Ding Wenjiang

Who was Ding Wenjiang?

Ding Wenjiang, courtesy name Zaijun, was a Chinese geologist and social activist. In his own time, his name was transcribed as either V.K. Ting, or Ting Wen-chiang.

Ding was born into a wealthy family in Taixing, Jiangsu Province. He went to study in Japan in 1902, and later studied in Britain, majoring in zoology and geology. In 1911, Ding graduated from University of Glasgow. After returning to China, he taught at Nanyang Public School in Shanghai. In 1913, Ding became the geological section chief in Mining Administrative Bureau of Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and went to Shanxi and Yunnan, conducting geological and mineral exploitation. In 1921, he became the general manager of the Beipiao Mining Company, and founded Chinese Geological Society. He served as vice president of the society, and was the editor-in-chief of "Chinese Palaeobiology". He published a paper, "Mythology and Science", in 1923, arguing with Zhang Junmai on science and philosophy, in which he fought against the view that "science is irrelevant to human philosophy". In 1925, Ding was appointed as the director of Shanghai Commercial Bureau.