Chinese Historian Bai Shouyi Passed Away

Bai Shouyi, famous historian, educator, thinker and social activist, professor and doctorate postgraduate study instructor, of Beijing Normal University, passed away at age of 91 on March 21 in Beijing.

Bai Shouyi was born in a Hui family in Kaifeng, Henan Province. In July 1949, he joined Guo Moruo and Fan Wenlan to see to it that Society of Chinese History was formed and served as professor in the History Department of Beijing Normal University same year. After founding of the New China, he was made a special academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); founded with Hou Weilu and served concurrently as research fellow, Institute of History of the CAS. In the meantime, he also saw that semimonthly "History Education" of Guangming Daily, and "History Research" magazine were launched. From 1971 on, he began, under the concern of Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, to devote his time to a documentary study of the great work of "Twenty-four Histories" of China. After the reform and opening-up, he set up the Research Institute of History and the Institute of Ancient Works, Beijing Normal University. Mr. Bai Shouyi had written many works during his life. To his name there is also the work "A General History of China". With the historian serving as chief editor in his late years, the work has been well received by experts in Chinese history both in China and abroad.

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