1872–1955
○ Arteriosclerosis
Sichuan educator who led the China Democratic League and became a vice-chairman of the Central People’s Government
Born into a scholarly family in Nanchong, Sichuan, and drawn to Liang Qichao’s constitutionalism, he was in 1911 vice-chairman of the shareholders’ committee opposing the nationalisation of the Sichuan–Hankou railway. After briefly serving as governor of Sichuan in 1920 he devoted himself to education as president of Chengdu Normal College and Chengdu University, and in the war against Japan criticised the Nationalist government as a member of the National Political Assembly. Elected chairman of the League of Chinese Democratic Political Groups in 1941, he kept the post after its reorganisation as the China Democratic League in 1944 until his death. Placed under house arrest in Shanghai when the League was outlawed in 1947, he escaped in 1949 with the help of Communist agents, led the League’s delegation to the CPPCC and became a vice-chairman of the Central People’s Government.
Also known as: Chang Lan
Activities and affiliations
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1938–1945
Republic of China state institutionsMember of the National Political Assembly
Legislature and state representation -
1949–1955
People’s Republic of China state institutionsVice-chairman of the Central People’s GovernmentMain
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1911Vice-chairman of the shareholders’ committee in the Sichuan railway protection movement
- 1920Governor of Sichuan
- 1928President of Chengdu University
- 1938Member of the National Political Assembly
- 1941Chairman, League of Chinese Democratic Political Groups
- 1944Chairman, China Democratic League
- 1947House arrest in Shanghai after the League was banned
- 1949Head of the League’s CPPCC delegation; vice-chairman of the Central People’s Government
- 1954Vice-chairman, NPC Standing Committee
Related historical events
- 1949Establishment of the People’s Republic of ChinaChina Democratic League chairman; vice-chairman of the Central People’s GovernmentHe led the Democratic League delegation to the CPPCC.
- 1949–1956From New Democracy to socialist transformationChina Democratic League chairman; vice-chairman of the Central People’s GovernmentHe became vice-chairman for the democratic parties and in 1954 a vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.