Early Russian Learners of Chinese183

The first Russian to study Chinese was Grigory Petrovich Bogdanov (1794-1823). Bogdanov was a member of the Russian Orthodox mission in Beijing, where he learned Chinese from a Chinese tutor. Bogdanov's teacher was a Buddhist monk named Ji Xiaolan, who was one of the most prominent scholars of his time. Bogdanov studied Chinese for several years, and he eventually became proficient in the language. He was able to read and write Chinese fluently, and he also translated several Chinese works into Russian.

Bogdanov's work helped to lay the foundation for the study of Chinese in Russia. In 1837, the Russian government established the Sinological Institute at Kazan University. The Sinological Institute was the first institution in Russia to offer a formal program of study in Chinese. The institute's first director was Karl Friedrich Neumann (1798-1870), a German scholar who had studied Chinese in Paris. Neumann was a leading authority on Chinese language and culture, and he helped to train a generation of Russian sinologists.

The Sinological Institute at Kazan University played a major role in the development of Chinese studies in Russia. The institute's graduates went on to become professors at other universities, and they also served as diplomats and translators for the Russian government. The institute's library also became one of the most important collections of Chinese books and manuscripts in the world.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the study of Chinese in Russia continued to grow. Russian scholars made important contributions to the fields of Chinese philology, history, and literature. In 1924, the Institute of Oriental Studies was established in Moscow. The Institute of Oriental Studies became the leading center for Chinese studies in the Soviet Union, and it continues to be a major center for Chinese studies in Russia today.

The study of Chinese in Russia has a long and distinguished history. Russian scholars have made significant contributions to the field of Chinese studies, and they continue to play an important role in the development of Chinese studies in the world today.

Here are some of the most notable Russian sinologists:* Grigory Petrovich Bogdanov (1794-1823)
* Karl Friedrich Neumann (1798-1870)
* Vasily Vasilyevich Radlov (1837-1918)
* Sergei Mikhailovich Shirokogorov (1887-1939)
* Nikita Ivanovich Konrad (1891-1970)
* Evgeny Alekseevich Torchinov (1956-)

2025-02-01

Previous：Embarking on a Chinese Language Adventure: A Guide for Brewer

Next：Chinese Color Terminology: Unveiling the Enchanted World of Chinese Culture