Historians nowadays attach great importance to the study of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and there is a large group of specialists on the subject in China today.

They are engaged in what descendants are always supposed to undertake: To discover and preserve the historical facts of the era before the material gradually evaporates.

Among scholars in the specialized field, Wang Zhonghan is one of the oldest and most highly regarded. The recent event of his 90th birthday offered younger peers an opportunity to express their best wishes to him, as well as to hold a three-day seminar to exchange their latest harvests in historical research.

Born in Dong'an County in Central China's Hunan Province in 1913, Wang obtained a Master's degree in history from Yanjing University in 1940 and was sent to study at Harvard University in 1946.

In 1948, Wang came back to China and became an associate professor at the History Department of Yanjing University. In 1952, he was transferred to the History Department of the Central University of Nationalities, where he remains today.

During his more than 60 years of academia, Wang has compiled a history on the Manchu minority in the book The Compendious History of The Manchu Minority, and published four important collections of theses: Assorted Research on Qing History, New Research on Qing History, Continued Research on Qing History and Supplementary Research on Qing History.

In his twilight years, Wang enjoys the fame of being one of the most valuable Chinese historians in the study of Qing history and the Manchu minority.

(China Daily August 27, 2003)