Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Yang Chia-hsiang

Mr. Yang Chia-hsiang

楊家赚学韻控

Mr. Yang Chia-hsiang was born at Foochow, Fukien province, in 1882, where he obtained his early training. He was given both a Chinese classical and modern Western education. He possessed an unusual attitude in his youth both in literary work and the art of painting. He completed his education in Japan where he studied law and government. Upon his return to China Mr. Yang first became a member of the financial board of Fukien Province. In 1912 when the first election took place after the revolution and the establishment of the Republic he entered parliament and took one of the foremost places in the work of reorganization. Through his legislative career he exhibited not only an incorruptible integrity but also a self-sacrificing devotion to the welfare of China. When the movement to exalt Confucianism began and a bill aiming to establish it in the constitution as the state religion was introduced in the Senate, he bent his energy against it. The fight was hard and only a few votes saved China from ecclesiasticism and won the freedom of worship for the four hundred million people. Besides defending religious liberty he was an ardent agitator against Japanese aggression and upheld untiringly the integrity of the Chinese Republic.