| Yang Changji | |
| Native Name: | 楊昌濟 |
| Native Name Lang: | zh |
| Birth Date: | 1871 4, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Changsha County, Hunan Province, Qing Dynasty |
| Death Place: | Beijing, Republic of China |
| Alma Mater: | Yuelu Academy Hongwen Academy University of Tsukuba University of Aberdeen University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation: | Educator, philosopher, and writer |
| Years Active: | 1912–1920 |
| Notable Works: | Dahuazhai Daily Collected Works of Yang Changji The origin problem of Ethics |
| Spouse: | Xiang Zhenxi (Chinese: 向振熙) |
| Children: | Yang Kaihui |
| Parents: | Father: Yang Shuxiang (Chinese: 杨书祥) |
Yang Changji (; 21 April 1871 – 17 January 1920) was a Chinese educator, philosopher, and writer. After advanced studies in Japan and Europe, he taught at Hunan First Normal University, where he exerted considerable influence on Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen, Xiao Zisheng, and others, and then at Peking University.[1] [2] [3] He became considered one of the leading philosophers of his generation before his early death.[4]
Yang was born in Changsha County of Changsha prefecture in Hunan Province of China during the Qing Dynasty. During his childhood, Yang studied at Cheng-Zhu school. He first attended school at the age of 7. In 1898, Yang was accepted to Yuelu Academy. He promoted democracy and supported Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. After the Hundred Days' Reform, he retired into the country. In 1903, Yang entered Hongwen Academy (Chinese: 弘文学院). After graduating, he attended University of Tsukuba. In 1909, Yang studied at the University of Aberdeen, majoring in philosophy and ethics. He then went on to study literature at University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1912.
In 1912, Yang went to Germany on an education investigation. From 1913 to 1918, Yang worked in Hunan First Normal University. His students included Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen and Deng Zhongxia. Befriending Mao, professor Yang urged him to read a radical newspaper, New Youth (Xin qingnian), the creation of his friend Chen Duxiu, a dean at Peking University.From 1918 to 1920, Yang taught ethics in Peking University.
Yang died at the Beijing Germany Hospital in 1920, aged 48.
Yang married Xiang Zhenxi (Chinese: 向振熙), they had a daughter named Yang Kaihui, she married Mao Zedong in Hunan First Normal University in 1920, they had 3 children.[5] [6] [7] [8]