The Royal Asiatic Society China is a learned society based in Shanghai and Beijing,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. It was established in Shanghai in 1857 by a small group of British and

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

expatriates as the Shanghai Literary and Scientific Society, and within a year had achieved affiliation with the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and become the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (NCBRAS). However, following the death of the society's first president, American missionary

Elijah Coleman Bridgman Elijah Coleman Bridgman (April22, 1801November2, 1861) was the first American Protestant Christian missionary appointed to China. He served with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. One of the first few Protestant missionarie ...

, in 1861 the society became moribund, but was rescued in 1864 by Sir Harry Smith Parkes, the British Consul. The Society’s stated intention was to study and disseminate knowledge of

and surrounding nations by publishing a journal and establishing a library and museum. The first journal was published in 1858 and thereafter for 90 years. The Society’s original home comprised a ground-floor reading room, library and lecture hall, but was expanded in 1874 to house a museum on the floor above. In 1930 the building was condemned and although funds were raised to build new premises, the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

and the second Sino-Japanese war conspired to prevent any progress. Although the society struggled on it was finally wound up in 1952. The book collection went to the Shanghai Library and most of the museum exhibits to the

Shanghai Natural History Museum The Shanghai Natural History Museum (; Shanghainese: Zånhae Zyzoe Pohvehguoe) is a museum dedicated to natural history in the city of Shanghai. It is one of the largest museums of natural sciences in China. Formerly housed in the Shanghai Cotto ...

. In 2006 the society was re-established in Hangzhou and transferred to Shanghai the following year as the Royal Asiatic Society in Shanghai. The Journal has been resurrected and a growing library and museum opened to members and scholars. In 2013 a chapter was established in Beijing as the Royal Asiatic Society in Beijing.

Presidents

; North China Branch of the RAS 1857-1952 * 1857–1861: Rev

* ?1859–: Thomas Taylor Meadows * 1864–: Harry Smith Parkes * c.1885: Herbert Allen Giles * c.1910 Sir Pelham Warren * 1911: John Calvin Ferguson * 1913–1919: Sir Everard H. Fraser * 1919–: Arthur Stanley * 1935–1940:

Arthur de Carle Sowerby Arthur de Carle Sowerby (8 July 1885 – 16 August 1954; ) was a British naturalist, explorer, writer, and publisher in China. His father was Arthur Sowerby (15 October 1857 – 27 June 1934; ). Background Arthur Sowerby was the son of a Chris ...

; RAS China in Shanghai 2007- * 2007–2011: Peter Hibbard * 2011-2013: Katy Gow * 2013–: Nenad Djordjevic

References

{{Authority control 2006 establishments in China Learned societies of China Libraries in Beijing Libraries in Shanghai Oriental societies