Wu Enyu

Who was Wu Enyu?

Wu Enyu was a Manchu-Chinese philosopher, political scientist and literary critic. In the latter function he was especially known for his criticism of The Dream of the Red Chamber.

Graduating at the Department for Philosophy of Qinghua University, Beijing, in 1933, Wu became the editor-in-chief of Sibian, the literary and philosophical supplement of Chenbao magazine, as well as of the philosophical monthly periodical Wenzhe yuekan. In 1936 he went to study abroad in London. Returning to China, he was offered the position of professor of political sciences at Chongqing Zhongyang University, a post he held from 1939 to 1949. From 1946 to 1952 he also held a professorship for political sciences at Peking University. From 1978 until his death a year later, he was named research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.