Fang Zong ao

Fang Zong-ao (or Fang Tsung-ao; in Chinese: 方宗鳌[1][2], 1884–1950) was a late Qing Dynasty's scholar (who passed the imperial court's exams) and a well-known economist, jurist and professor in early Republic of China era.

Fang was born in Puning (普宁), Guangdong Province of China in 1884. In 1908, he went to Japan for his studies. After graduated from Yamaguchi Business School (山口商业學校) in Yamaguchi Prefecture Fang was admitted to Meiji University (明治大學) [3]. Fang married to a Japanese noble's descendant Koga Yasuhisa's (古賀靖久) daughter Koga Masako (古賀政子) in Tokyo after he graduated from Meiji University before returned to China. At that time, Masako was a student who was studying at Tsuda College (津田塾大學）Tsuda College until her marriage. About a year after his return, Fang left his hometown Puning for Beijing to pursue his career.

Briefly after settled in Beijing, the Chinese High Commissioner to Tokyo， Hon. Wang Da-xie (汪大夑) （later became to Foreign Affair Minister)introduced Fang to work at the Reserve Bank of China as a principal auditor. Fang spent his time teaching economics courses at a several universities as a part-time professor. Soon, he became a full-time professor of Zhongguo (China) University (中国大學）[4], Peking University （北京大學） and Chaoyang University （朝阳大學）. He served as Provost and Dean of Business Studies of the University of China for many years.

In 1937, Fang served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education of China and Secretary General of Legislation Council of the Republic of China Provisional Government （中華民國臨時政府）[5]. When the Minister Tang Er-he （汤尔和） was in the hospital in 1939, Fang served as the Acting Minister until Tang died in 1940. Later, in 1940, the Republic of China Nanjing National Government was established in Nanjing, Fang was appointed as Vice Minister of the Education of the North China Political Affairs Commission （華北政務委員會）. During that period, Fang re-established the universities in Northern China to provide the opportunities for the youngsters to have the chances to continue their studies in Japanese occupied regions. Fang also established Law School of Peking University (北大法學院） and he was first Head of the school. Fang was also a Board Member of the China Federal Reserve Bank (中央银行）.

Fang died on 19 February 1950 in Beijing. His father: Fang Mei-feng (方眉峰). (see: http://www.nlcbook.com/book/zhlsrwbzj.htm) Fang had 5 sons [6]： Fang Jisheng (方纪生），Fang Shiao Tzu (方孝慈） [7] (Japanese: Hideo - 秀夫) ，Fang(Victor)Tse Tzu (方则慈）, Fang Hong Tzu(方鸿慈)[8], Fang Shao Tzu （方绍慈)[9] and 3 daughters: Fang Xiu CHing (方秀卿 （Hedi Pinheiro)), Fang Wen Ching (方文卿），Fang Li Ching （方丽卿）.