Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Yin Chang

Marshal Yin Chang

感昌昌学午樓

Marshal Yin Chang was born in 1860 from a family belonging to the Plain White Banner Division of the Manchu Military organization. He was a student of the Kuo-Tzu-Chien or the Imperial Academy of Learning. Actually he received his education at the Tung Wen College, Peking. In 1877 he was sent to Germany as an attache of the Chinese Legation at Berlin. During his stay in Germany he studied military science and subsequently married a German wife. In 1884 he returned to China. In 1885 he assisted in the Naval Academy at Nanking. In 1895 Yuan Shih-kai started his modern troop training at Hsiao Chan. Marshal Yin was one of the teachers for the training schools. The late President Feng Kuo-chang was a student under his direction. Afterwards he became a Taotai. For sometime he was a Deputy Lieutenant-General commanding Banner Garrison in certain provinces. After the Boxer Trouble, he assisted in the negotiations with the Allied powers which resulted in the signing of the 1901 Protocol at Tientsin. In 1910 Marshal Yin Chang accompanied Prince Ch’un to Germany with the special mission to convey China's regret for the murder of von Ketler in Peking during the Boxer Rising. In August 1901 he was appointed Chinese Minister to Berlin and therefore did not retrun to China with the Prince. In December 1904 his appointment was renewed. In 1905 he was recalled. At the end of that year he was appointed director of the Nobles' College, Peking. In September 1906 he became Provincial Commander-in-Chief in Kiangpei, and two months later, was vice-president of the Army Board. In September 1908, he was appointed Minister to Germany for the second time, but he did not proceed to Germany at once on account of the autumn manoeuvres in Anhwei in November, of which he was Inspector-General. In the spring of 1909 he went to his post. A year later he was recalled, and was appointed in March 1910, acting president of the Board of War. In August 1910 he became Inspector-General of all the army divisions stationed in the vicinity of Peking. Four months afterwards, he was given the portfolio of war in Prince Ching's Cabinet. In March of 1911 he received the brevet rank of full General. On the outbreak of the first revolution at Wuchang in October 1911, Marshal Yin was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Forces, and sent to Hupeh to cope with the situation. He was, however, recalled as soon as he had reached the front together with his troops at the request of the late President Yuan Shih-kai who was then Prime Minister and did not wish to attack the southern forces. Upon his return to Peking he was appointed Chief of the General Staff in place of Prince Tsai Tao in November, from which post he subsequently resigned. It was subsequently speculated that had Marshal Yin Chang been allowed to remain in Hupeh, the revolution might not have proved a success. After the establishment of the Republic, he retired for a while. Later he was made a Full General and appointed by Yuan Shih-kai as Chief Military Aide-de-Camp to the President. In May 1914 he was appointed a member of State Council. In December 1917 he became Chief of General Staff. Later he became director of the Generalissimo's Office, which office he held for a short time. In January 1919 he was again appointed Chief Military Aide-de-Camp of the Presidential Office which position he held until 1924. In February 1920 he was appointed to hold concurrently the post of Chief of General Staff. In October 1922 he was awarded the First Order of Merit. In October 1923 he was made a Shan Chiangchun or Marshal with "Chang Wei” as his special title.