Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Chang Tsung-hsiang

Mr. Chang Tsung-hsiang

章宗祥字仲和

Mr. Chang Chung-hsiang was born at Wusheng Hsien, Chekiang province, in 1897. He was brought up and given his education at his grandfather's home. The Chinese academic degree he held in the Ching Dynasty was "Ling Kung Sheng" or salaried Senior Licentiate. He was one of the earliest Chinese students to study in Japan. In Japan Mr. Chang first studied at the First High School and then the Meiji University where he graduated in 1903 with the degree of LL.B. He later acted as interpreter of the late Wu Ju-lan, a very famous literati, when the latter in the capacity of the Dean of the Imperial University was visiting in Japan on a mission to study educational conditions of that country. Upon his return to China following his graduation, Mr. Chang became teacher of the Institution of High Learning for Metropolitan graduates. In 1905 he assisted in the compilation of Commercial Laws. In 1907 he was appointed junior secretary of the Board of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce. In 1906 Mr. Chang became Proctor of the Bureau of Laws and Regulations in the Board of the Interior. Subsequently he was appointed Co-Director of the Bureau of Comilations under the Office of Investigation and Compilation of Constitutional Laws. During 1908-10 Mr. Chang was Superintendent of Inner City Police of Peking. In June 1911 he was appointed assistant chief of the Laws Compilation Bureau of the Cabinet. This position he held until January 1912 when he retired. In April 1912 Mr. Chang was appointed by President Yuan Shih-kai to be Chief of the Law Compilation Bureau of the Cabinet. In July 1912 he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In January 1914 he became minister of Justice. In April 1914 he was ordered to act concurrently as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. On June 30, 1916 Mr. Chang was appointed Chinese Minister to Japan. In April 1919 he was granted permission by the President to return to Peking on a short leave of absence. During 1918-20 the government of North China remained in the hands of the Anfu Faction, with Tuan Chi-jui at the head of it. The government was able to retain office chiefly as the result of a series of Japanese Loans, which were concluded regardless of public opinion. Public hostility to the government found expression on May 4, 1919, when several pro-Japanese officials were attacked by the students. On June 10, Mr. Chang was officially relieved from the Tokyo post by a Presidential Mandate. In January 1920 he was Conferred the Fourth Order of Merit.