1927 in Cao County, Shandong, Republic of China.[1] After graduating from the Department of History of Cheeloo University in 1951, he served as a faculty member in the history department of Shandong Normal University until his death. From 1985 to 1989 he also served as director of the university's Research Institute of Ancient Documents.[2]
In 1954, two of his papers, on the military colonies and agricultural officials of the Western Han dynasty, respectively, were published in the influential national newspaper Guangming Daily, a rare feat for a 27-year-old historian.[3]
An published more than 100 academic papers and more than 30 books. A number of them, including A Draft History of Qin and Han Officialdom (Chinese: 秦汉官制史稿), Biography of Liu Bang (Chinese: 刘邦评传), A Cultural History of Canals in China (Chinese: 中国运河文化史), General History of Shandong (Chinese: 山东通史), General Cultural History of Shandong (Chinese: 齐鲁文化通史), and General History of Chinese Acrobatic Art (Chinese: 中华杂技艺术通史), were awarded the Shandong Provincial Social Science Research Prize (First Class).
An was considered in China as a leading expert in the history of the Qin and Han dynasties.[4] [5] In his view, the governing principle of the Western Han (or Xi Han) dynasty was "doing nothing against nature" and ensuring "a peaceful environment to develop the economy".[6] He was recognized by the Government of Shandong as a "top provincial expert", and was awarded a special pension by the State Council of China. He was elected a delegate to the 13th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
On 20 February 2019, An died of a heart attack at the age of 92.