Ji Xianlin

About the Author

Ji Xianlin (1911–2009) was a renowned Chinese scholar, linguist, and translator whose life bridged the tumultuous eras of modern Chinese history. Educated in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s, he mastered Sanskrit, Pali, and other ancient languages, becoming a pivotal figure in Oriental studies and comparative linguistics at Peking University. His academic career spanned decades, marked by profound contributions to the understanding of Indian and Central Asian cultures. Amidst the chaos of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Ji endured severe persecution, which he later chronicled in his memoir 'The Cowshed: Memories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution,' offering a poignant, firsthand account of intellectual suffering and resilience. A prolific writer, he authored numerous essays, translations, and scholarly works that blend erudition with humanistic insight, leaving an indelible legacy in both Eastern and Western intellectual traditions.