Li Pei

Li Pei (Chinese: 李佩; December 20, 1917 – January 12, 2017), was a Chinese linguist and professor of English. Born in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, She majored in economics at Peking University in 1936. In 1947, she studied at Cornell University in the U.S. where, she met and married Guo Yonghuai who became later one of the founding fathers of China's nuclear bomb. Li and Guo returned to China from the U.S. in 1956.

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Li.
Li Pei
李佩
Born(1917-12-20)December 20, 1917
DiedJanuary 12, 2017(2017-01-12) (aged 99)
Spouse(s)Guo Yonghuai
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
DisciplineLinguist
Sub-disciplineEnglish linguistics
Institutions

In 1961, Li started teaching English language at the University of Science and Technology of China. In 1978, she was transferred to the university's graduate school (renamed University of Chinese Academy of Sciences) and served as the dean of the English Department until her retirement at 70.[1]

In 1998, Li initiated the "Zhongguancun Lecture Hall". She organized more than 600 weekend lectures given by notable scholars from many horizons, including economist Li Yining from Peking University and historian Zi Zhongyun from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.[2]

During the Cultural Revolution, Li was isolated and placed under surveillance for years.[3][4] Her husband died in an airplane crash in 1968 and her only daughter died of disease in 1997. These tragedies won her a reputation for being mentally strong.[5]

Li was also an active philanthropist in her twilight years; she gave away all her life-time savings (approx. US$90,000)[6] to her university, to the aid of victims of natural disasters, to the education for special needs children and to the conservation of traditional performing arts.[7]

After her death, her story went viral on Chinese Internet and traditional media, she was praised by netizens as "the final aristocrat in China" in contrast to the lavish lifestyle of today's Chinese society.[8] Eight hundred people attended her funeral service. In an editorial appeared on the day after, a liberal-oriented newspaper China Youth Daily wondered, whether "Li Pei had taken away with her life an age".[9] According to the official obituary released by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Li dedicated her life to the education of groups of brilliant young people.[10]

In 2018, the asteroid 212797 Lipei was named in her memory.[11]

References
  1. 李松. "Famed English professor dies aged 99 - China - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  2. 樊帆. "著名语言学家李佩逝世 晚年曾创办中关村大讲坛". news.cctv.com. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  3. "Li Pei: Virtuous Academic Who Survived Numerous Tough Challenges - All China Women's Federation". m.womenofchina.cn. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  4. "李佩：跨越百年的尊严与力量". www.lifeweek.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  5. "Li Pei: A Female Academic Never Beaten Down by the Odds - All China Women's Federation". www.womenofchina.cn. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  6. "李佩：跨越百年的尊严与力量（5）". www.lifeweek.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  7. 王凌雪. "感动中国2017候选人物——李佩 郭永怀". news.cctv.com. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  8. 网易. ""中科院最美的玫瑰"李佩 她才是中国仅存的贵族(组图)_网易新闻". news.163.com. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  9. 本报记者. "李佩带走了一个时代吗-中青在线". zqb.cyol.com. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  10. "中国科学院大学新闻网 - 李佩先生讣告". news.ucas.ac.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  11. "Two asteroids named after well-known Chinese scholar couple". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
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