Zeng Baosun | |
|---|---|
曾寶蓀 | |
 | |
| Born | (1893-03-09)9 March 1893 |
| Died | 27 July 1978(1978-07-27) (aged 85) |
| Resting place | No. 1 Public Cemetery,Taipei |
| Occupation(s) | Feminist, historian, Christian education |
Zeng Baosun orTseng Pao Swen (Chinese:曾寶蓀; 9 March 1893 – 27 July 1978) was a Chinese feminist, historian, and Christian educator.
Zeng was born into a prominent family inXiangxiang,Hunan Province, and was the great-granddaughter ofZeng Guofan,[1] aQing dynastyChinese official who commanded theXiang Army during theTaiping Rebellion. Her feet were not bound and there was no early, arranged marriage.[2]
At the age of 14, she studied at a girls' school inShanghai before entering the Hangzhou Women's Normal School. Zeng converted to Christianity while studying an Anglican church school,Mary Vaughan High School,[3] which she entered in 1910.[2] She then attendedBlackheath High School inLondon, before enteringWestfield College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1916, thus becoming the first Chinese woman to receive the "Bachelor of Science degree with honors" from this college. Zeng often attended theQuaker meeting at Hampstead during her time at Westfield.[4] She received teacher's training while atOxford University andCambridge University.[2]
Zeng founded I Fang Girls' Collegiate School inChangsha.[3] She left China in 1949 to settle inTaiwan. In 1953, she represented theRepublic of China in theUnited Nations Commission on the Status of Women.[5] Self-described in her memoir as a "Confucian feminist", Zeng published her autobiography as well as women's issues essays. She served on the Board of Directors ofTunghai University inTaichung.[6]
She died in Taiwan and was buried at No. 1 Public Cemetery inTaipei.[6]
