Chen Hongmou

Chen Hongmou (1696–1771), courtesy names Ruzi and Rongmen, was a Chinese official, scholar, and philosopher of the Qing dynasty, widely regarded as a model official. Born in Lingui, Guangxi, his family originated from Hunan. He served for a notable duration and held numerous provincial posts. Chen considered himself a disciple of Zhu Xi but criticized intellectual partisanship. His progressive essays championed education for all, notably advocating for the equal education of women and non-Chinese peoples alongside Han Chinese men. Alongside figures like Gu Yanwu, He Changling, and Wei Yuan, he was part of the "statecraft school," which emphasized adapting local administration to societal changes.