Wikipedia

Chen Heqin

Chen Heqin (Chinese: 陈鹤琴; March 5, 1892 – December 30, 1982) was a Chinese educator, child psychologist, and pioneer of modern child psychology and early childhood education in China. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of scientific research on child development and preschool education in modern China. Chen developed the educational philosophy known as “Living Education” (活教育), promoted experimental approaches to childhood learning, and played a major role in the institutional development of preschool and teacher education in twentieth-century China.[1][2]

Chen Heqin
陈鹤琴
President of Nanjing Normal Institute
In office
1952–1958
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded bySuccessor institution leadership
Personal details
BornMarch 1892 (1892-03)
Shangyu County, Zhejiang, Qing China
DiedDecember 30, 1982(1982-12-30) (aged 90)
Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China

Biography

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Early life and education

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Chen was born on March 5, 1892, in Baiguan Town, Shangyu County, Zhejiang. He lost his father at the age of six and was later supported by his brother-in-law to continue his education. In 1906, he entered Huiwen Middle School in Hangzhou. In 1911, he enrolled at Saint John's University, Shanghai, but later transferred to Tsinghua School in Beijing.[3]

After graduating in 1914, Chen received a government scholarship to study in the United States. He first attended Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. In 1917, he entered Teachers College, Columbia University to study education and psychology. During his graduate studies, he was influenced by major educational thinkers including William Heard Kilpatrick, Paul Monroe, Edward Thorndike, and John Dewey. He received a master's degree in education and returned to China in 1919.[4]

Educational reform and early childhood education

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After returning to China, Chen joined Nanjing Higher Normal School (later incorporated into National Central University and subsequently associated with Nanjing Normal University) as professor of education. He taught psychology and child education and later served in academic administration.[5]

The birth of his eldest son in December 1920 became a turning point in his academic work. Chen conducted systematic observations of his son's development over 808 consecutive days and used these records to produce Research on Child Psychology (《儿童心理之研究》), published in 1925 and generally regarded as China's earliest modern work of child psychology.[6]

During this period, Chen became involved in educational experimentation and curriculum reform. Together with educators including Tao Xingzhi, Liao Shicheng, Lu Zhiwei, Zheng Xiaocang, and others, he promoted progressive education, extracurricular learning, and student self-governance. He participated in the founding of educational organizations and helped introduce psychological testing into China. In 1922, he published Vocabulary Frequency in Vernacular Chinese, considered one of the earliest systematic quantitative studies of Chinese character usage.[7]

In 1923, Chen established an experimental kindergarten in his own residence in Nanjing, regarded as China's first experimental kindergarten. Supported by educational authorities, it expanded in 1925 into the Experimental Kindergarten of the Education Department of National Southeast University, commonly known as the Nanjing Gulou Kindergarten. Chen also collaborated with Tao Xingzhi in educational reform projects and promoted district-based experimental schooling in Nanjing, including integrated curriculum models for kindergarten and primary education.[8]

Educational administration in Shanghai

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Chen and his book My Half Life in 1946

In 1928, Chen moved to Shanghai and became director of the Chinese Education Department of the Shanghai Municipal Council in the Shanghai International Settlement. During his tenure, several schools for Chinese students were established, significantly expanding educational opportunities. In 1929, he became chairman of the Chinese Society for Child Education, which later developed into one of China's leading academic organizations for childhood education.[9]

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chen became active in refugee education and social relief efforts. He worked with educational and social leaders including Liu Zhanen and Y. T. Wu to organize educational support programs. Due to political pressure during the Japanese occupation period, he eventually left Shanghai in 1939.[10]

Beginning in 1940, Chen relocated to Jiangxi and initiated what became known as the Living Education movement. Invited by provincial authorities, he founded experimental schools and teacher-training institutions.[11] In 1940, he established the Jiangxi Provincial Experimental Kindergarten Teachers School in Taihe County, Jiangxi, the first non-missionary kindergarten normal school in China. The institution gained national recognition and was later upgraded to national status. In 1943, he also established the National Preschool Teachers College in Shanghai and continued promoting systematic preschool teacher education.[12]

People's Republic of China and later years

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Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chen became dean of the Teachers College of Nanjing University and participated in the first session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He later served on the Culture and Education Committee of the Government Administration Council.[11]

In 1952, following nationwide higher education restructuring, he became the founding president of Nanjing Normal Institute and concurrently headed its preschool education department. That same year, he donated the Gulou Kindergarten to the state.[13]

Chen later held positions including vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, honorary president of the Chinese Society of Education, honorary chairman of the National Preschool Education Research Association, and honorary chairman of the Jiangsu Psychological Society.[14]

During the Cultural Revolution, Chen experienced political persecution. He was officially rehabilitated in 1979. Chen continued to advocate for child-centered education and contributed to the development of educational toys, teaching materials, children's literature, and professional journals. Through organizations devoted to preschool and child education, he helped establish the academic foundations of modern early childhood education in China.[15]

He died in Nanjing on December 30, 1982, at the age of 90.[16]

Selected works

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  • Research on Child Psychology (《儿童心理之研究》)
  • Vocabulary Frequency in Vernacular Chinese (《语体文应用字汇》)

References

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  1. ↑ 吴清军 (2014-08-18). 清华传奇 (in Chinese). 南文博雅. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  2. ↑ 罗敏 (2016-01-01). 中华民国史研究（第2辑）：民国时期的法律、社会与军事 (in Chinese). 社会科学文献出版社. p. 1. ISBN 978-7-5097-9345-9. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  3. ↑ 上海滩 (in Chinese). 《上海滩》杂志社. 2004. p. 43. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  4. ↑ 南京师范大学志, 1902-1992 (in Chinese). 南京师范大学出版社. 2002. p. 473. ISBN 978-7-81047-761-1. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  5. ↑ 中国历代教育家传 (in Chinese). 科学普及出版社广州分社. 1989. p. 573. ISBN 978-7-110-00662-7. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  6. ↑ 吴芳 (1992). 中华教育家思想研究 (in Chinese). 武汉大学出版社. p. 395. ISBN 978-7-307-01326-1. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  7. ↑ 科举百年: 科举・现代教育与文官制度的历史审察 (in Chinese). 同心出版社. 2006. p. 124. ISBN 978-7-80716-034-2. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  8. ↑ 教育学丛书: 册4. 幼儿教育学 (in Chinese). 福建教育出版社. 1996. p. 43. ISBN 978-7-5334-1706-2. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  9. ↑ 人才天地 (in Chinese). 《人才天地》杂志社. 1985. p. 58. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  10. ↑ 心理学人物辞典 (in Chinese). 天津人民出版社. 1986. p. 123. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  11. 1 2 庄汉新 (1991). 中国古今名人大辞典 (in Chinese). 警官敎育出版社. p. 330. ISBN 978-7-81027-098-4. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  12. ↑ 陈志科 (2009). 留美生与中国教育学 (in Chinese). 南开大学出版社. p. 297. ISBN 978-7-310-03141-2. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  13. ↑ 赵莉如 (1989). 心理学史 (in Chinese). 团結出版社. p. 386. ISBN 978-7-80061-127-8. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  14. ↑ 李桂林 (1989). 中国教育史 (in Chinese). 上海教育出版社. p. 506. ISBN 978-7-5320-1060-8. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  15. ↑ 教育与心理辞典 (in Chinese). 福建教育出版社. 1988. p. 55. ISBN 978-7-5334-0272-3. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  16. ↑ 江苏省志: 敎育志 (in Chinese). 江苏古籍出版社. 2000. p. 139. ISBN 978-7-80643-269-3. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
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